Air-Fried Okra: A Crunchy, Healthy Treat

Air fryers are a great way to make a healthier version of fried okra, a Southern side dish. This cooking method eliminates the need for oil and frying while still achieving a crispy texture. The process is simple: cut the okra into slices, coat them with a breading mixture, spray with cooking spray, and cook in the air fryer for a few minutes until golden and crispy. You can also add your own choice of seasonings to the breading mixture to give it a spicy kick.

How to prepare okra for the air fryer

Okra is a versatile vegetable that can be cooked in many ways, including air frying. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to prepare okra for the air fryer:

Ingredients:

• Okra
• Cornmeal
• Flour (all-purpose)
• Eggs
• Salt
• Garlic powder
• Black pepper
• Cooking spray
• Ranch dressing (optional)

Step 1: Wash and Cut the Okra

Start by washing the okra thoroughly under running water. Then, using a sharp knife, cut off the woody ends of each pod. Next, slice the okra into pieces about 1/2-inch thick. It is important to ensure that the pieces are evenly sized to promote even cooking in the air fryer.

Step 2: Prepare the Breading Station

Set up three separate bowls or dishes for the breading process. In the first bowl, place the flour. In the second bowl, whisk the eggs until well beaten. You can also add a teaspoon of water to the eggs, as this will help the batter adhere better. The third bowl will contain the cornmeal, along with any desired seasonings such as garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, or black pepper. Mix the cornmeal and seasonings until well combined.

Step 3: Bread the Okra

Take each okra piece and dip it first in the flour, coating it evenly on all sides. Then, dip it in the egg mixture, allowing any excess to drip off. Finally, coat the okra with the cornmeal mixture, making sure it is well covered. Repeat this process for all okra pieces.

Step 4: Preheat the Air Fryer and Cook the Okra

Preheat your air fryer to between 380-425 degrees Fahrenheit. Generously coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Place the breaded okra pieces in a single layer in the basket, making sure they have enough space to cook evenly. Give the okra pieces another light coating of cooking spray, which will help them crisp up.

Cook the okra for 4-5 minutes, then shake the basket and spray the okra with cooking spray again. Cook for an additional 4-5 minutes or until the okra is golden brown and crispy. You may need to cook the okra in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.

Once the okra is cooked to your desired level of doneness, remove it from the air fryer and season with additional salt, if desired. Serve the air fryer okra immediately with your favorite dipping sauce, such as ranch dressing or barbecue sauce.

Tips:

• If you want to add more flavor to your okra, you can soak the sliced okra in the egg mixture for about 10 minutes before breading.
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook the okra in batches if needed to ensure even cooking.
• Be generous with your seasonings and spices to enhance the flavor of the okra.
• For an extra crispy texture, toss the cooked okra in a tiny bit of oil and air fry for an additional 2-3 minutes.
• You can also freeze any leftover okra and reheat it in the air fryer for a quick and tasty snack or side dish later.

How to make the breading mixture

The breading mixture is a key component of the air fryer fried okra recipe, providing a crispy and golden coating to the okra pods. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make a delicious and flavourful breading mixture:

Ingredients

Firstly, gather your ingredients. For a simple breading mixture, you will need cornmeal, flour, and seasonings like garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. You can also add cayenne pepper for a spicy kick.

Mixing the Dry Ingredients

In a shallow dish, combine the cornmeal and flour. Mix them together thoroughly, ensuring there are no lumps. Then, add in your desired seasonings. The amounts of each ingredient can be adjusted to your taste preferences, but a good starting point is 1/2 cup of cornmeal, 1/4 cup of flour, 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon of paprika, and 1 teaspoon of salt. You can also add 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper and a pinch of cayenne pepper for some heat. Mix all the dry ingredients together until they are well combined.

Adding Moisture (Optional)

Some recipes suggest adding a beaten egg and a teaspoon of water to create a batter-like consistency. This step is optional, but it can help the breading adhere better to the okra. If you decide to use this method, whisk the egg and water together in a separate shallow dish.

Coating the Okra

Now it's time to coat the okra in the breading mixture. Cut the okra into 1/2-inch slices and dip them into the egg mixture (if using), letting any excess drip off. Then, transfer the okra to the cornmeal-flour mixture. Toss gently until the okra is fully coated. Repeat this process until all your okra is breaded.

Cooking the Okra

Once your okra is coated, it's time to cook them in the air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to between 380-425 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the breaded okra in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they don't overcrowd. Spritz or spray the okra with oil, and then air fry for 4-5 minutes. Shake the basket and spritz with more oil, cooking for an additional 4-5 minutes or until golden and crispy.

And there you have it! A delicious and crispy air fryer fried okra made from a well-prepared breading mixture. Enjoy as a snack or a side dish!

