Vegetarian Entrees

Spicy Okra | Masala Bhindi

Spicy Okra is a simple dish that has great flavors. This dish is healthy, wholesome, and tastes fresh with freshly ground masala powder.

Most of the okra recipes use chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder ad garam masala powder. A mix of lentils, peanuts, sesame, and many other spices elevates the taste of this dish and yet keeps this dish unique and straightforward.  

Cooking the Okra the right way is tricky as the gooey substance in the Okra can ruin the dish if you do not remove it from the Okra in the cooking process. 

  1. The first step is washing the Okra well and patting it dry to remove any moisture.
  2. The second step is cutting it to expose the inside seed part of it where the gooey mixture is. Cutting it diagonally or making slices are the best method of pruning. In this recipe, I have made a slit across, exposing the seed part. Ensure not to cut the Okras into small pieces, as this can cause the dish to be mushy.
  3. The third step is to shallow fry it with a generous amount of oil to eliminate the mucinous sticky/ gooey substance. Once the Okras are shallowly fried, drain on a paper towel to remove excess fat.
  4. Now the Okras are ready to be used in any curry or sabzi. Make sure not to overcook the already shallow fried Okra.

This recipe makes it an excellent choice for vegetarians, vegans, and for those who are lactose intolerant. The Creaminess of this dish comes from light coconut milk, and you can replace it with almond milk, soy milk, etc. My family eats meat, but yet this is one of their favorites for lunch/dinner. It tastes best when you serve it with rice or roti.

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SPICY OKRA

Spicy Okra | Masala Bhindi


  • Author: Spoorthy
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 12 servings

Description

Spicy Okra is a simple dish that has great flavors. This dish is healthy, wholesome, and tastes fresh with freshly ground masala powder.


Ingredients

Oil- 1 1/2 Tbsp + 2 Tbsp

Okra- 1/2 lb

Peanuts- 1 Tbsp

Yellow Lentils- 1 Tbsp

Coriander Seeds- 1 Tbsp

Red Chilies- 3 to 4

Cinnamon and Cloves- 1 tsp

Black Pepper- 2 tsp

Cumin- 1 Tbsp

Urad Dhal- 1 Tbsp

Sesame Seeds- 1 Tbsp

Mustard Seeds- 1 tsp

Curry Leaves- 6 to 7 (optional)

Onions- 2 cups (finely diced)

Salt- 1 tsp

Tomato Puree- 2 cups

Turmeric Powder- 1/2 tsp

Water- 1 cup

Light Coconut Milk- 1 1/2 cups

Tamarind Paste- 1 Tbsp.


Instructions

1. Wash and dry the Okra with a paper towel. Make a slit through the center so that the inside part of it can get cooked. 

2. In a pan, take 1 1/2 Tbsp of oil and shallow fry the Okra. Discard the oil. This step helps to get rid of the gooey substance from the Okra.

3. Making the freshly ground spice powder takes a little extra time but is definitely worth the process. In a pan, dry roast the following ingredients; 1 Tbsp peanuts, 1 Tbsp yellow lentils, 1 Tbsp coriander seeds, red chilies (3 or 4), 1 tsp cinnamon and cloves, 2 tsp black pepper, 1 Tbsp cumin, 1 Tbsp urad dhal, and 1 Tbsp sesame seeds. Dry roast everything on a low flame, and Make sure not to burn the spices.

4. Transfer all the spices to a plate/bowl so that it cools down completely. Once it cools down, blend all the spices to a fine powder with the blender or a spice grinder.

5. In a 3-quart pan, take 2 Tbsp oil, add 1 tsp mustard seeds, some curry leaves, 2 cups finely diced onions, and saute for about three minutes or until the onions are translucent. Add 1 tsp of salt and continue to saute. Salt helps with the cooking of the onion. 

6. Add 2 cups of tomato puree. Blend the tomatoes raw or can be blended after blanching the tomatoes. Let the tomato puree cook for some time until the oil separates from the pan. 

7. Add the freshly made spice powder, 1/2 tsp of turmeric powder, and mix everything well. Make sure that the powder does not stick to the bottom of the pan. 

8. Add 1 cup of water, 1 1/2 cups of coconut milk, and 1 Tbsp of tamarind paste (substitute with lime or lemon juice). Mix everything well and cook for about 10 minutes on a low to medium flame.

9. Continue to stir in between the cooking process to not burn at the bottom. 

10. It is now ready to be served with rice or roti.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Vegetarian Entrees
  • Method: Cook
  • Cuisine: Indian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 3/4 cup
  • Calories: 132 Kcal
  • Sugar: 4.4 g
  • Sodium: 221 mg
  • Fat: 10.14 g
  • Saturated Fat: 6.777 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 1.453 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.009 g
  • Carbohydrates: 10.35 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 2.71 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

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