Okra has always had a special place in my heart – yes, I know that sounds strange, but let me explain! I grew up in Tennessee, and fried okra was a Sunday dinner staple! My Grandma would pre-cook the okra before we left for church on Sunday morning. When we returned, my Grandaddy would get a handful of okra and sit down in his recliner for his post-church snack. As a little girl, I would always climb up in his lap and we would eat okra together while we waited for Grandma to finish dinner. Oh, so good – and such beautiful memories! No doubt some of my love for okra comes from the good memories associated with it!
Okra has become a bit of a symbol with Trim Healthy Mamas – and while throwing okra in my milkshake (recipe here) was a brand new idea to me, fried okra was already a favorite!
My Grandma always used egg and cornmeal to bread her okra. I have found that using egg whites and baking blend gives me the exact same flavor that I remember from my Grandma! Just a couple of ingredients and you too can be enjoying fried okra with authentic Southern flavor!
Southern Fried Okra {THM-S, Low Carb, Gluten Free}
- 1 bag frozen cut okra
- 1/4 cup egg whites
- 1/4 cup THM Baking Blend
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 2-3 Tablespoons butter or coconut oil for frying
- In a large gallon Ziploc bag, combine okra, egg whites, baking blend, and salt and pepper to taste. (You could also just combine in a mixing bowl, but I’ve found you get a better “breading” by shaking it in the bag.)
- Melt butter or coconut oil in skillet over medium heat. Add frozen “breaded” okra and pan fry until just browning and dry. (This ensures the “slime” is all gone!) This should take 10-15 minute, stirring often.
What is your favorite way to use okra or have you ever used it?
This post contains affiliate links which provide me with a small commission when you purchase something through these links. Thank you!
I always thought Okra was, well slimy . But I love Okra in the THM Shakes. It makes a really great texture and I get a good dose of all the healthy benefits in my breakfast shake.
Made this tonight. Came out wonderful. I did sub in coconut flour. Thanks for the great recipe.
Wonderful! Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed it!
Thanks for mentioning the coconut flour! I wondered if that would work!
This sounds fantastic. I love fried okra. I want to try their baking blend soon.
Another yummy dish! Love that this reminded me of traditional fried okra!
Wonderful! So glad you enjoyed it!
Have you ever tried this oven baked to go with an E meal?
No, I have not, but I have heard of people roasting it in the oven with salt and pepper!
How much is in a bag of frozen okra? I have a bunch of fresh okra from my farmers market.
1 package is 1 pound.
How many servings would this make?
Well, I can eat the whole bag! ? But this makes 4 3/4 cup servings.
Can you use fresh okra instead of frozen?
I’m sure you could, but I believe fresh okra can tend to be a bit more “slimy,” so you may want to cook it a bit longer. Now I’m hungry for fried okra! 🙂
I’ve been a Tennessee girl all my life (over 5 decades) and this is how we eat our okra. Just starting THM and was thrilled to find that it is a staple. Thanks for this recipe!
Yay! So glad you found it! I love fried okra!
I coworker brings an Okra salad to pot lucks I always wished I could make. Now I can try it! Okra, cherry tomatoes cut in half, bacon crumbled, dressing of white vinegar/oil/sweetener. Very light on dressing just to coat.
That sounds like something I may have to make!!
You mentioned your grandma used to make the okra before church and you would eat it later. Can this THM recipe be made ahead of time and be crispy? Thanks for sharing!
She would cook it almost completely, then leave it in the pan on the stove while we were at church. When we came back, she would finish frying it so it was crispy. I believe this recipe could be done in the same way. 🙂
I grew up on okra also and have loved it since childhood. My mother made the best and it didn’t last long at our table. I love it fried but also cooked with tomatoes. I was so happy to find a way to add fried okra to my THM menu! Great recipe here. Will try it soon.