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 !

Okra Garlic Fry - Vendakka Fry

Serves 2
Ladies Finger or Okra would always be my favorite vegetable.An extremely healthy and beautiful vegetable.I  still remember, as a kid my favorite lunch box menu would  always be curd rice and vendakka fry.I wouldn't mind having it every day.I usually make it the way my mom makes it,but this is another new variation that I tried and liked a lot.If you like Garlic you would love this :)

You'll Need:
Ladies  Finger / Okra - 150 g
Onion -  1 medium (sliced thinly)
Garlic - 3 - 4 tsp(grated finely)
Ginger - 1 tsp(grated finely)
Green Chilli - 1 big chopped
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
oil - 2 -  3 tsp
salt as needed

Method:
-Clean the okra and pat it dry with a towel.Make sure that it's totally moisture free(this helps in removing their sticky nature).Trim the crown and the tip and chop in finely.
-Add 2 -3 tsp of oil to a pan and when it heats up,add the ginger,garlic and green chilli. Stir it for a minute or two.
-Add the onion and a pinch of salt.Saute until the onion turns translucent.
-Add the chopped okra and salt ( about 1- 1.5 tsp) and mix well.
-Reduce the flame and let it cook for 4-5 minutes,sauteing it occasionally.Add the Turmeric powder and mix well.
-Let it cook for a further 5 - 10 minutes on a low flame ,sauteing occasionally. Make sure you don't brown them.Remove them once they get cooked.They look and taste good when they retain their green colour :)
Note:
-If you feel that the okra appears to be sticky, add a tsp of lemon juice or thick curd while sauteing.

Thanks for stopping by ! Happy Cooking !

Sending this to WTML and Gayathri's space and  Foodabulous fest organized by Simply Tadka and hosted by Sajna Bishar of Saju's Tastes and  Fast ! Fresh ! Simple! happening at Cooking with Sapna