Shelly's Recipe

FRIED OKRA

Category: Sides

1 lb fresh okra
2 cups buttermilk
1 cup self-rising cornmeal and flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground red pepper
Vegetable oil
1/4 cup bacon drippings

Cut off and discard tip and stem ends from okra; cut into 1/2 inch thick slices. Stir into buttermilk; cover and chill 45 minutes.

Combine cornmeal and next 3 ingredients in a medium bowl. Remove okra from buttermilk with a slotted spoon and dredge, in batches in cornmeal mixture. Discard buttermilk.

Pour oil to depth of 2 inch into a Dutch oven; add bacon drippings and heat to 375. Fry okra, in batches, 4 minutes or until golden; drain on paper towels. Serves 4