Bhindi Stir fry / Okra Stir fry

Okra, also known as "lady's finger", or "Bhindi” are cultivated throughout the tropical and warm temperate regions around the world for their fibrous fruits or "pods. They are also an excellent source of anti-oxidant vitamin, vitamin-C, providing about 36% of daily-recommended levels. Okra is an ideal food to eat for those people who are looking forward to lose weight. That’s because okra is extremely low in calories and fat, also mainly due to its rich fibre content.  It’s also a good source of many important minerals such as iron, calcium, manganese and magnesium.

         Okra/bhindi is my husband favourite vegetable. Well it’s not so favourite of mine though…. But I do cook okra quite often at home. Our today’s recipe is dry dish, Okra/bhindi masala. This goes well with roti’s as well as rice preparations.

Ingredients:

Bhindi/Okra - 200-250 gms

Onion, chopped - 1 medium size

Tomatoes, chopped - 2 medium size

Garlic - 2-3 pods crushed or chopped

Coriander powder/dhania powder - 1 tsp

Red chili powder - ¼ tsp

Turmeric powder - ½ tsp

Pepper Powder - ¼ tsp

Salt to taste

Oil -2 tbsp

Method:

1. Rinse 200-250 gms bhindi/okra well. Spread them on a kitchen towel, when they are dry chop them into small pieces of ½ inch size

2. Slice the onions and mix them with the chopped okra/bhindi along with some salt. Let it rest for 20 to 30 mins

3. Now heat oil in a pan add mustard seeds, when they splutter add the chopped garlic. When the garlic starts to turn brown add the marinated okra/bhindi and mix well (frying or sautéing the bhindi in oil minimizes the sliminess and stickiness)

4. After sautéing for 5 mins in a medium flame, reduce the flame and add the chilli & turmeric powders respectively. Fry well such that the raw smell goes off from the masalas

5. Now add the chopped tomatoes and mix well. Cook in a medium flame till the tomatoes are fried well with the bhindis. ( add extra oil if required)

6. Check for seasoning, add salt( if required) and add a sprinkle of ground pepper powder and mix well

7. Transfer it to a serving bowl. This goes well with rotis and rice