Cooking Okra Tempura- Pan Fried or Air Fryer?

 

The other day was my 5th Okra Harvest. I feel I should try cooking okra tempura. However, I can not decide whether to pan fry it or use my air fryer. Here are videos showing cooking by pan frying versus Air frying.

There are Pros and Cons between the two cooking methods. Air Frying is healthy but may not be as tasty or crispy as Pan Frying. Here's an article on Okra tempura Air Frying. https://platedcravings.com/air-fryer-okra/

How to make Air Fryer Okra

Start with washing and cutting the fresh Okra. Chop off the stems and ends, then cut into 1/2″ slices.

1. Combine all the breading ingredients with a fork and combine the egg and milk in a shallow bowl.
2. Toss okra into the egg mixture, then transfer in batches to the flour cornmeal mixture. Lightly shake off excess flour and transfer to Air Fryer Basket.
3. Spray with oil. We use light olive oil spray, avocado oil spray, or coconut oil spray.
4. Air fry for 10-12 minutes until golden, shaking the basket two times during cooking. Spray with more oil as needed so all the floury spots are covered.

Tips for making Air Fried Okra

• Traditional southern Okra recipes use a cornmeal-flour mixture but you can also only use flour if you don’t have cornmeal on hand.
• The cornmeal adds some more texture and flavor to the fried Okra
• Add extra seasoning to the breading mixture like cayenne pepper, paprika, or garlic powder for extra flavor or heat.
• Instead of egg and milk, you can also use 1/4 cup buttermilk.
• Use a high smoke point oil spray that is flavor neutral like avocado oil, light olive oil, or coconut oil.
• Shake the basket gently so the breading doesn’t fall off.
• Depending on your Air Fryer you might have to air fry in batches. The cooking time can also vary depending on the model you have.
• Fried Okra tastes best served right away with a sprinkle of salt

Can you air fry frozen breaded okra?

If you don’t have time to make fried okra from scratch, try making breaded frozen okra in your Air Fryer! Using an Air Fryer instead of pan-frying or deep-frying frozen breaded okra saves time and calories. Put the frozen okra in the Air Fryer Basket and air fry at 400 F for about 15 minutes until crispy, shaking the basket once or twice during cooking.

Air Fried Okra

Air Fryer Okra made with a cornmeal and flour breading is crispy, delicious, and air fried to perfection in only 15 minutes!

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Calories: 144kcal

Author: Julia Foerster

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 pound okra, caps and tips cut off and sliced (about 20)
• ▢ 1 egg
• ▢ 1/4 cup milk
• ▢ 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• ▢ 1/2 cup cornmeal
• ▢ 1/2 tsp salt
• ▢ 1/4 tsp pepper
• ▢ Oil spray

Instructions

• Preheat air fryer to 400 F (200 C).
• In a shallow bowl combine egg and milk.
• In another bowl combine flour, cornmeal, salt, and pepper.
• Toss okra into the egg mixture, then transfer in batches to flour mixture. Lightly shake off excess flour and transfer to Air Fryer Basket. Depending on your Air Fryer you might have to fry in batches.
• Spray okra with oil spray and air fry for 10-12 minutes until golden, shaking the basket two times during cooking. Spray with more oil as needed so all the floury spots are covered.
• Remove okra and sprinkle with salt to taste. Serve hot.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 144kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 216mg | Potassium: 303mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 597IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 1mg

 

I Survived An Emergency Event Today-Thank You, Lord

 

Last Night with three Digit Temperatures and heat warning here in Northern California, My central air conditioning stopped giving me cool air.  Thanks to my 2 electric fans, I was able to maintain the house temperature to 85F. However, I was not able to sleep, so I started calling a couple of AC repair companies with emergency services starting at 1AM to 3AM. After a couple of tries, I was able to connect to the call center of Lees Aircon Services. I was able to make an appointment for 10AM this morning. By 11:00AM I have my air condition running just in time for this afternoon projected 115F. This event cost me a fortune but  Peace of Mind and a One year Maintenance Agreement membership. The technician installed a brand new compressor Saver Start Assist and a new dual Run Capacitor made in the US. The technician informed me that the old capacitor was made in China. Now I am enjoying a cool 78F inside, while it is blistering hot outside. I am very please with the prompt service from LeesAir.com     

While talking to the technician, I learned the Person ( female) who answered my Help Call early this morning is located in Armenia. A couple of years ago, When I call for Help on my TV, Internet and Phone, an agent from the Call Center either from the Philippines or India handled my call for Help. 

