How to Make Easy Air Fryer Okra

As most who grow up in the south, I have been eating okra since I was a little kid. While I've tried other versions, fried is the way it's presented 99% of the time. And usually, there's more crunchy batter than okra, but in my Air Fryer Fried Okra, I let the okra do the talking. Oh...and it's also much easier than traditional deep fried okra. Give it a go!

How to Make Traditional Fried Okra

Traditional fried okra has a thick coating. You dip okra in whisked eggs, then dredge in a flour and cornmeal mixture. You then have to use several inches of hot oil in a large pan to fry. The cleanup and figuring out what to do with all the leftover oil have kept me from ever making it like this. If you want to try this more traditional way, but still healthy, try this recipe from Second Heart Paleo.

How to Make Air Fryer Okra

Far less complicated than breading okra, here are the steps. See photo gallery for how to:

1. Cut okra into desired shape

2. Mix Tapioca and Potato starch with seasonings

3. Add okra to bowl

4. Put lid on and shake well

5. Completely coated with no mess!

6. Place into Air Fryer basket and spritz heavily with avocado oil

7. Air fry for 10 minutes at 400 degrees

8. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce

What to Serve with Fried Okra

• Typically, fried okra is part of a heavy meal like fried chicken or chicken fried steak in the south. It's a "more is more" kind of spread.

• Serve this Air Fryer Okra as an easy side dish or appetizer with almost anything including a grazing table. Without the greasy nature of deep fat frying, it stays crispy for awhile without needing to be piping hot. We love serving it alongside Homemade Ranch dressing.

• Cut into thin strips, add Mexican Spice Blend to the breading and top the fried okra with Pico de Gallo. It sounds weird but it’s delicious. See photo.

Is air Fryer Okra Paleo and Whole30 friendly?

YES! Because it contains no grains, eggs or dairy it works with Whole30 as well as those following paleo, gluten-free, egg-free and dairy-free.

Substitutions for Making Air Fryer Okra

• Potato Starch and Tapioca Starch - If you don't have one of these, use double the amount of one of them. You can also use GF flour blend if you aren't grain-sensitive.

• Magic Salt - This spice mixture is my all-purpose seasoning blend (recipe here). It's a mixture of granulated garlic, salt and pepper. If you don't have it made up, use 1 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp granulated garlic, 1/2 tsp pepper instead.

Yield: 4

Author: Christi Flaherty

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Air Fryer Okra

Prep time: 20 MinCook time: 12 MinTotal time: 32 Min

Cook modePrevent screen from turning off

Ingredients

• 1 lb okra
• 1/2 cup potato starch
• 1/2 cup tapioca starch
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp Magic Salt
• Avocado Oil spray

Instructions

1. Cut the okra into bite sized pieces or leave whole if they are less than 2" long.
2. Mix the starches and seasonings in a bowl with a lid.
3. Add the okra and snap on the lid.
4. Shake well to coat the okra completely.
5. Turn on preheat function of air fryer and add the okra in a single layer when it's ready.
6. Spritz very well with oil
7. Fry for 7 minutes then shake the basket to turn the okra over. Spray again with oil.
8. Fry for another 3-5 minutes or until the okra is brown and crispy.
9. Serve with Ranch or your favorite dipping sauce.

https://www.realfoodsanity.com/recipes/air-fryer-okra

©2024 Christi Flaherty, Flaherty Culinary Concepts and realfoodsanity.com. All Rights Reserved. No part may be reproduced, used to create a derivative work, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written consent of the author.

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