Fried Okra Tacos Recipe

Southern Living March 4, 2013

Article featured image — No soggy bits allowed!

Leave it to Southern Living magazine to pen a cookbook featuring the very best of Southern fried food. While we’re crazy about their buttery, booze-spiked confections and ways with bourbon, there’s something about the Southern way of strategic deep-frying that really hits home. These okra tacos are fried food as it was meant to be.

A tip from the authors:

“A sprinkling of sugar in the cornmeal coating caramelizes as the okra cooks, creating a crisp, golden crust.”

Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Serving Size: 8 cups

Ingredients

1 pound fresh okra, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cups self-rising white cornmeal mix
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
vegetable oil

Fresh tomato salsa

3 cups tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 large avocado, diced
1/2 cup green onions, chopped
1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
table salt, to taste
hot sauce, to garnish

Directions

For the tacos:

Stir together okra and buttermilk in a large bowl.
Stir together cornmeal mix and next 3 ingredients in a separate large bowl. Remove okra from buttermilk, in batches, using a slotted spoon, discarding buttermilk.
Dredge in cornmeal mixture, and place in a wire-mesh strainer. Shake off excess.
Pour oil to depth of 1 inch into a large, deep cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven; heat to 375°. Fry okra, in batches, 4 minutes or until golden, turning once. Drain on paper towels.
Fill warm tortillas with shredded lettuce, hot buttermilk fried okra, and fresh tomato salsa. Serve with hot sauce.

For the tomato salsa: