Ready for the crispiest air fryer okra ever? If you love this green vegetable like we do you are going to go crazy over how crunchy these get. Find this and more easy air fryer recipes we make all of the time.
If you are looking for a great vegetable Ninja Foodi recipe, you can make it in that handy machine too. Most hot air machines work the same and give you that deep fried texture without all the added calories or fat.
Ninja Foodi Okra Recipe
If you are going to make this as one of our Ninja Foodi recipes you will use the lid that is attached, the air crisp button and the basket with the holes in the bottom that rests inside. The biggest thing to remember is that you don’t want the pieces to overlap.
Ingredient Notes
You are going to want to start with freshly sliced okra, the thinner they are the more crispier they will become and faster they will cook so I suggest 1/2 inch or so ideally.
You want a few large Eggs whisked in a bowl for the breading to stick
Panko breadcrumbs is our favorite coating because it is light and super crunchy. Some are gluten free if you need that
With just 3 ingredients + some salt and pepper and/or Old Bay you too can make this for under 10 bucks. With a light breadcrumb coating this veggie goes from good to delicious in no time at all. Forgetful?
Air Frying Frozen Okra
You would not be able to bread these if this is the case. We do have directions for cooking frozen okra in air fryer though without breading that is still delish but definitely different.
Tips
I suggest using bite size pieces vs. the whole thing with air fried okra. This way you get more breading and flavor wrapped around each bite and it is easier to eat right out of the machine too.
Just make an assembly line of sorts so things are easier when preparing. Depending on how much you’re making, it may take a bit of time for prep, but cook time is quick!
There is no shaking or flipping required for this okra recipe. It actually won’t work as well if you do because the outside coating is likely to fall off and you want all that goodness to stay in tact.
Leave them as is with a bit of non stick spray on the bottom. Brown as long as you would like. If you want the outside very very brown you could spray a bit of olive oil on the top during the last few minutes.
If you’re new to this method of cooking I promise you that it tastes as crispy as deep frying foods. BUT you need no vegetable or olive oil to submerge it in. I imagine you may be able to use a sort of cornmeal mixture instead if you prefer.
Do you need to boil okra before frying them?
This is not necessary except if you think that this vegetable is on the bitter side you could. If you do you’ll need about twice as long, plus time to cool down before rolling in the breadcrumbs. Trick is after boiling you need to really dry off the outside on paper towels or the breadcrumbs won’t stick. To boil them first you need to;
How Long to Air Fry Okra
Typically you will need 8-10 minutes to get the perfect texture, golden brown on the outside. Cook time will vary depending on the size of the pieces and thickness. Of course if you want them crispier then set for a few more minutes after checking them at this point.
Air Fryer Okra Recipe
Equipment
- 2 shallow bowls
- 1 air fryer
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb okra, cut into 1" pieces
- 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 large egg
Instructions
- Whisk egg in a shallow bowl, in another bowl combine breadcrumbs, salt and pepper together.
- Dip cut okra pieces into egg, then cover in breadcrumbs so it is coated well.
- Preheat air fryer to 360 degrees for 5 minutes. Put coated okra into air fryer basket in one layer so they're not overlapping.
- Set time to 9 minutes. Open and check, if you want them crispier set for a few more minutes.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Other Air Fryer Vegetables you’ll love
You can try our air fryer red potatoes that are a great side dish to any meal. Just set your air fryer to 400 degrees for a few minutes and they’re done! It is possible to heat air fryer frozen vegetables this way too
- Air fryer baked potatoes can be an easy side dish or main meal stuffed with 5 ingredient chili or broccoli and cheese.
- Our air fryer cauliflower is a winner at dinner too.
What does okra taste like?
It is a very distinct flavor I will say. If you’ve had gumbo it is usually inside, sliced. It has a mild, almost grassy flavor I would say. Some compare it to an eggplant or maybe green beans, but it’s more pungent than those. The texture is crunchy when cooked quickly but very tender when slow cooked.
What are the benefits of eating okra?
It’s very rich in magnesium, folate, fiber, antioxidants, and vitamin C, K1, and A. Is okra good for joint pain? Yes, it is said to reduce inflammation in the digestive tract and other areas of the body like blood vessels, eyes, lungs, and joints.
My garden is so behind this year. I can’t wait for the fresh okra to come on so that I can make this!
LOVE okra, but the rest of my family does not. This is a fantastic way to make a small batch!
I’ve never been sure what to do with okra but this is soo good and so easy! Thanks for the recipe!
This was soooo yummy! Super crispy, flavorful and easy to make. Will definitely make again!
I would like to say that I buy frozen breaded okra and cook that in my air fryer and it comes out delicious. I take the bag out of the freezer and let it thaw slightly so that I can break the pieces apart and then spritz it lightly with olive oil. Then I cook it in the air fryer at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes and it comes out perfectly.
This was a better way of making okra than the other recipe I tried which used cornmeal for the breading but, as written, it was a little bland. It definitely needs the garlic or onion salt you mentioned. I also thought adding a little grated parmesan to the bread crumbs mixture might be good. I still have some left that I’ll reheat in the air fryer (IP Air Fryer Lid) and try sprinkling a little on top. The Panko bread crumbs are a must–nice and crispy.