Breaded Crispy Air Fryer Okra

Indulge in this guilt-free Breaded Crispy Air Fryer Okra, perfect as a snack, appetizer, or side dish.

With just a few simple ingredients, it’s incredibly easy to make and offers a delightful way to enjoy this nutritious vegetable.

Okra, also called lady’s finger or gumbo, is a bright green veggie with a unique shape and texture. It’s a real gem of nature!

You can discover it in dishes from different cuisines worldwide, bringing its own special flair.

With its mild and delicate taste, okra blends nicely with other ingredients, especially tomatoes and lemon juice.

When cooked, it turns tender with a slight crunch, offering a delightful and distinctive texture.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Okra – Select fresh pods of similar size to ensure even cooking. Before cooking, wash the okra thoroughly and ensure it is completely dry.

• Crispy coating mix – Achieve an outstanding crispy coating for okra by combining flour and cornmeal seasoned with paprika, garlic powder, freshly ground pepper, and salt.

• Egg and milk mixture – Combining an egg with a small quantity of milk helps the coating stick to the okra.

• Cooking spray – Lightly spray breaded okra pods with cooking spray, olive oil, or avocado oil to enhance crispiness.

How to Air Fry Okra?

Making fresh okra in an air fryer is a straightforward process. 

To achieve the best results, you need to follow a few simple steps:

Preheat your air fryer to 195°C (380°F).

Rinse the okra and pat it dry with a paper towel. Trim the ends if desired.

In a shallow bowl, whisk together the egg and milk along with half of the paprika, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder until well combined.

In another bowl, mix the cornmeal and flour along with the remaining half of the paprika, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.

Dip each okra pod into the egg mixture, allowing any excess to drip off, then coat it thoroughly with the cornmeal mixture.

Place the coated okra in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Do it in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the okra pods.

Lightly spray the okra with oil for added crispiness. Cook the okra in the air fryer for 12-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking.

Once the okra is golden brown and crispy, remove it from the air fryer and serve immediately with your favorite dipping.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Using the air fryer allows you to achieve that desired crispiness without excessive oil, offering a healthier alternative to deep-frying and reducing unnecessary calories and saturated fats.

• The hot air circulation ensures even cooking from all sides, eliminating worries about uneven or soggy pieces.

• This crispy air fryer okra recipe is incredibly simple and requires minimal time and effort, making it perfect for a quick snack or an easy side dish.

• Enjoy the crispy breaded okra on its own with a dipping sauce or as a tasty side dish.

• The combination of breading and air frying creates a crispy exterior while maintaining a tender interior, offering the perfect balance of texture.

Buying the Perfect Okra

To achieve the ultimate crispy breaded okra, choosing the right ingredients is essential.

Opt for fresh and vibrant okra pods that are firm and free from any blemishes.

Check that the stem of the okra pod is fresh and green; if it appears dry or brown, the okra might be old or past its prime.

Okra is typically in season during the summer months, from June to September, making it the ideal time to purchase fresh, locally-grown okra.

Choose medium-sized pods as they are typically less fibrous, resulting in a more tender and enjoyable texture.

Expert Tips From the Chef

Choose Fresh Okra: Opt for fresh and vibrant okra pods that are firm, bright green, and free from any blemishes or soft spots.

Pat Dry the Okra: Before breading the okra, ensure to thoroughly pat it dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture, which helps achieve a crispier end result.

Uniform Slicing: Slice the okra into even-sized pieces to ensure consistent cooking, allowing all the okra pieces to cook evenly and reach the desired level of crispiness.

Shake the Air Fryer Basket: While cooking in the air fryer, give the basket a shake halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking on all sides of the okra.

Serve Immediately: For the best texture and flavor, enjoy the crispy breaded okra immediately after cooking. The longer it sits, the more it may lose its crispiness.

What Goes Well with Breaded Fried Okra?

Air-fried okra makes a wonderfully healthy side dish! Here are some delicious options to serve alongside your crispy okra:

Prepare flavorful dipping sauces like Tartar Sauce with Capers, Thai Style Tomato Chili Jam, barbecue sauce, spicy aioli, or zesty tomato-based dip to complement the okra.

Add crispy breaded okra as a tasty topping to Air Fryer Hamburgers for extra crunch. Toss crispy okra on top of fresh salads such as Orzo Pasta Salad or Lebanese Fattoush Salad for added flavor and crunch.

Serve crispy okra as part of an appetizer platter alongside other finger foods like Air Fryer Steak Bites and Mushrooms, Best air Fryer Crab Cakes, or Crispy air Fryer Brussel Sprouts with Bacon.

Storage and Reheating

Allow the cooked okra to cool completely, then place it in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.

To reheat the leftover okra, preheat your air fryer to 200°C (400°F).

Place the okra in a single layer in the air-fryer basket and reheat for about 5-7 minutes or until heated through. This will help maintain the crispiness of the coating.

If using the microwave for reheating, place the okra on a microwave-safe plate and heat on high in 30-second intervals until it reaches the desired temperature.

While it may not retain the same level of crispiness as the air fryer method, it offers convenience.

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