Air fryer okra is an easy three-ingredient recipe to make as an easy side dish for meals any time of the year! Cook it whole, sliced, or cut in half with excellent results! It comes perfectly tender with nice crisp edges.
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Reading: Roasted okra in air fryer
I think my love for okra stems from my southern upbringing! It’s also one of those ingredients that you either enjoy or hate!
My mom frequently served it up fried which was my favorite while when she made stewed okra I was less enthusiastic about it.
Then a few years ago I was pleasantly surprised when my aunt showed me how to roast okra whole in the oven! I was instantly in love.
Ditching the breading and oil creates a perfect side dish that’s naturally gluten-free, vegan, and egg-free. And using the air fryer instead of the oven works perfectly!
Air fryer okra is a tasty side dish for all kinds of southern favorites! I love to serve it up with vegan red beans and rice or with crispy tofu.
Read more: The 10 best grilled vegetables for your next backyard barbecue
If you enjoy simple vegetable sides, I think you’ll also love this lemon veggie potato bake and Mediterranean roasted vegetables.
You can also learn how to make beets for easy meals and how to blanch broccoli and serve them up as a second side dish.
Jump to:
- ❤️ Why You Will Love This Recipe
- What is Okra?
- 🥘 What You Need to Make Crispy Air Fryer Okra
- More Air Fryer Recipes
- 🔪 How to Make This Air Fryer Okra Recipe
- Storage
- 📖 Variations
- What to Serve With Fried Okra
- 💭 Expert Tips
- ❓FAQs
- More Southern Recipes to Explore
- 📖 Recipe
Table of Contents
❤️ Why You Will Love This Recipe
- All you need are three ingredients in this delicious okra recipe but there are lots of variations you can use to add different flavors.
- Okra in the air fryer is a healthier alternative than deep frying and makes a tasty side dish for meals.
- Air fry okra for easy cleanup and a way to avoid heating up the entire kitchen.
- Crispy okra without a breading means it’s gluten-free!
What is Okra?
Okra pods are medium-length tapered green vegetables that have a ridged surface and rough fuzz on the outside. Inside are round white seeds.
In the South, where this veggie is more popular, okra is available fresh throughout the entire year. In other areas of the country, it’s available during its peak season, May through October.
When buying okra at the grocery store, choose pods that are bright green in color and less than 4 inches long. Larger-sized okra may be tough.
It is most commonly fried, roasted, or added to stews. When cooked, it releases a thick substance with a bit slimy texture which is why many people don’t enjoy this veggie.
Most commonly okra is an ingredient in gumbo or served up in a crispy corn meal breading. It goes well with chilies, corn, lemon, onion, sweet peppers, tomato, and vinegar.
Read more: Best Grilled Chicken Marinade Recipe – The Pioneer Woman
Okra provides nutrition for the body through a good dose of magnesium, folate, fiber, antioxidants, and vitamin C, K, and A.
🥘 What You Need to Make Crispy Air Fryer Okra
You only need a handful of simple things to make this easy air fryer recipe.
Ingredients:
- Okra: Use fresh okra for best results. Frozen is another option if fresh isn’t available but you will need to extend the cooking time.
- Olive Oil: My preference in this recipe is olive oil but you can use your favorite oil for cooking. Coconut oil and avocado oil are two other faves.
- Salt and Pepper: Simple seasoning for flavor. I like using freshly ground black pepper and sea salt.
Equipment:
- Air Fryer: Any will work and no need for anything fancy. This recipe was tested in a smaller air fryer without any special settings.
- Mixing Bowl: Use to toss the okra in the oil and seasoning.
More Air Fryer Recipes
🔪 How to Make This Air Fryer Okra Recipe
- Wash and dry the okra. If you prefer to cut, you can slice it horizontally into half-inch slices or slice it in half lengthwise straight down the middle.
- Place the okra pieces in a bowl. Sprinkle with oil, salt and pepper. Use your hands or tongs to toss the okra around to coat it completely.
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and transfer the okra to the basket.
- Cook at 350° F or 180° C for 8-10 minutes until hot, crispy and the edges are golden brown. Turn at least once during the cooking time.
Storage
Air fryer roasted okra is best served and eaten immediately. It tends to get a little soft and mushy as it sits. If you have some leftover okra, here are some tips for storing it.
- Leftovers: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: If using fresh okra, freeze for up to one month. If you used frozen okra, it’s not recommended to refreeze it.
- Reheat: To reheat leftovers, return them to the air fryer and cook for 4-6 minutes or until heated through. You can also heat them in the oven at 375° F until heated through. I don’t recommend reheating them on top of the stove or in the microwave.
📖 Variations
- Lemon Pepper: Swap out the regular black pepper with lemon pepper.
- Spicy: Toss in some red chili flakes, a little cayenne pepper or even fresh chilies before cooking the okra.
- Cajun: Add blackening spices or cajun seasoning before cooking.
- Garlic: Add fresh minced garlic or garlic powder along with the oil and seasonings.
- Lemon or lime: Add a squeeze of fresh lime or lemon juice at the end of cooking.
- Thyme or basil: If using dried add before cooking, if using fresh add at the end of cooking and just before serving.
- Dipping sauce: Serve them up like okra fries with a favorite dipping sauce such as ranch or bbq if you want!
What to Serve With Fried Okra
This healthy fried okra side dish makes a great addition to a variety of meals. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Baked Macaroni and Cheese
- Baked Eggplant Cutlets
- Air Fryer Crispy Tofu
- Vegan Chicken Nuggets
- Red Beans and Rice
- Black Eyed Peas
- Southern Cornbread
💭 Expert Tips
- For best results place the okra in a single layer. If using a smaller air fryer, you can stack the okra 2-3 deep but don’t overfill the basket so the hot air can flow around the okra.
- It’s a good idea to buy okra close to the cook time. It’s a relatively delicate vegetable and will last for a short time (2-3) days in the refrigerator.
- Smaller okra may be less slimy and more tender.
- The best way to get crispier okra, cut okra in half or into half-inch slices prior to cooking.
❓FAQs
More Southern Recipes to Explore
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