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Quick tempura okra with smoked paprika salt

Adam’s secret tip for perfect okra comes from his wife, Asami, who rubs okra with salt before cooking – it not only seasons the okra but also helps remove any plant ‘hairs’ from the skin of the okra.

Quick tempura okra with smoked paprika

Credit: Jiwon Kim

  • serves

    4

  • prep

    5 minutes

  • cook

    10 minutes

  • difficulty

    Easy

serves

4

people

preparation

5

minutes

cooking

10

minutes

difficulty

Easy

level

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Ingredients

  • 10 okra, trimmed
  • Salt
  • 1 lemon wedge, to serve
  • Vegetable oil, for deep-frying
For the tempura batter
  • 2 tbsp Japanese mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp plain flour
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2-3 tbsp water, as needed
For the smoked paprika salt
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • ¼ tsp fine Korean chilli powder
  • ½ tsp vegetable stock powder
Serves: 4 as share plate

Instructions

  1. Rub the trimmed okra well with salt to remove any of the plant ‘hairs’, then cut into 2 cm pieces. Place into a large bowl with the mayonnaise and mix well to coat. Add the remaining batter ingredients, mixing to a thick batter. Heat enough oil to deep-fry in a small saucepan to 175˚C.
  2. Deep-fry the battered okra in batches for 4 minutes, until crisp. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the fried okra to a wire rack to drain.
  3. While the okra is frying, combine the ingredients for the smoked paprika salt in a small bowl and mix well to combine.
  4. To serve, transfer the okra to a serving plate. Sprinkle with the smoked paprika salt and serve with lemon wedges on the side.
Photography by Jiwon Kim.

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Cook's Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.

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SBS Food is a 24/7 foodie channel for all Australians, with a focus on simple, authentic and everyday food inspiration from cultures everywhere. NSW stream only.
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Cooking and conversation are a bridge to understanding people and their culture. On The Cook Up with Adam Liaw his guests - world renowned chefs, entertainers, sports and social media stars - prepare food, eat, laugh and give us a glimpse into their lives.
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Published 5 April 2025 4:39pm
By Adam Liaw
Source: SBS



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