Fried Okra Salad

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Fried Okra Salad has pushed my lifelong love-hate relationship with okra firmly to the love side! Pan-fried okra, combined with vegetables and thick-cut bacon, is a hearty summer salad.

This post and recipe card updated July 30, 2019

My parents eat okra pretty regularly, but it was quite possibly #1 on my hate list as a kid. They steamed it, which resulted in a very slimy texture. They’re from Trinidad, and one of the most popular dishes is callaloo, basically an okra stew. Nope, no thanks.

One night my dad told me I couldn’t leave the dinner table until I ate one piece of okra. I don’t remember how long it took, but the final result was Karyl=1, Dad=0.

I learned about fried okra when I moved to Oklahoma, and eventually gave it a chance. Depending on the restaurant, fried okra is really good! So when I came across a recipe for okra salad, I knew I had to make my own version Fried Okra Salad

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

• It has a great combination of flavors and textures
• The buttermilk adds a wonderful tangy bite to the okra
• There’s no such thing as too much fried okra!

Okay, I admit it…I’m kind of in love with Fried Okra Salad! The vegetables are a great complement to the perfectly fried okra, and the bacon adds a salty bite.

INGREDIENT TIPS FOR FRIED OKRA SALAD

Bell peppers and onions add great crunch. I use red, green and yellow peppers, but use whatever colors you have on hand. Red onion is sweeter than yellow, plus I love the color.

Use real bacon. Enough said. I prefer to use thick-cut bacon, but you could certainly use regular cut.

Grape or cherry tomatoes add a burst of fresh flavor. I simply cut them in half and serve them raw, but you could also roast them in the oven for 15 minutes.

PREPARING THE OKRA

Fresh or frozen okra? I use fresh okra when it’s in season, and frozen when it’s not. I cut the okra into slices about 1/2″ thick.

Soak the okra in buttermilk for 15 minutes, and then drain completely.

Cornmeal is the key to crunchy fried okra. I use fine ground cornmeal, but there are many different types, so I recommend that you use your favorite.

I use white wheat flour, but any regular all-purpose flour will do.

Seasoning – I use onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper in addition to salt and pepper. You can use your favorite combination of spices but the okra will be quite bland with just salt and pepper

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR FRIED OKRA SALAD

Remove stem from the ends of the okra, and cut okra into 1/2″ slices. If using frozen okra, remove from freezer and put into a bowl for about 2 hours to thaw.

Add buttermilk and okra to a bowl and marinate for 15 minutes. Drain and discard buttermilk.

While okra marinates, dice bacon into bite-sized pieces, and cook over medium heat in a skillet until done. Transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. Do not discard bacon fat!

Add cornmeal and seasonings to a gallon-sized Ziploc Bag. Add okra, seal bag, and shake vigorously to coat. I recommend doing it in batches, so each piece of okra gets fully coated.

Add enough oil for a depth of about 1/2″, and heat to medium-high. Add okra in one layer, being sure that the pieces don’t touch (you may need to do this in batches). When golden brown on all sides, transfer okra to paper towels to drain

Add bell peppers, onions, tomatoes and bacon to a large bowl, and toss well to fully combine. Add okra and toss gently. Don’t over-mix, or the okra will lose its coating.

HOW TO FRY OKRA

I like to use a Cast Iron Skillet, because it has a very heavy bottom and cooks evenly.

Use the reserved bacon fat, and then add canola oil to make up the difference.

You want enough oil for about 1/3″ depth. That’s all you need for perfectly pan fried okra.

Make sure the oil is hot enough. I test the oil by adding one of the okra stems. When it sizzles immediately, the oil is ready to go

Don’t overcrowd the skillet! That’s true any time you fry. If you put too much in at one time, the temperature drops significantly and the food steams.

Don’t turn up the heat too high. Otherwise the oil could smoke and then the okra burns.

You will lose some of the breading in the skillet, but that’s okay.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I make Fried Okra Salad vegetarian? Absolutely. Omit the bacon, and pan fry the okra in all canola oil

Can I bake the okra instead of frying? I have not tried doing that, but the okra won’t get the same crunch.

What if I don’t like raw vegetables? You could roast the vegetables in a 400 degree oven for 15-18 minutes, or saute them lightly in a skillet.

Can I use canned okra? I don’t recommend it, as the okra will be too mushy

MORE DELICIOUS SUMMER SALADS

• Broccoli Salad with Homemade Dressing
• Funfetti Macaroni Salad
• Bacon Cranberry Chicken Salad
• Chicken Chickpea Salad
• Roasted Chickpea Spinach Salad

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Adapted from SusieQTpies Cafe