Gluten Free Fried Okra Recipe

One of my absolute FAVORITE things to eat is Fried Okra! I do not eat a lot of fried foods, but okra is one I love and is a necessity! I have ONE package of okra left in the freezer from our garden last year! It is already breaded with blue corn meal which we grew the corn in our garden, then ground it into the meal. Anyway, below are two ways I fix okra including using the oven and then, it is not really as bad as the fried! Don’t forget to serve it with Cottage Cheese! YUM! My absolute favorite foods even when I am not pregnant!

Skillet Fried Okra

You will need a cast iron skillet with a lid for the best tasting fried okra!

Ingredients:

Okra, washed, dried, and sliced

Corn meal (I use blue corn meal)

Salt

Pepper

Oil and/or bacon grease

Directions:

Heat a layer of oil which just covers bottom of cast iron skillet on medium low high. In the meantime, Place okra in large bowl add cornmeal, salt, and pepper. Bread with your hands and toss to coat evenly. Not all of the cornmeal will stick. Which is okay. Once oil is hot, add okra by handfuls. Leave extra breading in bowl, you will use it later. Cook okra for 1-2 minutes, then turn. Sprinkle with remaining breading. Turn down to low and cover. Allow to cook for 10-15 minutes before turning again. You will want to check to make sure it is not burning and turn before the 10-15 minutes if needed. You may also need to add more oil or bacon grease if needed. I usually add at least a tbs. of bacon grease at some point for flavor. Continue turning and covering with lid until okra is tender and the cornmeal has turned brown! Salt and pepper to taste. Serve with Cottage Cheese!

 

Oven Fried Okra

You will need a cast iron skillet with a lid for the best tasting fried okra!

Ingredients:

Okra, washed, dried, and sliced

Corn meal (I use blue corn meal)

Salt

Pepper

Oil and/or bacon grease

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In the meantime, Place okra in large bowl add cornmeal, salt, and pepper. Bread with your hands and toss to coat evenly. Not all of the cornmeal will stick. Which is okay. Add just enough oil to lightly cover bottom of cast iron skillet. Pour the breaded okra evenly into oiled skillet. Bake at 350 degrees turning every 10-15 minutes until okra is tender and breading has lightly browned! Salt and pepper to taste! Serve with cottage cheese!