Fried okra explained

Fried okra
Type:Fried vegetable
Course:Side dish
Region:Southern United States
Associated Cuisine:Soul food, cuisine of the Southern United States
Main Ingredient:Okra
Minor Ingredient:Cornmeal

Fried okra is a side dish associated with the cuisine of the Southern United States, particularly soul food. It is made by coating sliced okra in cornmeal and then frying it.

History

Okra is a staple of the cuisine of the Southern United States, with fried okra being the most popular method of preparation.[1] Okra was first transported to the Americas by slave ships during the Atlantic slave trade.[2] The method of frying okra is believed to have roots in the Congo[3] or West Africa before being transported to the United States. During the mid-19th century, fried vegetables and fritters became increasingly popular in the South which contributed to the popularity of fried okra.[4]

Fried okra is popularly served at barbecues and restaurants in the South, especially as part of a meat and three. It is often consumed during the summer, when okra is in season.[5] [6] It has been called "Southern popcorn". The dish is associated with soul food,[7] [8] Cajun[9] and Gullah Geechee cuisine.[10] It is included in the Oklahoma state meal, a menu based on the agricultural and culinary history of Oklahoma that is an official state symbol.[11]

Preparation

The basic preparation of fried okra is simple, requiring okra that has been dredged in cornmeal and fried. The okra pods are cut into slices and then tossed or dredged in cornmeal before frying in butter[12] or vegetable oil.[13] Either deep frying and pan frying may be used. More complex recipes involve dipping the okra in eggs or buttermilk prior to dredging in cornmeal or cornmeal and flour.[14] [15] [16] [17] Another method of preparation calls for a cornmeal batter that includes beaten eggs. This batter may be seasoned with ingredients such as black pepper and cayenne pepper.[18]

Okra can become slimy when sliced.[19] Cutting the okra into small pieces before frying allows it to maintain a crispier exterior texture,[20] but results in a slimier interior. Whole okra pods may also be fried.[21]

It is typically served as a side dish, sometimes with a dipping sauce such as remoulade.[22] [23]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fried Okra Recipe . 2023-06-30 . Southern Living . en.
  2. News: Krystal . Becky . June 9, 2021 . Extra-crispy fried okra is the snack of the summer . The Washington Post .
  3. Book: Dupree, Nathalie . New Southern Cooking . 2004-03-01 . University of Georgia Press . 978-0-8203-2630-6 . 92 . en.
  4. Web site: American Cookery & A History of Its Ingredients . 2023-06-30 . www.digitalussouth.org.
  5. News: Fabricant . Florence . 2019-08-26 . There's a Lot to Love About Fried Okra . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-06-30 . 0362-4331.
  6. Web site: Ellis . Becky . 2022-06-30 . Southern Spoonful: The Garden Gifts of Summer . 2023-06-30 . TheRoanoker.com . en-us.
  7. Book: Cortés, Carlos E. . Multicultural America: A Multimedia Encyclopedia . 2013-08-15 . SAGE Publications . 978-1-4522-7626-7 . 634 . en.
  8. Book: Piatti-Farnell, Lorna . Food and Culture in Contemporary American Fiction . 2011-07-13 . Routledge . 978-1-136-64554-9 . 61–62 . en.
  9. Web site: Classic Cajun Cuisine . 2023-06-30 . www.thegazette.com . en-US.
  10. News: Stewart . Kayla . 2022-07-11 . Fried Okra, Beyond the Batter . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-06-30 . 0362-4331.
  11. Web site: State Meal The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture . 2023-06-30 . Oklahoma Historical Society OHS.
  12. Book: Warnes, Andrew . Hunger Overcome?: Food and Resistance in Twentieth-century African American Literature . 2004 . University of Georgia Press . 978-0-8203-2562-0 . 30–31 . en.
  13. Web site: Fried Okra . 2023-06-30 . Food Network . en.
  14. Web site: H . Mark . Fried Okra Recipe - Food.com . 2023-06-30 . www.food.com . en.
  15. Web site: Southern Fried Okra . 2023-06-30 . Taste of Home . en-US.
  16. Web site: admin . 2014-10-15 . Fried Okra Recipe - Cooking with Paula Deen . 2023-06-30 . Paula Deen Magazine . en-US.
  17. Web site: Cook . Brandie @ The Country . 2022-05-16 . Southern Fried Okra . 2023-06-30 . The Country Cook . en-US.
  18. Web site: Fried Okra Recipe Southern Recipes . 2023-06-30 . PBS Food . en-US.
  19. Web site: 2023-02-14 . We'll Say It: Crispy Fried Okra Is The Best Way To Enjoy The Veggie . 2023-06-30 . Delish . en-US.
  20. News: Fried Okra . 2023-06-30 . Washington Post . en.
  21. Book: Corbett, Lee Cleveland . The Propagation of Plants . 1917 . U.S. Government Printing Office . 7 . en.
  22. Web site: Fried Okra With Rémoulade Recipe . 2023-06-30 . NYT Cooking . en-US.
  23. Web site: Fried Okra with Herb Remoulade . 2023-06-30 . Martha Stewart . en.

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