Simple Ladies Finger Curry | Bhindi Sabzi | Okra Curry

Ladies finger tops in my list of vegetables and I like it in any form.While I was a kid, I was never fussy about any vegetable and I used to eat all kinds of veggies.My mom made sure that we never have aversion to any vegetable or greens and I am really proud about it now.It is always challenging for me to cook with vegetables, as TH is not fond of many vegetables which makes my choice limited and so I end up repeating the vegetables.The only way we don't get bored is to make various varieties of these vegetables.One of them is, 'Bhindi', which I cook very often.I prefer to cook, dry varieties with bhindi rather than the gravy kind.This is one of the most basic curry recipes with bhindi which I often cook at home.I feel the more simpler is this curry,it tastes better.Hence I do not add any masalas to this curry other than salt and spices.This recipe would be of great help to beginners, as I have mentioned few tips to handle this slimy okra. I hope it helps!!

Simple Bhindi Curry | Sukhi Bhindi Recipe:
(Serves 2)

Ingredients:
250gms Bhindi(Ladies finger,Okra)
2 medium Onions or 15 Small Shallots
2 Green chillies
2 tbsp chopped Coriander
1/2 tsp Black pepper powder or 3/4 tsp Red chili powder
1/2 tsp Sugar
1/2 tsp Cumin seeds
3-4 tbsp Oil
Salt to taste
Method:

• Wash and wipe the ladies fingers using a dry cloth.Make sure that no moisture is left on them,otherwise they will turn slimy while cooking.
• Cut ladies finger into 1" pieces and again cut each piece lengthwise into two pieces.You can cut them into 1/2" roundels or cut them into diagonal pieces,it is your wish to cut them.I cut them according to my mood while chopping them.If you can chop them ahead,say a couple of hours before it is still better as it reduces the sliminess of ladies finger.
• Roughly slice onions into small pieces,if you are using shallots remove the skins and keep them aside.Also slit green chillies into 2 pieces.
• Heat 1 tbsp oil in a thick bottomed kadai/pan and crackle cumin seeds,green chillies and add chopped coriander leaves and then add sliced onions and fry well until they turn pink.Add little salt enough for the onions and remove them and keep aside.
• Heat 2-3 tbsp oil in the same kadai/pan and add chopped ladies fingers and fry on high flame for 2-3 mins stirring occasionally.
• Add sugar to it and reduce the flame and fry for 6-8 mins until bhindi is cooked.Sugar will help in retaining the green color of ladies finger.Ladies finger cook very fast,you need not to wait until the color is changed.
• Once the sliminess of bhindi is gone add salt and pepper powder/red chili powder to it and also add fried onions and give a good stir and fry for another minute.

Serve it hot with roti/rice.
Notes:

1. To reduce the sliminess of okra,you need to wipe the okra clean.You can even add a tsp of curd while frying okra which also helps.
2. You can add masalas like 1/4 tsp Garam masala ,1/2 tsp amchur powder along with red chili powder/pepper powder in the recipe.
3. The addition of coriander leaves gives a nice aroma to the curry.However it is optional to use them if you don't have them in hand.
4. If you are using shallots in the recipe,soak them in water for sometime which helps in easy peeling.
5. Frying Ladies finger consumes lot of oil ,you can prepare the same curry with less oil but takes lot of time.If you want a low cal version,add 1 tbsp oil to chopped ladies fingers and microwave it for 3-4 mins on HIGH and then follow the same procedure.This way it would consume less oil and also cooks fast.