Deep Fried Okra

This is a great recipe for crispy deep fried okra.  I wanted to use cornmeal but realized I was all out, luckily for me I had some panko bread crumbs.  The panko really added a great crunchy texture and the okra were perfectly cooked on the inside.

1/2 lb fresh okra
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tbl paprika
1/2 tbl garlic powder
1 tsp cayenne
1 tbl salt
1/2 tbl fresh ground black pepper
1 large egg
A few dashes of your favorite hot sauce
1/4 cup butter milk
Enough oil to fry
                                                                                
Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl.

In a separate bowl whisk together the wet ingredients.



Clean the okra and remove the stem and the very bottom of the okra.

Let the okra sit in the egg and buttermilk mixture for about 5 minutes.


Use your hand to shake off any extra of the wet mixture, and then put in the dry mixture.  Turn the okra over and kind of press the bread crumb mixture onto the okra. Do this step one by one.

Preheat oil to 370-375 degrees.

Let okra sit for about 10 minutes on a wire rack to let the crust set.

Fry in batches until they care golden brown.  You might need to use a wooden spoon to turn them half way through.

Serve immediately.