Bendakaya Vepudu ~ Okra Stir fry

Ingredients:

250 gms /1/4 kg bendakaya/bhindi/okra

1 onion, finely chopped

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1/2 tsp red chilli pwd

1/4 tsp coriander pwd

pinch of cumin pwd

pinch of turmeric pwd

10-12 fresh curry leaves

salt to taste

1 1/4 tbsps oil

1 1/2 tbsps roasted peanuts

Method of preparation:

Wash the okra, dry them, chop tip and tail ends. Chop into 1/2″ pieces.

Heat oil in a cooking vessel. Once the oil is hot, reduce heat to medium flame, add the mustard seeds, let them splutter, add the cumin seeds and let them brown. Add the curry leaves, stir them for a few seconds.

Add the chopped onions and saute till transparent. Add the okra and turmeric pwd and combine. Saute on medium high heat for 3-4 minutes. Now reduce to low flame, add a tbsp of yogurt or lemon juice (to reduce slime) and let it cook for 4-5 mts. Saute in between so that they don’t burn. Add the chilli pwd, cumin pwd and coriander pwd and reduce flame and cook till the okra turns soft.

Don’t overcook the okra, they should retain that, slight crunchy texture. Add the roasted peanus at this stage and combine well. Let it cook for another mt on medium high heat, season with salt and turn off flame.

Serve hot with steamed rice.