Bhindi Stir Fry

Bhindi Stir fry in Marathi

Serves: 3 persons
Time: approx 35 mins

Ingredients:
1/2 kg Okra (lady finger, bhindi)
2 tbsp Oil
1/8 tsp Mustard seeds, 1/4 tsp Cumin seeds, pinch of Asafoetida, 1/4 tsp Turmeric powder, 1/2 tsp red chili powder, 2 curry leaves
2 to 3 tbsp freshly grated coconut
2 to 3 Kokum
Salt to taste
Pinch of sugar

Method:
1) Wash Okra thoroughly. Pat dry with kitchen towel. Cut off stems and slice into 1 cm round pieces.
2) Heat oil in a wok. Add mustard seeds and let them crackle. Then add cumin seeds, asafoetida, turmeric, red chili powder and curry leaves. Add cut okra and stir nicely.
3) Stir fry Okra over low heat. After couple of minutes Okra will become sticky. To remove this stickiness, add kokum and keep stirring.
4) Do not add salt beforehand. Okra tend to shrink after cooking and okra sabzi may become salty. Therefore, let the okra cook nicely.
5) Stir fry Okra, uncovered over low heat. Once it is almost done, add salt and pinch of sugar. Add fresh coconut when okra sabzi gets cooked completely.
Serve Bhindi stir fry with chapati.

Other recipes of Okra
Okra curry in Tamarind Juice
Crispy Bhendi
Bharwa Bhindi

Tips:
1) You can replace red chili powder by green chilies.
2) Chopped onion can be added in tempering according to your choice.
3) If you don't have Kokum, you can use 1 tbsp lemon juice or 2 to 3 pinches of Amchoor powder. Sour ingredient helps to remove the stickiness.
4) Use dry grated coconut instead of fresh coconut.
5) Do not cover the pan to cook the okra faster. The steam will make the okra sticky and very mushy.