Okra fries are yummy, and make the ideal side dish or healthy snack. When cooked right, they are crispy and addicting! In this post, I’ll show you how to make okra fries with my easy recipe, using either the oven or an air fryer.
I like the taste of okra, but I don’t like how slimy it gets when it’s steamed or sautéed. The first few times I cooked it fresh from my garden, I steamed it.
But I found myself almost having to gag it down because it was the consistency of snot – EWE!
Frying it gets rid of the slime, but all of the recipes I found were breaded and deep-fried. Well that’s NOT good for you.
So I decided to come up with my own, healthy okra fries recipe using either an air fryer or the oven.
They are crispy, delicious, and still packed with nutrients. This easy and quick recipe is also gluten-free, dairy-free, and low carb!
Table of Contents
Homemade Okra Fries Recipe
This okra fries recipe is simple and quick to make, and doesn’t require any fancy ingredients. The best part is that you can easily modify it to taste, or exclude any of the spices that you don’t have on hand.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound okra
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Ingredients to make healthy okra fries
How To Make Crispy Okra Fries
You can make okra fries several ways. But my favorites are either to roast them in the oven, or use my air fryer.
If you have an air fryer, I highly recommend you use it. The air circulates rapidly, giving you a quicker, more even bake – without heating up your entire kitchen.
But don’t fret! If you don’t have one, you can still get a perfectly even batch of baked okra fries in your oven.
Supplies Needed:
- Oven or an air fryer
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Measuring spoons
- Mixing bowl
- Large spoon or kitchen tongs
- Baking sheet (if using oven)
Making Okra Fries In An Air Fryer
When using an air fryer, you’ll likely have to cook your okra fries in batches. It’s important that they aren’t overcrowded, or they won’t bake evenly.
Step 1: Preheat the fryer – Preheat your air fryer to 400F.
Step 2: Cut up the okra – Start by slicing the okra in halves or quarters. If you aren’t big on the stems, you can trim them off.
Sliced okra pieces in a bowl
Step 3: Toss in olive oil – In a mixing bowl, drizzle the olive oil over the cut okra pieces, and use a large spoon or tongs to toss until they’re evenly coated.
Step 4: Mix in the spices – Add the pepper, sea salt, paprika, and garlic powder, then toss again to coat all the pieces evenly.
Mixing in the spices
Step 5: Place okra in the fryer basket – Spread the okra fries in a single layer in your air fryer basket. Don’t overcrowd the basket – you want the heat to circulate evenly around them.
Step 6: “Fry” them until crispy – Cook them for five minutes, stir, and air fry for another five minutes, or until they’re as crisp as you’d like.
Baked okra fries in the air fryer
Baking Okra Fries In The Oven
Making okra fries in the oven involves the same process, except you’ll place them on a baking sheet. If you can’t fit them all on one baking sheet, then it’s best to spread them across two.
Step 1: Preheat your oven – Preheat the oven to 400F.
Step 2: Slice the okra into fries – You can slice them into either halves or quarters, and de-stem them if you prefer.
Tossing okra fries in olive oil
Step 3: Spread on a cookie sheet – Place the cut pieces on the baking sheet, or put them into a large bowl.
Step 4: Coat in olive oil – Drizzle the olive oil over the top, and toss well, using either kitchen tongs or a mixing spoon, until all pieces are coated.
Step 5: Add in the spices – Sprinkle sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika over the top, and toss again until evenly coated.
Mixing all ingredients to coat
Step 6: Space them evenly – Spread the coated okra fries out on the sheet so that they aren’t crowded. If you can’t space them evenly on one, then use two baking sheets.
Step 7: Bake until crispy – Cook for ten minutes, stir, and bake for another fifteen minutes, or until they reach the desired crispness.
You can enjoy your healthy okra fries either plain, or try dipping them in your favorite sauces. Experiment to see what flavors you like the best!
Dipping okra french fries in sauce
Crispy okra fries are the perfect addition to almost any meal. They are full of flavor, and it’s hard to stop yourself from grabbing more. If you’re anything like me, this easy okra fries recipe will become a staple side dish or snack in your home.
Print This Recipe
Okra Fries Recipe
This okra fries recipe is simple and quick to make, and doesn’t require any fancy ingredients. The best part is that you can modify it to taste, or exclude any of the spices that you don’t have on hand.
Ingredients
- 1 pound okra, halved or quartered
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- AIR FRIED
-Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F
-Cut okra into halves or quarters. You can trim the stems if you prefer.
-Put the cut pieces into a mixing bowl, drizzle olive oil over them, and toss to thoroughly coat.
-Add sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika, and toss again to coat.
-Spread the okra in a single layer in the air fryer basket, spacing them out evenly, cook in batches if necessary.
-Bake okra fries for 5 minutes, then shake the basket. Bake them for 5 additional minutes, or until they are as crisp as you like. - OVEN FRIED
-Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F
-Half or quarter whole okra, and remove the stem (if you prefer).
-Put the pieces in a single layer on a large baking sheet, or in a mixing bowl.
-Drizzle olive oil over the top, and toss to thoroughly coat.
-Sprinkle sea salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika over them, and toss again until all pieces are coated.
-Spread them out evenly on the baking sheet, use two if needed. Take the time to space them so they aren't crowded.
-Bake okra fries for 10 minutes. Stir, then bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until they’re as crisp as you like it.
Notes
Cook time will vary depending on method used. Allow 10 to 25 minutes.
Related Products
More Garden Fresh Recipes
- Fast And Easy Homemade Chili Recipe
- 15 Ways to Use Zucchini From the Garden
- How To Make Homemade Zoodles (Zucchini Noodles)
- Sun Dried Cherry Tomatoes: An Easy Homemade Recipe
- How To Make DIY Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
Share your favorite okra fries recipe in the comment section below!
Marisa says
I never had Okra at all, I’d love to try it! Thanks for sharing!
Carole Coates says
I love slimy boiled okra–maybe because I grew up with it, but if our okra makes it this year will definitely try this! Looks delicious.
Amy Andrychowicz says
LOL Carole. The first time we cooked okra, we steamed it. Then both my husband and I gagged our way through it. I can’t stand the slime! We never had it growing up though.
Anonymous says
Okra Fries Dip Recipe: 1/2 cup mayo, 2 tbls ketchup, sprinkle cayenne pepper, salt and cracked black pepper to taste.
Amy Andrychowicz says
That sounds delicious, thanks for sharing!