Fried okra's your jam? Great. We've all been there: plate full of crispy, golden okra and not a clue what to pair with it.
What next, you ask? We've got the scoop on seven side dishes that'll make your meal sing.
Ever tried to eat just okra? We did. Spoiler: it gets old, fast. Variety's key.
Think beyond the box. Our sides aren't just fillers; they're the main event's best buddies. Each one, a taste revelation.
Remember those family BBQs? Aunt Marge claimed her casserole was "a secret"? We're spilling the beans-and no secret recipes here. Just good, honest food that makes fried okra proud.
Stick with us. Together, we'll turn your okra meal from "meh" to "more, please!"
Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Fried Okra?
Fried okras are no doubt one of the most addictive snacks or dishes.
You can have it anytime of the day and on any occasion.
Of course, one can have it as it is without any side dish, but the texture tends to be dry since these are dry-fried.
So, it is essential to have a side dish when having fried okras.
The side dish will not just upgrade the texture of the dish, but the taste and pleasure of enjoying okras with the suitable side dishes completely change the whole concept of the meal.
What to Serve with Fried Okra? 7 Best Side Dishes
1 - Rice
Fried okra with rice is a combination hard to beat.
So simple and easy to make, yet so tasty, this okra-rice dish will bring out the inner chef in you.
All you need is fresh okra, long grain rice, and a few ingredients found in everyone's kitchen.
You will be amazed how good this combination of two simple ingredients tastes.
One can even serve Fried okra with fluffy plain rice (warm).
It'll taste just as delicious as fried rice.
If you're a spice lover, you can extra compliment the dish with spicy chutney to balance out the flavors.
2 - Yogurt Sauce
Yogurt is tasty as it is, and who can deny that.
But when combined as a dipping sauce with fried okra, the taste is just out of this world.
You have got to try this combination of okra and yogurt sauce.
You will simply fall in love with the combination of the spicy fried okra and the savory and creamy yogurt dip sauce.
You can check out the recipe by Lauren McElwain on Okra Tempura with Soy Dijon Yoghurt.
It's quick and easy to make and the perfect recipe to beat any sudden cravings.
3 - Tomato
Fried okra with tomatoes is a combo loved by many.
You can enjoy fried okra with a different variety of tomato dishes.
One way is to soak the okra in buttermilk batter, dredge the okra on the cornmeal mixture, and deep fry them.
On another pan, you can cook a sort of tomato gravy using tomatoes, tomato paste and seasonings.
And you can serve the okra on top of the hot tomato gravy.
You can even have fried okra with a simple tomato salad.
Just dice up some fresh cherry tomatoes, an onion, some greens (optional), drizzle some lime juice, some freshly chopped coriander and a dash of salt.
4 - Lemon
Another simple way to enjoy fried okra is with fresh lemons.
First, you need to deep fry the okra to perfection.
Remember to use only fresh okra.
Once you have diced up the okra, soak it in buttermilk, next, coat them with cornmeal mixture and deep fry till golden and crispy.
According to Chef Mashama Bailey, it is very crucial to coat okra in cornmeal before deep frying.
You can serve the fried okra hot on a plate drizzled with fresh lemon juice, with a sprinkle of salt and black pepper.
5 - Fried Chicken
What can be better than fries on fries.
This classic comfort food of fried chicken tenders and okra will have you asking for more.
First, you need to coat the tenders in the dry mixture with seasonings, dip them into the buttermilk, and then back into the flour.
Fry them till they're crispy and golden. Next, use the same method to fry the okra.
And there you have it. Fresh fried okra with chicken tenders.
Such an easy dish to make and a combo you cannot say no to.
6 - Cheese
Cheese is one underestimated combination with fried okra.
But what people are missing out on is that this combo of cheese and okra is unlike any flavor.
It's savory, creamy, spicy, salty and finger-licking tasty.
One way to use cheese with fried okra is to use Feta cheese.
Break the cheese into small pieces using your fingers and toss in some cherry tomatoes, diced onions and salt for taste.
You can also use any type of cheese of your choice and enjoy the crispy okra with the savory cheese alongside.
7 - Coleslaw
If you're wondering whether the combo of Coleslaw and fried okra will complement each other, stop with the thinking.
Coleslaw and fried okra are like the perfect balance of taste and health.
No doubt, fried okra can be a bit oily, and for those who don't prefer much oil in their food, Coleslaw is the perfect side dish to balance it out.
This salad has so many nutrients and vitamins in it you won't even have to worry about the fat content in the fried okra.
