Learn how to make some crispy okra tossed in my homemade cajun seasoned using your air fryer. A healthier alternative to deep fat frying using only a fraction of the oil to make this tasty snack.
Here comes another okra recipe for you guys! It's been awhile since I dropped an okra recipe.
I know okra leaves many people divided, with some people who hate it and while others love it.
I used to be the same, for me it was that sliminess that I just couldn't stomach but now I've found a way to combat that, I actually enjoy eating okra.
I can eat it in many things from a bowl of soup to a side dish or even a snack.
This recipe is a prime example of how I like to eat my okra, which is air fried and tossed in my favourite homemade cajun seasoning.
The great thing about this recipe is you only need my homemade cajun season, some olive oil spray and some pink salt (to taste).
Frozen okra is the way forward because of its longevity and convenience. It is also significantly cheaper than the fresh produce.
I personally prefer to use frozen okra for most of my recipes these days.
The key to falling in love with okra is to eliminate most the slim, I say most because it is very difficult to completely remove it.
However, if you fry the okra after parboiling it, this usually gets rid of it.
Recipe preparation
Before I make any of my okra based recipes I always parboil it for a few minutes in some apple cider vinegar and pink salt.
Once the okra is par-boiled you will need to drain it off in a colander and thoroughly blot it dry.
You will notice some slime is still present, but because we are air frying the okra it will be gone as the okra is being cooked, so please keep that in mind and don't be deterred.
If you follow the recipe to the tee, then you should have some well seasoned crispy okra.
Blot the okra as best as you can, as I said earlier some sliminess will still be present even when you are blotting it dry and this is perfectly normal.
I've found that it's best to transfer the okra into a tie handle or zip lock bag and season it in there.
What I do is spritz the okra first with a few squirts of olive oil, secure and shake the bag.
Open the bag and then sprinkle in the seasoning, secure and shake it again.
You will notice that the okra will stick together because of the slim, don't worry as will be absorbed during the air frying process.
When placing the okra in the air fryer basket, you want an even layer, yes the okra will be stuck together, but it will separate as it air fries and you will be able to shake the basket accordingly.
The steps
- Add the chopped okra to a saucepan.
- Add 1 teaspoon of pink salt and 2 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.
- Pour some cold water onto the okra and bring to the boil.
- Once boiling point is reached, after about 5 minutes, remove the pan from the stove.
- Remove the okra with either a slotted spoon and/or drain in a colander.
- Rinse the parboiled okra with cold water.
- Pat it dry as best as you can (some slime will still be present, this is normal).
- Preheat the air fryer.
- Place the okra in a large tie handle or zip lock bag.
- Spray a few times with olive oil spray.
- Secure the bag and shake to ensure the okra is completely coated.
- Mix together the cajun seasoning, brown rice flour and cornmeal.
- Open the bag and then sprinkle the seasoning into the bag, secure and shake so that the okra is completely coated (the bag will seem slimy, and the okra will stick together this is normal and will absorb during air frying so don't panic!)
- Line the air fryer basket (this is optional).
- Place the okra in the basket, evenly layer the base of the basket as best as you can, the okra will still be stuck together until you start to air fry them (you may need to do this in batches).
- Air fry for 180C/356F for 20 minutes or until the okra is slightly golden and crispy. Make sure to spritz the okra with olive oil spray every few minutes to yield crispiness and shake the basket. During the cooking time the slime will have absorbed and the okra should separate.
- Once cooked, add additional pink salt, if needed, to taste.
Notes and tips
- I recommend using cooking spray (olive oil or avocado) and lightly spray the okra to optimise the crispiness.
- This is my homemade Cajun Seasoning Mix that you will need for this recipe.
- You may need to air fry some of the okra in batches, depending on the capacity of your air fryer.
- Do not overcrowd the basket, while the okra will be stuck together and overlap, try to create an even layer.
- It is very important to shake the air fryer basket and spritz the okra with oil every few minutes, this will help to yield crispy results.
- For best results, eat the okra immediately while it is still crispy.
- If you need to re-heat, use the air fryer to do so for several minutes this will help the crispiness to return.
- Air frying time may vary depending on the brand/model of your unit so please use the cooking time as a general guide.
More recipes okra in
Other air fryer recipes to try
- Yuca Chips
- Paprika Wings
- Corn on The Cob in Foil
- Air Fryer Oyster Mushrooms
- Pineapple Rings
- Air Fryer Chickpeas
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Air Fryer Frozen Okra
Ingredients
To parboil the okra
- 1 lb frozen okra (450g) chopped
- 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (30g)
- 1 teaspoon pink salt (6g)
To air fry the okra
- ⅓ cup cajun seasoning (36g)
- ⅓ cup coarse cornmeal (53g)
- 1½ tablespoon brown rice flour (15g)
- olive oil spray
- additional pink salt, if needed
Instructions
To parboil the okra
- Add the chopped okra to a saucepan.
- Add 1 teaspoon of pink salt and 2 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.
- Pour some cold water onto the okra and bring to the boil.
- Once boiling point is reached, after about 5 minutes, remove the pan from the stove.
- Remove the okra with either a slotted spoon and/or drain in a colander.
- Rinse the parboiled okra with cold water.
- Pat it dry as best as you can (some slime will still be present, this is normal).
To air fry the okra
- Preheat the air fryer.
- Place the okra in a large tie handle or zip lock bag.
- Spray a few times with olive oil spray.
- Secure the bag and shake to ensure the okra is completely coated.
- Mix together the cajun seasoning, brown rice flour and cornmeal.
- Open the bag and then sprinkle the seasoning into the bag, secure and shake so that the okra is completely coated (the bag will seem slimy, and the okra will stick together this is normal and will absorb during air frying so don't panic!).
- Line the air fryer basket (this is optional).
- Place the okra in the basket, evenly layer the base of the basket as best as you can, the okra will still be stuck together until you start to air fry them (you may need to do this in batches).
- Air fry for 180C/356F for 20 minutes or until the okra is slightly golden and crispy. Make sure to spritz the okra with olive oil spray every few minutes to yield crispiness and shake the basket. During the cooking time the slime will have absorbed and the okra should separate.
- Once cooked, add additional pink salt, if needed, to taste.
Notes
- I recommend using cooking spray (olive oil or avocado) and lightly spray the okra to optimise the crispiness.
- This is my homemade Cajun Seasoning Mix that you will need for this recipe.
- You may need to air fry some of the okra in batches, depending on the capacity of your air fryer.
- Do not overcrowd the basket, while the okra will be stuck together and overlap, try to create an even layer.
- It is very important to shake the air fryer basket and spritz the okra with oil every few minutes, this will help to yield crispy results.
- For best results, eat the okra immediately while it is still crispy.
- If you need to re-heat, use the air fryer to do so for several minutes this will help the crispiness to return.
- Air frying time may vary depending on the brand/model of your unit so please use the cooking time as a general guide.
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