Last week when I have no Internet, TV and land line phone services, the person who answered my call was from Central America. I had no service for 24hrs and I realized how dependent I am to the Internet and Television. 

I am just wondering- Are Call Centers in the Philippines still active? I appreciate to hear from my FB friends in the Philippines.   

Meanwhile, the event last night made me hungry for Fish & Chips and crab cakes today.

What is considered an AC emergency?

What Is an AC Emergency? Several scenarios always equal an AC emergency. If your air conditioner stops working and weather advisories forecast daytime temperature at around 100°F and nighttime temperatures at or above 80°F, your AC requires emergency service.

 

 

I Love My Red Burgundy Okra Plants and Its Flowers

I have 7 red burgundy okra plants as well as the One Common Green Okra this year. Do you know the Difference? 

 

The common green-podded okra varieties are the usual grown in summer gardens, but varieties with red pods are those that can deliver a dual role of an edible and an ornamental crop. Red, sometimes called magenta or purple okra, makes an unusual and fun addition to an ornamental garden.

Is red okra more nutritious?

It did not become popular because it was expensive. However, some farmers are growing it now as it is known to have more nutritional benefits than the green variety.” Red Okra, which is rich in anthocyanins and phenolics, can be grown in both summer and rainy seasons.

 

Only one Green Okra survived to Maturity in the Garden-but I have 7 Red Burgundy variety survived from the seedlings stage.

Okra is one of the few crops that thrive in high temperatures and this year with the hot, dry weather it is the star of my garden.

Okra is in the family Malvaceae (mallow family), the same family as the hibiscus. The blossoms of okra and hibiscus are similar, but okra has large yellow petals with dark purple throats and gives the added benefit of edible pods. The common green-podded okra varieties are the usual grown in summer gardens, but varieties with red pods are those that can deliver a dual role of an edible and an ornamental crop.

Burgundy okra has green leaves with burgundy stems, leaf ribs, and branches. The burgundy-colored 6″-8″ long pods turn green when cooked. Okra is used as the thickening agent in Cajun gumbo, but it also can be boiled, broiled, fried, roasted, steamed, canned, or pickled. Use dried pods in flower arrangements! Okra has attractive, edible flowers.

Okra – Burgundy – Abelmoschus esculentus

Soil & Water: Okra prefers moderately rich soil. Its low water requirements make it an easy plant to grow.

Planting & Growing: Okra is heat loving. Sow seeds outside in spring after all danger of frost has passed, when the soil temperature has reached 70F. It’s a good succession plant after early, spring-maturing crops. Expect good yields on this 4-6′ tall, bushy plant.  Makes a great trellis for pole beans and other vining plants.

Harvesting & Storage: Pick okra pods when they are 2″-3″ long for tenderness. They are best tasting when eaten the same day. Some people develop a contact dermatitis while handling okra; avoid the itchiness by wearing a long-sleeved shirt and gloves.

• Soil Temperature: 75-95F
• Planting Depth: 3/4″-1″
• Germination: 5-15 Days
• Height At Maturity: 4′-5′
• Days To Maturity: 49-65 Days
• Sun/Shade: Full Sun
• Spacing After Thinning: 12″

 

 

My Favorite Side Dishes, Enhancers and Wine for Dinner

From Left to Right: Chili/vinegar sauces, Ginisang Bagoong, Greek Peperoncini and Picante Sauce. The only brand I will used for the shrimp paste ( bagoong) is Barrio Fiesta. The Picante sauce I like is Medium spicy-not mild or Hot and the Peperoncini is a substitute for the Papaya Atchara(pickled green juliene papaya) that I do not have. The chili/vinegar sauce, I used for my Pasta and Empanada Dishes.  
 

