Okra Fry / Bendakaya Vepudu /Vendaikkai Fry / Bhindi Fry

Last night when we returned home from holiday shopping it was almost dinner time 8p.m. We had lunch at a fast food restaurant and not in a mood to have dinner again from outside. Left over tomato dal was there in the fridge. I wanted to prepare easy and quick curry as a side dish which will be ready by the time rice is cooked. Opened the freezer and found frozen cut okra packet and kept it outside to thaw it. Mean while put the rice in rice cooker and cut the onions and started preparation of curry. Served the dinner hot at 8:45 p.m.  Here is the recipe for quick and easy okra fry :

Ingredients:

• Okra (Bendakaya/Vendaikkai/Bhindi )– 1 lb/ 450 gm (cut into pieces)
• Onion – 1 large size
• Coriander powder – 2 tsp
• Cumin powder – 1 tsp
• Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp
• Salt – 1 tsp (adjust to taste)
• Red Chili powder – ½ tsp (adjust to taste)
• Grated dry coconut  – 2 tbsp
• Oil – 3 tbsp
• Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
• Cumin seeds – ½ tsp
• Urad dal/ white lentils - ½  tsp
• Chana dal/split bengal gram - ½ tsp
   

Preparation:

• Heat oil in a pan. Add the mustard seeds and let them splutter. Add the cumin seeds, chana dal and urad dal and saute for a minute. 

• Add onions and green chilies and fry until the onions turn golden brown. Add turmeric powder, coriander powder and cumin powder and fry for 2 more minutes.

• Now add the cut okra and sauté on medium high heat. After 5 minutes the okra will become sticky. Keep frying it on medium-high heat, after 15 minutes oil starts oozing from the okra and the stickiness will disappear.

Note: Here I’ve used frozen okra (Thawed on paper towels). If you use frozen cut okra, it will take 5 or10 minutes extra cook time as frozen and thawed okra are a bit moist/wet. If you use fresh okra make sure to dry the okra with a  cloth/paper towel, before you cut into pieces.

•  At this point add salt, red chili powder and Grated dry coconut and fry for 3 minutes.

 Note:You can also use raw coconut. If you use raw coconut cook for 5 minutes extra.

• Okra Fry / Bendakaya vepudu /vendaikkai Fry / Bhindi Fry curry is ready to serve.

                                 

Tips: 

• If you are using frozen cut okra, thaw it on 2 layers of paper towel.
• If you are using fresh okra make sure to dry the okra with a cloth/paper towel, before you cut into pieces.
• If you don't have coriander powder and cumin powder handy, use sambar powder instead.