Gooey Cheese Stuffed Fried Okra

Name: Gooey Cheese Stuffed Fried Okra
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients: ½ teaspoon ancho chile powder; ½ cup buttermilk; ½ cup cornmeal; 2 large eggs, beaten; 1 cup all-purpose flour, divided; ¼ teaspoon garlic powder; 6 cups oil for frying; 2 pounds fresh okra; ¼ pound habanero-jack or pepper-jack cheese, cut into thin matchsticks; ½ teaspoon smoked paprika; Salt to taste

Recipe GLPRe9579d716d5bd0

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Southern

Appetizer

15 min

456 cal

Servings: 8

SNAP eligible

Crispy fried okra pods stuffed with melty habanero-jack cheese, seasoned with ancho chiles and smoked paprika. Golden-brown and perfect as a savory side dish or appetizer.

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Ingredients

½ teaspoon ancho chile powder

½ cup buttermilk

½ cup cornmeal

2 large eggs, beaten

1 cup all-purpose flour, divided

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

6 cups oil for frying

2 pounds fresh okra

¼ pound habanero-jack or pepper-jack cheese, cut into thin matchsticks

½ teaspoon smoked paprika

Salt to taste

Directions

Preheat the oil in a deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pot to 365°F. Use a kitchen thermometer to ensure accurate temperature.
In a large bowl, combine 1/2 cup flour with the cornmeal, ancho chile powder, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Mix well to combine.
Pour the buttermilk into one shallow bowl and the beaten eggs into another shallow bowl. Place the remaining 1/2 cup flour in a third shallow bowl.
Carefully slit each okra pod lengthwise, starting from the tip and stopping just short of the stem end, being careful not to cut all the way through. Gently open each pod slightly.
Insert a thin matchstick of cheese into each slit okra pod, pushing it gently inside. Work carefully to avoid tearing the okra.
Dip each cheese-stuffed okra pod into the buttermilk, allowing excess to drip off. Then dredge lightly in the plain flour, shaking off any excess.
Next, dip the flour-coated okra into the beaten egg, then immediately roll it in the flour and cornmeal mixture, ensuring the okra is thoroughly and evenly coated.
Carefully place the coated okra pods into the hot oil in small batches, being careful not to overcrowd the fryer. Fry until golden brown and crispy, about 2 to 3 minutes, turning occasionally for even browning.
Use a slotted spoon to remove the fried okra and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil. Season immediately with salt while still hot.
Serve the fried okra hot as a side dish or appetizer, while the cheese filling is still warm and melted.

Comments

Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff4

The habanero-jack cheese requires a specialty stop—Harris Teeter carries it reliably, but Food Lion and ALDI do not, adding real cost and inconvenience to a weeknight. The 15-minute stated time is honest for frying only and ignores the ten minutes needed to prep and stuff eight okra pods, so budget 25 minutes total. Okra is a Southern staple and cheap year-round at every major Charlotte chain. The real drawback is the same-night-only window: fried okra softens badly when reheated and does not keep, so this works best for a dinner party where you fry just before serving, not for a busy family meal that needs leftovers.