The two bottles are Muscat Blanc and Gerwurztraminer Grape Juice from Navarro Vineyards. These two wines are excellent pairings for Fish or Seafood Dishes. 

If you are following my food blogs, you already know I am not a Meat and Potato person. I have an adventurous palate and will try any edible food commercially available. However, there is one Filipino food item ( sauce) that I dislike- Patis or Fish Sauce. In place of Patis, I used soy sauce, rice vinegar, shrimp paste or oyster sauce. The other side dishes and sauces that I enjoyed are shown in the above photo. 

 

This is my favorite side Dish-It is an excellent substitute for Papaya Atchara

Atchara is a pickle made from grated unripe papaya originating from the Philippines. This dish is often served as a side dish for fried or grilled foods such as pork barbecue.

How about you? What side dishes and sauces do you use? I know a few relatives who do not used side dishes and sauces for their dishes. But to me the side dishes enhanced the flavor and enjoyment of the main dishes.  Allow me to end this blog with following quotes:

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” “We all eat, and it would be a sad waste of opportunity to eat badly.” “You don't need a silver fork to eat good food.” “After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one's own relatives.”

Meanwhile, here's my latest purchase from Shef.com- A Side Dish That I really enjoy- mango salad.

Main ingredients: Chili, mangoes, carrots, red onions, red bell peppers, crispy onions, crispy prawns, cucumber, jicama, mirin, olive oil. 

 

Celebrating the Start of the "BER" Months with a Special Lunch of Dumplings

Today, September 1, is the beginning of the "BER" months. The weather forecast for this week here in Northern California is a whole week of 3-Digit temperatures. In other words it is a Heat Wave-first in the history of California as the longest heat wave ever recorded. It is not good news specially for those whose jobs requires them to be outside. However, I am turning this negative news, by being positive and enjoy a special lunch of Pork, Scallop and Shrimp Dumplings with my Chili Sauce ( see photo above). 

I purchased the dumpling on line from 99 Ranch Market-a store that specialized on Asian Foods. With it I purchased my first Vietnamese Pia Cake of Mung bean and durian.

The Pia Cake is similar to the Pinoy Hopia- the durian make it taste great. I will have this for dessert along with my mango sorbet. I purchased other items from 99 Ranch Market including a Live Main Lobster. I had the Lobster dinner last night. Here are some photos:

Besides the Lobster and Pia Cake, I purchased Longanisa(Pinoy sweet sausage)
mango and tempura mix for my okra.

My Lobster Dinner with Sauteed Okra paired with Navarro Chardonnay

Here'a a photo of my cut okra ( 6th harvest)- ready to be sauteed in Bagoong ( Barrio Fiesta brand.
 
Finally, if you live in California, keep cool, stay inside and Hydrate. If you live in the Philippines, May I wish you an advanced Merry Christmas. September 1 is the start of the Christmas season in the Philippines. 

 

The Pleasure of Growing Okra in My Garden

The potted mature okra plants viewed from my Family Room ( 3.5 ft tall)
 

Because of the 3-Digit temperatures here in FO, I have to water them daily-a good exercise for my aching knees.  I also have intense pleasure cooking them with my own recipes. ( see link at bottom of page)

This year, I planted only Okra in my vegetable garden in a wooden pot, because of the drought and space. The previous years, I had ampalaya, chinese eggplants and tomatoes in my backyard vegetable garden.  I planted two varieties of okra-the standard green okra and the red( purple) Okra. I started from seeds ( more than 3 dozens), but due to the bluebirds and squirrels only 7 purple okra and one green variety survived to maturity. I have already harvested more than three dozens okra and had cooked them to my gastronomic delight.  Here are some photos, I took the other day.

A close-up photo showing the yellow flowers

 

Newly harvested young okras for my stew and gumbo recipes. For recipes on okra and dishes read the following:

https://myfavoritepinoydishes.blogspot.com/2022/08/eleven-ways-to-cook-okra-my-own-okra.html

https://myfavoritepinoydishes.blogspot.com/2022/08/two-okra-dishes-available-on-line-via.html

The latest photo of my okra in bloom. The yellow flower is pretty and complemented with purple stems of the plant with green leaves with purple veins is beautiful to look while seating in my patio every day.