Fried okra

Fried okra

Fried okra, showing the interior and exterior
Type	Fried vegetable
Course	Side dish
Region or state	Southern United States
Associated cuisine	Soul food, cuisine of the Southern United States
Main ingredients	Okra
Ingredients generally used	Cornmeal

Fried okra is a side dish associated with the cuisine of the Southern United States, particularly soul food. It is made by coating sliced okra in cornmeal and then frying it.

History

Okra is a staple of the cuisine of the Southern United States, with fried okra being the most popular method of preparation.^[1][2] Okra was first transported to the Americas by slave ships during the Atlantic slave trade.^[3] The method of frying okra is believed to have roots in the Congo^[4] or West Africa before being transported to the United States.^[1] During the mid-19th century, fried vegetables and fritters became increasingly popular in the South which contributed to the popularity of fried okra.^[5]

Fried okra is popularly served at barbecues and restaurants in the South, especially as part of a meat and three.^[2] It is often consumed during the summer, when okra is in season.^[6][7] It has been called "Southern popcorn".^[8] The dish is associated with soul food,^[9][10] Cajun^[11] and Gullah Geechee cuisine.^[1] It is included in the Oklahoma state meal, a menu based on the agricultural and culinary history of Oklahoma that is an official state symbol.^[12]

Preparation

The basic preparation of fried okra is simple, requiring okra that has been dredged in cornmeal and fried.^[2] The okra pods are cut into slices and then tossed or dredged in cornmeal before frying in butter^[13] or vegetable oil.^[14][4] Either deep frying and pan frying may be used.^[1] More complex recipes involve dipping the okra in eggs or buttermilk prior to dredging in cornmeal or cornmeal and flour.^{[15][16][17][18]} Another method of preparation calls for a cornmeal batter that includes beaten eggs. This batter may be seasoned with ingredients such as black pepper and cayenne pepper.^[19]

Okra can become slimy when sliced.^[20] Cutting the okra into small pieces before frying allows it to maintain a crispier exterior texture,^[8] but results in a slimier interior.^[16] Whole okra pods may also be fried.^[21]

It is typically served as a side dish,^[2] sometimes with a dipping sauce such as remoulade.^[22][23]

References

1. Stewart, Kayla (2022-07-11). "Fried Okra, Beyond the Batter". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
2. "Fried Okra Recipe". Southern Living. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
3. Krystal, Becky (June 9, 2021). "Extra-crispy fried okra is the snack of the summer". The Washington Post.
4. Dupree, Nathalie (2004-03-01). New Southern Cooking. University of Georgia Press. p. 92. ISBN 978-0-8203-2630-6.
5. "American Cookery & A History of Its Ingredients". www.digitalussouth.org. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
6. Fabricant, Florence (2019-08-26). "There's a Lot to Love About Fried Okra". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
7. Ellis, Becky (2022-06-30). "Southern Spoonful: The Garden Gifts of Summer". TheRoanoker.com. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
8. "Fried Okra". Washington Post. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
9. Cortés, Carlos E. (2013-08-15). Multicultural America: A Multimedia Encyclopedia. SAGE Publications. p. 634. ISBN 978-1-4522-7626-7.
10. Piatti-Farnell, Lorna (2011-07-13). Food and Culture in Contemporary American Fiction. Routledge. pp. 61–62. ISBN 978-1-136-64554-9.
11. "Classic Cajun Cuisine". www.thegazette.com. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
12. "State Meal | The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture". Oklahoma Historical Society | OHS. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
13. Warnes, Andrew (2004). Hunger Overcome?: Food and Resistance in Twentieth-century African American Literature. University of Georgia Press. pp. 30–31. ISBN 978-0-8203-2562-0.
14. "Fried Okra". Food Network. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
15. H, Mark. "Fried Okra Recipe - Food.com". www.food.com. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
16. "Southern Fried Okra". Taste of Home. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
17. admin (2014-10-15). "Fried Okra Recipe - Cooking with Paula Deen". Paula Deen Magazine. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
18. Cook, Brandie @ The Country (2022-05-16). "Southern Fried Okra". The Country Cook. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
19. "Fried Okra Recipe | Southern Recipes". PBS Food. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
20. "We'll Say It: Crispy Fried Okra Is The Best Way To Enjoy The Veggie". Delish. 2023-02-14. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
21. Corbett, Lee Cleveland (1917). The Propagation of Plants. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 7.
22. "Fried Okra With Rémoulade Recipe". NYT Cooking. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
23. "Fried Okra with Herb Remoulade". Martha Stewart. Retrieved 2023-06-30.