Recipe - Bhindi masala

(Spicy Okra)

Summary

This dish can be eaten with rice or roti (flat bread). This vegetable can be cooked with fresh okra and also frozen okra. It is best if cooked with fresh okra, but you cannot really tell the difference between fresh and frozen okra. The cooking time can be reduced if fresh okra is used.

Ingredients:

• Okra - 1 pound (450 grams - 12kg)
• Onion - 1 cup
• Cilantro - 1 tablespoon
• Green Chillies - 1 Serrano pepper or 3 -5 small Indian chillies cut in stripes (depending on the spice level)
• Tomato - couple of slices any size (for garnish at the end)
• Dhania powder (coriander powder) - 2 teaspoons
• Amchoor powder (dry mango powder) - 1 teaspoon (if can tolarate more amchoor add more 1/4 teaspoon)
• Chilly powder - 1 teaspoon (according to spice level)
• Turmeric - 1/4 teaspoon
• Salt 3/4 teaspoon (according to taste)
• Oil - 1 tablespoon (can be added during cooking if needed)

Vegetable cutting:

• For fresh okra: Wash and dry okra in a kitchen towel. Cut them into small pieces about an inch size.
• Onion: Cut it into long thin strips 1 inch long.

Process:

Preheat a medium size skillet with oil and add green chillies (optional), cut okra/thawed okra for few minutes and saute for 5-8 minutes. The temperature of the stove should be medium high to high . You may have to do a couple more minutes if the thawed okra is still lacy.

Once you notice the okra is not lacy (stringy) any more, add the chopped onions to the already sauteed okra.

Saute for a couple more minutes. Now add turmeric, coriander powder, dry mango powder and chilly powder. Do not add salt now. Salt should be added after the okra is almost cooked. Temperature of the stove should be medium to medium high.

Saute okra till the okra is almost cooked. Add salt to the preparation now. Mix it well and let it be on the stove for a few minutes. To make sure okra is fully done, try running the mixing spoon gently through okra. Of course you can taste a piece and test it too. Let it sit in the skillet for a couple of minutes. Transfer okra into a serving dish and garnish with cilantro and tomato.

# Servings 2 - 4

Tips:

• For frozen okra: Thaw the frozen okra for 3-4 minutes in a microwave on a microwave safe plate. Microwave to dry out the excess water. Dry out on a paper towel (optional)

Recipe by: Swadesh