Grandma's Homemade Southern Fried Okra Recipe

My Grandma's Homemade Crispy Southern Pan Fried Okra Recipe 

Ingredients:

2 pounds fresh okra, sliced into 1/2"-inch bite-sized rounds
2 large eggs, beaten (room temperature)
2 cups whole milk or buttermilk (room temperature)
2 cups yellow cornmeal
2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 tsp garlic powder (optional)
Cooking oil for frying (vegetable or pork oil)

How To Make Best Pan Fried Okra :

Best Homemade Fried Okra Recipe

This was my Grandma 's old fashioned southern way of frying okra, she was raised in Louisiana:  First, wash, trim, and slice the okra. Then thoroughly combine the already-beaten egg and the milk in a large bowl. Soak the okra in the room-temperature egg and milk mixture, never cold but only room temperature. Soak the okra for about 15 minutes (hopefully okra is already tender when bought). In another bowl, mix the yellow cornmeal, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Heat your preferred cooking oil in a skillet (cast iron is always BEST) over medium-high heat (about 375°F). Coat the okra bites evenly in the cornmeal mixture and then place in 1"-inch of hot oil and stir them continuously or they will burn easily! Reduce heat to medium heat (about 360°F) but do not let it drop below 350°F. I highly recommend using a cooking thermometer while frying okra. When the okra nuggets first begin to brown, allow them to cook until golden golden and crispy...do not over-brown them or this will affect their flavor. Remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Add more oil to the pan and fry the remaining okra. Serve warm.