Fried Okra

If you can't handle the heat you can leave out the hot sauce, but it won't be tryuly Southern fried. We use lots of hot sauce in the South.

Ingredients:
1 pound fresh okra
2 eggs, beaten
4 to 6 dashes hot pepper sauce
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
oil for deep frying

Wash okra and drain. Now cut off the ends. Then, cut okra into 1/2-inch slices. In a bowl, combine beaten eggs and hot sauce. Add okra and stir to coat all pieces well. In a shallow dish, combine cornmeal, salt and cayenne. Dip okra pieces into cornmeal mixture to coat well.

Here is where it get's truly Southern. My Mother fried hers up in a big black cast iron skillet. That thing was ugly from decades of use, but anything that comes out is delicious.

Heat oil in the skillet to 375°. Fry okra in batches until browned, about 4 to 6 minutes for each batch. Drain on paper towels or on a paper bag and serve immediately.