Fried Okra Poppers with Pepper Jack Cheese

Author

Big Ks Que

Hey yall ! My name is Kevin , but just Call me Bigk ! Backyard bbq is my passion, so back in 2020 we turned on the camera and started sharing our journey with yall. Come on in fix ya a plate , and welcome to the family -Big K

Fresh whole okra gets a pepper jack center, a hush puppy batter coat, and a quick fry in this easy appetizer. These fried okra poppers bring together tender okra, melted cheese, and a golden brown exterior in every bite.

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Watch How to Make It

They are built for sharing, whether the plate lands beside a backyard spread or gets passed around before the meal. Keep an eye on them once they hit the bacon grease – they cook fast.

A hand holds a sliced piece of okra above a white speckled bowl with okra pieces inside, on a wooden cutting board.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

The fresh okra is hollowed out and filled with strips of pepper jack cheese, so every popper starts with a simple, focused combination. The hush puppy mix adds the batter layer, while the bacon grease handles the frying.

This recipe also keeps the process moving. After the okra is trimmed, cored, filled, and dipped, each piece fries for just 2-3 minutes until golden brown.

A person wearing a gray shirt and blue glove dips okra into batter on a wooden cutting board, with more okra pieces nearby.

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Ingredients You'll Need

Fresh whole okra is the base for these poppers. Use 10-12 pods, cutting away the tops before coring each one to make room for the cheese.

An 8-ounce block of pepper jack cheese is cut into strips, with one strip placed inside each piece of okra. Two packages of hush puppy mix create the batter, prepared according to the package directions with everything those directions require.

A person holds a sliced piece of okra over a wooden cutting board with a knife, more okra, and a block of cheese.

The poppers fry in two tubs of Bacon Up bacon grease. Get the bacon grease to 325 degrees before the filled and battered okra goes in.

How To Make It

The process begins with the okra and cheese, then moves into the hush puppy batter and hot bacon grease. Have the hush puppy mix prepared according to its package directions before dipping the okra.

Preparation

Start by cutting the tops off the 10-12 fresh whole okra pods. Core out each pod, creating space for the pepper jack cheese.

Cut the 8-ounce block of pepper jack into strips. Put one piece of pepper jack inside each prepared okra pod.

A person slices fresh okra into a speckled white and blue bowl on a wooden cutting board, with whole okra visible beside the bowl.

Mix the two packages of hush puppy mix according to the package directions, using everything needed for those directions. Dip each cheese-filled okra pod into the prepared batter until it is coated.

Cooking

Get the two tubs of Bacon Up bacon grease to 325 degrees. Once the grease reaches temperature, fry the battered okra poppers.

Fry the poppers until golden brown, allowing about 2-3 minutes. That golden brown finish is the cue to pull them from the bacon grease.

A person holds a piece of fried food above a wooden board with more fried pieces and a container of sauce labeled Ranch outdoors.

Serving & Variations

Serve the fried okra poppers once they are golden brown and ready to enjoy. The pepper jack-filled centers and hush puppy coating make these easy to put out as an appetizer or alongside the rest of the meal.

A useful move is to prepare the hush puppy mix according to the package directions before dipping the okra, so the filled pods can go straight from batter to the heated bacon grease. Keep the fry temperature at the supplied 325 degrees and use the golden brown finish as the stopping point.

Frequently Asked Questions

What cheese is used in Fried Okra Poppers?

The recipe uses pepper jack cheese, cut into strips and placed inside each cored okra.

What temperature should the bacon grease be for frying?

Get the bacon grease to 325F before frying the battered okra poppers.

How long do Fried Okra Poppers fry?

Fry them until golden brown, which takes about 2-3 minutes.

How do I prepare the okra before battering?

Cut the tops off the fresh whole okra, core them out, and add a strip of pepper jack cheese to each one before dipping in the hush puppy batter.

Wrapping Up

These poppers take fresh okra in a different direction with pepper jack tucked inside and hush puppy batter on the outside. The steps stay straightforward – trim, core, fill, dip, fry, and enjoy. Recipe created by Big Ks Que for Trust Me Try It.

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