Two Southern Fried Side Dishes

by Libby Pelham | More from this Blogger

Being from the South, there are two fried foods I simply cannot give up: fried okra and fried green tomatoes. These are both side dishes that I grew up with and even though I know fried foods are bad for me, I still love both of these. If you have never had either one, here are the recipes. Give them a try and you too might be hooked!

Fried Okra

I borrowed this recipe from Paula Deen. You will need cornmeal, all purpose flour, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, 2 lbs of fresh okra, oil, and buttermilk. You will need to season your okra with a "house seasoning." To make this, mix 1 cup of salt, 1/2 cup of black pepper, and 1/4 cup of garlic powder. This will make more than you need for this recipe, so you can seal it in a small container to keep it fresh for other recipes. Rinse your okra and cut it into slices, about 1/2 thick. Place 6 cups of oil in a large skillet and turn your burner on to medium heat. In a bowl, combine 2 teaspoons of house seasoning, 1/2 cup of cornmeal, 1 cup of all-purpose flour, and 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Dip your okra in 1/2 cup of buttermilk and then place it in the cornmeal-flour mixture to coat it. Carefully place the okra in the grease (you do not want to splatter the oil and burn yourself) and allow it to cook until golden brown. While it is cooking, take a large bowl and place a couple of layers of paper towels in the bottom. Remove the okra from the oil and place in your bowl (on top of the paper towels) to drain. Serve hot - cold okra is not very good.

Fried Green Tomatoes

You will need self-rising flour, fine cracker meal, sugar, eggs, milk, and 6 to 7 large green tomatoes. Slice your tomatoes in 1/2 inch slices. In a large bowl, combine 4 cups of self-rising flour, 1 cup of fine cracker meal, 1/3 cup of sugar, 1/4 cup of salt, and 1 tablespoon of ground black pepper. Mix then sift twice. In another bowl, mix two large eggs and 4 cups of whole milk. In a frying pan, add about 3 cups of vegetable oil (should be enough to cover the tomato slices) then turn your heat on medium. Dip your tomatoes in the egg wash then cover with the dry coating. Once the oil is hot, place your tomatoes in the oil and fry until golden brown. Serve hot!

Learn more about Libby Pelham

Libby Pelham is a web designer/freelance writer located in Memphis, TN. She has a beautiful little boy, Will, born in July of 2004.

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