Confession: The real reason I’ve had fried okra on my mind is because on the drive home from Nashville (from visiting Elsie) a few weeks ago, Trey and I stopped at a combination gas station/fried chicken place for lunch. I didn’t actually get any fried chicken BUT I did have some delicious fried okra and a pretty amazing biscuit. Ha. And so of course I realized I needed to get my air frier out and see if I could make some air fried okra, asap!
I don’t pull out my air frier every night, but whenever I do, I am always happy. I absolutely LOVE air fried French fries. They are seriously the best. And I am happy to report that although air fried okra is just a little bit more time consuming to make (It’s still easy! It’s just more time consuming than French fries), it’s 100% worth it. So good!
The key is, you want to bread the okra, air fry, then toss in just a tiny bit of oil, then air fry for a few more minutes. If you get lazy and can’t be bothered for the second round of frying, they are still really good simply breaded and fried. But friends, I’m telling you, just a couple more minutes for a second fry and you’ll be so impressed with this air fried okra! And it still takes very little oil (so not overly fatty like deep fried okra) and I’m also sure you could find and use gluten-free breadcrumbs if you wanted to go that route, too.
These are delicious alongside a grilled sandwich, baked fish, or even on top of a salad. Love this easy air fried okra recipe! xo. Emma
Air Fried Okra
Ingredients
- 6 ounces fresh okra
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon water
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or coconut oil
Instructions
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In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and 1 teaspoon of water, set aside.
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Rinse the okra and cut off the tops and bottoms. Slice into pieces around 1/4 inch thick. Toss the okra in the flour. Then dip each piece in the egg mixture, then in the bread crumbs.
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Air fry at 356°F for 6 minutes. Depending on the size of your air frier you will likely need to do this in two batches.
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Toss the breaded okra in the oil (melting the coconut oil to a liquid if needed). Then air fry for an additional 2-3 minutes.
Recipe Notes
You can swap the flour and bread crumbs for a gluten-free version if desired.
30 Comments
I know fried okra is a popular food in the states, but I’ve never tried it – and I eat okra almost every night (yes, I’m obsessed with it!). I usually just boil it plain, I love the sliminess, haha! This air-fried okra recipe sounds so good though. Wish I had an air-fryer so I could try it!! 🙂
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I am from the south (Alabama, USA) and I have NEVER heard of using egg and breadcrumbs to fry okra. Down here we slice the okra then dredge it in cornmeal with salt and pepper to taste. You can add a bit of flour, but it’s not necessary. Because of the sliminess of okra, I don’t understand the need for egg. Anyway, I suggest trying cornmeal…it’s fantastic…better than popcorn for snacking! You can also bake it whole until crispy, then add salt; it makes a crazy good low-cal snack.
Air frying is a little different since you don’t use much oil compared to traditional deep frying. So in this method the egg helps the breading hang on, since the okra doesn’t get as ‘slimy’ as it does in deep frying.
Love the idea of cornmeal-yum!
From North Carolina – My mom always used and egg and a cornmeal/flour combo. They were so good – I could eat them like popcorn.
@ Linda from South Alabama…I’m from Columbia, We ALWAYS use cornmeal as well Hall’s Cornmeal is made right in our little town. I have been in Atlanta for 20 years and bag a bag every time I go home
Rather than boiling the okra plain, cook some field peas and lay the ora on top of the peas and slow cook the peas until they are tender and done. The okra will be PERFECT.
I have never heard of this food before. It must not be popular here in the UK. It looks tasty though!
I don’t know the origins but I think of fried okra as sort of a southern (USA) food… very appropriate with fried chicken and biscuits. 🙂
Yum, I love okra in all its forms, and even my picky 4 yr old loves just plain boiled okra – I bet this would go over even better. Do you have an air fryer that you recommend?
This looks so yummy. I don’t have an air fryer. . What features should I look for? What do you recommend and why?
I honestly just bought a random one from Amazon and have been pretty happy with it. Elsie has a different one and she loves hers as well. So, I would say just read the reviews before you buy but it seems like lots of brands are good.
