Recipe- Delicious Dhaba Style Bhindi Masala

Bhindi masala is a popular North Indian side dish for roti/chapati made with ladies finger. This ladies finger masala is an everyday recipe in many homes as a side for chapati. Ladies finger known as okra in English has an excellent amount of soluble fiber.

There are certain tips to follow to make okra fry crunchy but not soggy. The fiber tends to break down immediately when we start cooking and makes the vegetable gooey. Hence sauteing them well in oil before adding water is important.

Ingredients

250 g ladies finger (Bhindi)
2 tbsp oil
¾ tsp cumin/jeera seeds
1 big onion
1 tomato
¾ tsp salt
1 tsp chilli powder
¼ cup water (approx.)
¼ tsp garam masala

Method

* Wash okra/ladies finger and keep them in a cotton cloth to dry out the excess moisture. Chop into an inch size pieces and keep aside.

* Chop onion and tomato.

* Heat oil in a pan and temper with cumin seeds.

* Add onions and saute well.

* Put chopped tomatoes and add salt. Adding salt at this stage helps in cooking tomato fast.

* Now add the cut ladies finger pieces and reduce the heat to medium.

* Saute the vegetable continuously for five minutes in low flame until the fiber goes off completely.

* Sauteing without water is important to remove the sogginess produced by the vegetable.

* After a few minutes, the fiber sogginess disappears fully and ladies finger becomes crunchy.

* Now add chilli powder and mix.

* Add few tbsp or a quarter cup of water to cook the vegetable. Cover and cook for ten minutes in medium flame.

* After ten minutes, veggie absorbs water and cooked completely.

* Finally, add a pinch of garam masala powder.

* Mix and switch off.

* Serve with hot roti/paratha/soft phulka.

* This Okra fry goes well with curd rice too.