Air Fried Okra Recipe (All the Taste With None of the Guilt!) (2024)

FAQs

What makes okra taste better? ›

Add acid. Acid will minimize mucilage, so add lemon or vinegar to a dish, or cook okra with things that are naturally acidic, like tomatoes. Some cooks swear by soaking okra in a combination of water and vinegar or lemon juice for 30 minutes before cooking.

But since it's often fried in bacon drippings, frying oil and Crisco, fried okra definitely isn't healthy. It's loaded with saturated fats and trans fats, which raise your bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and lower your good (HDL) cholesterol levels.

Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Place 1/2 the breaded okra slices in the basket of the air fryer and spray with cooking spray. Cook 4 minutes.

🤩 Okra is Rich in Nutrients: Okra is a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin K, magnesium, and folate. By soaking okra in water, many of these nutrients leach out into the liquid, making them easily absorbable when you drink it.

Pro tip: add a little baking soda to your okra if you want it to “draw” more.

Place okra in a saucepan; add enough water to cover the okra and salt to taste; bring the water to boil. Cover the pan and cook eight to 10 minutes or until the okra is tender. Drain well and, if desired, toss with a little butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Roast okra is a healthy snack alternative to the fried version, although it does have quite a few uses in the kitchen! Turn it into a variety of other dishes like stuffed peppers, gumbo or even Spanish rice to add a nice roasted flavor. Most commonly though, they're great as a starter, side or delicious snack!

Eating too much okra can adversely affect some people. Gastrointestinal problems: Okra contains fructans, which is a type of carbohydrate. Fructans can cause diarrhea, gas, cramping, and bloating in people with existing bowel problems. Kidney stones: Okra is high in oxalates.

Stomach problems: Fructans are a type of carbohydrate found in okra, which may increase bowel problems in people with irritable bowel syndrome. Joint pain: Okra contains a toxic chemical called solanine that may exacerbate symptoms such as pain and inflammation in people with joint disorders such as arthritis.

Okra is low in calories but packed full of nutrients. The vitamin C in okra helps support healthy immune function. Okra is also rich in vitamin K, which helps your body clot blood. Antioxidants are natural compounds that help your body fight off molecules called free radicals that can damage cells.

How long does okra need to be in the air fryer? ›

Preheat an air fryer to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place okra, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a large bowl; stir gently to coat. Arrange okra in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook in the preheated air fryer for 10 minutes, tossing the basket halfway.

The moistened okra adheres to the breading during frying. Breading does not stick to dry okra. And in my opinion, buttermilk makes a breading which is too thick which also causes the breading to fall off.

Okra can also be baked, fried, steamed, pickled, grilled and even boiled. This recipe for Spicy Grilled Okra is not slimy and is a tasty way to eat okra without heating up the house.

Lemon juice, chopped tomatoes, vinegar, or a splash of wine will not only add depth to your recipe, but it will also lower your slime quotient. A vinegar bath also does wonders to reduce the slimy consistency. Before cooking, soak the pods in vinegar for 30 minutes to help break up and dissolve the slime.

Fried okra is classic! A light cornmeal coating deep-fried in hot oil makes okra crispy and delicious.