Vendakka Masala - Okra Masala

  Okra or Ladies Finger is one vegetable that we cook very often at home.This is one recipe that I prepare when we feel like having okra with Chapati.Okra has loads of health benefits.I still remember being told as a kid that Ladies finger is good for your brain and it helps you to be good at mathematics.I still don't understand logic behind Okra helping you with maths though :) But I really would be happy if it could help my brain with learning German.I've been here in Germany for more than 5 years now and I really wish to master the language,but I'm a real lousy student.I still manage to day dream during my German classes,something that I've been consistently doing from my school days :) The best part is my brain now sometimes get stuck with English words and comes up with an equivalent German word.I keep telling myself that It's because I'm getting older :) But then yesterday I happened to step into a Spanish language class by mistake and I noticed that almost half the students were people of the age group from 50 - 70.I was surprised as to how attentive and enthusiastic they appeared.I remember another memorable incident,before a month I happened to meet another old German lady at my language school.When I told her that I was from the southern part of India,she asked me if I was from Madras.When I said yes she asked me 'Vanakkam,eppadi irrukeenge ?'.I was really taken aback when she told me that she was doing a Tamil language course and she finds the script very interesting.Germany has a lot of immigrants from Sri Lanka and I guess that could explain the interest in Tamil.When I asked her what drives her to learn at this age,she smiled and simply answered that it makes her happy and keeps her gray cells alive :)Her attitude really touched me!
  Back to the recipe it's very simple and yumm ! This has been lying in my drafts from Christmas (as you can see from the pic:))..I hope I get to post more regularly and and clear my drafts soon :)

You'll Need:
Okra - 200 g
Onion - 1 big(chopped)
Tomato - 1 -2 big(pureed)
Ginger Garlic Paste - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Red Chilli Powder - 1 tsp
Cumin Powder - 3/4 tsp
Coriander Powder - 1 tsp
Curd -3 - 4 tbsp
Kasoori Methi - 1 tsp
Garam Masala Powder - 1/2 tsp
oil -1 tbsp & 2 tsp
Coriander leaves - 1 tbsp(finely chopped)
salt as needed

Get,set,go:
-Clean the okras and pat them dry.Chop the crown and the rim.Cut them into 1" pieces.To a pan add one tbsp of oil and when it heats up add the chopped okra and salt as needed and saute on a low flame for 5 - 6 minutes until they are slightly crisp.Transfer the fried okra to another vessel.You can also deep fry the okra,it definitely enhances the taste.
-Add 2 tsp of oil to a pan and when it heats up add the onions and saute until they turn translucent.Then add the ginger garlic paste and saute until the mixture is well browned.
-Add the tomato puree and mix well.Add the turmeric powder,cumin powder,chopped coriander leaves,curd,coriander powder and chilli powder,salt and mix well.Cover and cook on a low flame for 5 -7 minutes.
-After 5 minutes when the mixture starts oozing oil,add about 1/2 a cup of water and mix well.
-Add the fried okra,Garam Masala Powder and Kasoori Methi powder and mix well.
-Let the mixture cook on a slow flame for another 5 - 7 minutes. Done !

Thanks for stopping by ! Have a nice day !