Okra With Coconut Masala Bhindi Sabji Food

BHINDI MASALA | OKRA MASALA

Steps:

• Rinse bhindi very well under running water & drain them.
• Wipe off with a clean kitchen cloth or tissues to remove all the moisture. You can also leave on the counter top for a while to air dry. Any moisture on the bhindi will make them slimy while cooking so wipe dry them completely.
• Chop off both the ends and discard them. Chop the bhindi to ¾ inch pieces.
• Heat 1½ tablespoons oil in a pan.
• Saute bhindi on a medium flame for about 5 to 7 mins stirring often until they are partially cooked. At this stage they should be no more sticky & slimy after sauteing.
• Transfer them to a plate and set aside.
• Add 1½ to 2 tablespoons more oil to the same pan. Then add cumin seeds.
• When they begin to splutter, saute onions and green chili until they turn golden.
• Next saute ginger garlic for 2 mins till the raw smell of the garlic goes away.
• Then saute tomatoes with salt until they turn soft and mushy.
• Stir in red chili powder, turmeric, garam masala & coriander powder. Saute until the mixture leaves the sides of the pan.
• Pour 6 tablespoons (little less than half cup) water & mix well. Cook the masala until it turns thick. This brings out the flavors of spices. (check video for consistency)
• Taste test and add more salt if needed. Stir in the kasuri methi & bhindi.
• Cover and cook on a low heat until bhindi turns slightly tender and the aroma comes out.
• Open the lid and evaporate any excess moisture.
• Serve bhindi masala with roti or rice.

OKRA WITH COCONUT (MASALA BHINDI SABJI)

Steps:

• Wash okra, dry, cut off the two ends and discard. Slice into 1/5 inch (5 mm pieces). Put into a bowl and mix with the ground coriander, the turmeric, the cayenne pepper and the salt.
• Heat 2 tbsp ghee or oil in a large skillet or wok. When hot, add cumin seeds and mustard seeds and cover with a lid, as the mustard seeds may jump out of the skillet/wok otherwise. When mustard seeds popped (takes only a few seconds) add asafoetida, stir.
• Add half of the okra and fry for 3-4 minutes. Add half of the sugar and coconut, stir and remove from pan.
• Heat another 2 tbsp ghee or oil. When hot, add remaining okra and fry for 3-4 minutes. Add the remaining sugar and coconut. Add the removed coconut as well. Fry until okra is slighly browned and cooked through. Add the lemon juice and check if more salt is necessary before you serve this as part of an Indian meal.

BHINDI MASALA (OKRA WITH RED ONION AND TOMATO)

Steps:

• In a medium (9-inch) frying pan or wok, heat 2 tablespoons ghee over medium-high for 30 to 45 seconds or until it has melted. Add okra and cook undisturbed for 5 minutes or until okra starts to brown around the edges. (Cooking okra undisturbed helps eliminate the gooeyness.) Stir once so the sides with less color can brown next, then cook for another 5 minutes or until all the okra is brown around the edges. (This may take slightly longer if using frozen okra.) Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Add the remaining 1 tablespoon ghee to the same frying pan and heat over medium-high until it melts. Add ginger and garlic and stir for about 30 seconds, until the raw smell dissipates. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until onions begin to soften, about 3 to 5 minutes. (The onions should still have a little bite.)
• Lower the heat to medium and add red chile, coriander and turmeric, and stir until the masalas are uniformly mixed with the onion, about 30 seconds. Add tomato and salt. Continue cooking on medium until tomatoes break down, about 5 minutes.
• Add okra back to the pan and mix until incorporated. Sprinkle with lime juice and garam masala. Serve with roti, store-bought pita or by itself.