Friday, October 28, 2011

Bhindi Zunka / Spiced Okra with Chick pea flour crust

Okra / Bhindi is a love-hate vegetable. People either love it or hate it. We at home love okra. When I saw this Bhindi Zunka in Richa's space I immediately bookmarked it. I had remembered the okra which I got few days before at the market. Gave it a try and boy did I like it... It was awesome. I had made this zunka with bell peppers (sister's recipe). This method of making okra though would please some okra non-lovers too I believe. So if you have someone at home who doesn't touch this vegetable, give this a try. They might like it.
Ingredients:
Okra / Bhindi / Lady's Finger - chopped into 1/2" pieces - 2 cups
Onions - chopped finely - 1/4 cup
Fennel seeds - 1/4 tsp
Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Red chilli powder - 3/4 tsp
Asafoetida - a pinch
Salt - to taste
Besan/Chickpea flour/Kadalai maavu - sifted - 1/4 cup
Method:
Dry roast the chickpea flour in medium heat until it gives a lovely aroma and turns slightly brown. Remove and set aside. In the same pan heat 3 tbsp of oil and add the fennel seeds and onions. After the onions turn translucent, couple of minutes, add the spice powders, asafoetida and mix well. Add the chopped okra and mix well so that the oil is coated well on all the pieces. In medium heat, cover loosely with the lid and cook for about 10 - 15 mins until it is almost done. Mix in a fold pattern once in about 3 minutes during this time. After it is almost done, If the okra is not gooey at this stage sprinkle about a tsp of water and add the chickpea flour 1 tbsp at a time folding over after each addition. Cook for a further couple of minutes in a medium flame until the okra is fully done and the chick pea flour forms a thin crust on it. Serve hot with rice or roti.

37 comments:

  1. Okra is my favorite veggie,this recipe sounds delicious..bookmarked

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  2. Okra is not one of my favorite but these kind of stir fry i really enjoy!

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  3. The okra looks so tempting..nice clicks too
    Shema
    www.lifescoops.blogspot.com

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  4. luv bhindi cooked any way :) adding fennel seeds is interesting......

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  5. thanks for trying Krithi! i get put off by gooey bhindi too.. so i keep trying ways to change the texture a little!
    super pretty clicks.. love your deep green bhindi!
    Have a fantastic weekend!

    Richa @ Hobby And More Food Blog

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  6. Bhindis look so delicious and tempting. Excellent preparation.

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  7. okra looks very tempting and delicious .............

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  8. Favorite veggie .. missing it .. since all what we get here is the big fat chunky frozen ones .. LOL

    Vardhini
    Event: Halloween Fiesta

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  9. Imade the same yesterday but didinot add fennel seeds and cut the okra lengthwise

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  10. adding fennel seeds is new to me...
    will try next time...
    looks grt!!

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  11. A nice blend of ings...The dish looks mighty tasty!!!!
    Prathima Rao
    Prats Corner

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  12. What a great preparation of okra.Unfortunately too litlle used okra is such a delicious and great tasting veg:)

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  13. This sounds wonderful, nice recipe & lovely clicks!

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  14. I used to hate Okra because of it's sliminess but started cooking again for my kids now.Will give this a try and see whether it suits my palette..Thanks for sharing dear

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  15. Flavorful and delicious Okra recipe Dear.Luv it.

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  16. Love this delicious and flavourful zunka,yumm..

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  17. Voilà uune bine bonne découvrete
    Je te souhaite un bon grand week-end
    Valérie.

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  18. Looks delicious! I am always at a lost of what to do with okra. Definitely going to try this!

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  19. This sounds interesting..looks very tempting

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  20. I always try to find new ways to cook okra. This looks delicious!

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  21. hi krithi, the way you cut the okra, makes it look even more delicious.. of course i like the spicy touch

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  22. I have tried this at home...one of my comfort food now..

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  23. Looks so tempting and delicious okra.Nice preparation and presentation.

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  24. The recipe and picture ~ Both are crisp and super.

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  25. I like making veggies by adding besan and always make cabbage and capsicum this way but this one with okra sounds so great.

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  26. An awesome recipe! That dish looks really wonderful.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  27. wow this is my daughter's fav,love ur version...yummy!

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  28. First time on ur blog and i see my fav- bhindi! yum!

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  29. name is quite new to me! :)

    Okra fry looks yum and inviting!

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  30. Love the addition of fennel and onions with chickpea flour. I make a baked version of this. Try it at http://omnivore-almostveg.blogspot.com/2012/01/crispy-okra-fries.html

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  31. Reminds me of my first yummy experience eating Aama's okra using a recipe like this one, in Nepal. Before that, I couldn't understand why people liked it since it was slimy :-). Thanks, Janaki

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