How to make the egg wash

To make the egg wash for your air-fried okra, you will need an egg and some water.

First, grab a small bowl and crack the egg into it. Add a teaspoon of water to the egg and whisk the two together. Set the mixture aside while you prepare the okra.

Rinse the okra and cut off the tops and bottoms. Slice the okra into pieces about a quarter to half an inch thick. You can also cut the okra lengthwise to make "fries."

Once your okra is prepared, you can dip each piece into the egg wash. Make sure to let any excess egg wash drip off before moving on to the next step.

Now you are ready to bread your okra! You can use a variety of coatings, such as flour, cornmeal, breadcrumbs, or a combination of these. Enjoy experimenting with different breading options and seasonings to find your favorite way to make air-fried okra!

How to dip okra

Okra is a vegetable that has a reputation for being slimy, but frying it can reduce this texture and make it delightfully crunchy. Here is a guide on how to dip okra for frying:

• Prepare the okra: Wash the okra and cut off the tops and ends. For air frying, slice the okra into 1/2-inch pieces. For deep frying, cut the okra into 1/2-inch rounds or bigger chunks. Smaller slices will result in slimier okra.
• Prepare the buttermilk: Place buttermilk in a shallow bowl or dish. If you don't have buttermilk, you can use a buttermilk substitute or milk.
• Prepare the dry mixture: In another shallow bowl or a gallon-sized resealable bag, combine the dry ingredients. The exact mixture will depend on your preferences, but a standard combination is all-purpose flour, cornmeal, salt, and pepper. You can also add garlic herb seasoning, garlic powder, or a Cajun spice mix.
• Dip the okra: Dip the okra pieces in the buttermilk, making sure they are well coated. Then, place them in the bag or bowl with the dry mixture and shake or roll them until they are fully coated.
• Fry the okra: Depending on your preferred method, you can either deep fry the okra in hot oil or air fry it. For deep frying, heat about 1 inch of oil in a skillet or deep-fat fryer to 350-375°F. Fry the okra in batches for 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. For air frying, preheat the air fryer to 400-425°F. Place the coated okra pieces in the air fryer basket, spray with cooking spray, and cook for 4-5 minutes. Shake the basket, respray, and cook for another 4-5 minutes or until golden and crispy.

Note: If you are making a large batch of fried okra, it is important to let the oil come back up to temperature between batches.

How to air fry okra

Air-fried okra is a healthy, delicious, and easy-to-make snack or side dish. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you make the perfect air-fried okra.

Ingredients:

• Okra
• Cornmeal
• Flour (all-purpose)
• Eggs
• Salt
• Cooking spray
• Garlic powder (optional)
• Black pepper (optional)
• Paprika (optional)
• Cayenne pepper (optional)
• Breadcrumbs (optional)
• Olive oil or coconut oil (optional)

Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare the Okra

Wash the okra and cut off the tops and bottoms. Cut the okra into slices, preferably 1/2-inch thick. Removing the woody ends and cutting the okra into even-sized pieces ensures it cooks evenly in the air fryer.

Step 2: Prepare the Breading Mixture (Optional)

If you want a crispy coating on your okra, prepare a breading mixture. In a shallow dish, combine cornmeal and flour. You can also add spices like garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, or black pepper to the mixture for extra flavour. Stir the ingredients well.

Step 3: Make the Egg Wash

In a separate bowl, whisk an egg with a small amount of water. The egg wash helps the batter adhere to the okra. You can also just beat an egg without adding water.

Step 4: Dip the Okra

Dip the okra slices into the egg mixture, ensuring they are well coated. Then, transfer the okra to the cornmeal/flour mixture. Toss until the okra is nicely coated on all sides. Repeat this process for all the okra.

Step 5: Preheat the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to between 380-425 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 6: Cook the Okra

Generously coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place the coated okra pieces in a single layer in the basket and spritz them with cooking spray or oil.

Cook the okra for 4-5 minutes, then shake the basket and spritz with more cooking spray. Cook for another 4-5 minutes or until the okra is golden and crispy. The total cooking time should be around 8-10 minutes.

Step 7: Season and Serve

Remove the okra from the air fryer and season with salt to taste. You can also serve it with a dipping sauce like ranch dressing, Sriracha mayo, ketchup, or barbecue sauce. Enjoy!

Tips:

• If you want to reduce the sliminess of the okra, you can soak the slices in egg for about 10 minutes before breading them.
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if needed to ensure even cooking.
• Be generous with your seasonings and spices to create a bold flavour.
• For gluten-free okra, use gluten-free breadcrumbs or cornmeal.
• You can also freeze cooked okra and reheat it in the air fryer for a quick snack.

Frequently asked questions