When I bought my first air fryer for the 2 of us, I got a small 3.7 size with a basket. It cooks 1 or 2 things if you buy accessories.
I bought a new one, 5.7 with rotisserie basket and 2 racks. Love this better since I can cook 3 things at once. I am living on a boat so this is my oven. The food comes out amazing, crisp outside and tender and juicy inside.
It’s worth getting a larger one as you’ll use it.
They look so delicious! I haven’t actually seen okra around here in European supermarkets…gotta keep my eyes open!
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Thanks for the idea, I have never tried this before.
I am from the South and I love fried okra. I tried the Air Fried Okra and it was very very good. I used frozen okra and cornmeal a teaspoon of jiffy mix and pancake mix in instead of flour. I toss in corn oil. I will do it again. Thank you New Jersey.
I’ve never heard of air frying before… What’s the difference between air frying and deep frying? Looks delicious!
Your air fried okras look so good, Emma! I had my first fresh okras this year and totally fell in love with them 🙂 What a great veg! Have to give your recipe a try. But first, I have to ask you something: was that combination gas station / fried chicken place still in Tennessee? That would be really really funny and so wonderfully Tennessean (I live in East TN since two years and the people here love their food fried).
And another question: what kind of air fryer are you using. I heard great things about them but haven’t had the chance to cook with one yet.
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Thanks for the great recipe and those lovely pictures,
Eva
Ginger by Choice I food & lifestyle blog
Oh yes, it was in Tennessee. 🙂
looks so delicious. yumi-yumi
Oh I love this. One of my fondest childhood memories is visiting my Aunt Pauline in Atlanta, where she always fried up plate upon plate of okra. There were never leftovers. I have never attempted it myself–too scared–but I think I will give this a whirl!
I’ve had good luck with making crispy okra in my oven with the convection fan on. I’ll have to give this recipe a try, the seasoning mix sounds delicious!
Ellen I am looking for a recipe for crispy okra in my oven with the convection fan. Please share what you season your okra with.
My daughter gave me an air fryer but without instructions so I really appreciate the directions . Thank you
We love okra..I have recipe for fried/baked okra using almond flour n parmesan cheese…can I use this in my air fryer?.need answer ASAP so I can fix tonight..
Thanks, I was mostly just looking for time and temp. I’m from the cornmeal school of okra frying. this is my go to introduction method. so many people hate the slime factor but frying helps. We also mix the okra with potatoes.
Can I use prebreaded frozen okra in air fryer?
Probably. It might take a little longer if it’s frozen when you put it in. Also, in my experience usually prebreaded items tend to have more breading than homemade so that may also increase the cook time slightly. But without knowing the brand you’re using this is really just a guess. The great thing about air fryers is they heat so fast, so even if you need to check on things it’s not like opening an oven so that the heat inside plummets and it takes a while before it heats back up.
I’m from the south and okra is even better if you dice up some onion and tomatoes in with it when you fry it. I cover them with cornmeal mix that has some flour in it too.
I’m not exactly a southerner, I’m a Texan, but we cook pretty much alike. I’ve eaten okra all my life. It is good boiled but I prefer it fried. My mom always fried it in bacon grease but we don’t do that any more so I’ve been oven baking it for a long time now. I just recently got a new air fryer and am going to make air fried okra today.
For those who don’t know okra, I believe it came from Africa, and it is used in gumbo and vegetable soup as well as being fried. When I make gumbo I spray a skillet with olive oil and stir fry the okra until it starts getting brown before adding it to the other ingredients.. That takes away the slime. mmmgood!
Recently bought a Ninja that grills, air fries and roasts. I thought it had a pressure CV cooker too but it doesnt. You can get one but not with the grill feature. I have made french fries and I loved them until I realized my catsup expired in 2014. I threw it away and tomorrow I’m trying okra. I really enjoyed reading all the comments. I’ve eaten okra all my life but never air fried. Cant wait to try it.