Creating a blog was out of the question for a long time for me, as measuring everything in the kitchen was like biting into an eggshell. I enjoy cooking and don’t want to waste even a slightest bit of enjoyment in that small world of mine. But little did I know that everything will change, when my husband came home with the Oscar nominated film ‘Julie and Julia’( a real life story) where Julie Powell (part played by Amy Adams) challenged herself to make all the 524 recipes from Julia Child's cook book ‘Mastering the Art of French Cooking’ and blogging all her experiences (The Julie/Julia Project). It was an inspiring movie. A few days later when we were discussing this casually with a friend of ours over tea…everything changed dramatically…..” How about you making at least half of it in one year? Not French but your own. 262 recipes that will inspire others and present it as a blog?” For a minute my mind traveled faster than light… With an experience as a helper in my mother in laws kitchen for 6 years followed by a three year everyday struggle to satisfy the palate of my foodie husband, if I cannot do it then why should I cook? But on the other side with an experience in English literature extending no more than expanding outline stories in English grammar class when I was 18 and two small kids that come in handy at times, will a commitment for the next one year work? Anyway my ‘cook's ego’ didn’t allow me to say no...

So my friends …here I am opening my recipe book, trying to perfect and present 262 recipes in the coming 365 days….A Challenge that will of course tastes good. Come.. Have a walk with me along my journey.. Cheering and inspiring….Forgiving and tolerating…Testing and tasting….for ‘A Tasty Challenge’

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Monday, November 21, 2011

Bhindi/ Lady’s Finger/ Okra/ Vendakka fry

Recipe No: 273
One important thing that has to be mentioned while working with Okra is its sliminess if not cooked properly. But with some care it can be reduced to a greater extend and in this recipe it is not a problem at all… I bet this will be one of the best Okra dishes that you would have ever tasted. Enjoy…
Ingredients                                   Serves 3-4
  • Okra/Vendakka…….....200 Grams
  • Onion………………………1/4 Cup (cut into thin, long slices)
  • Red Chilly Powder……1/2- 1 Teaspoon (Depending on the taste)
  • Asafoetida Powder…..2 Dashes/ a pinch (Kayam Podi)
  • Curry Leaves…………..1 Sprig
  • Besan/ Kadalamavu…2 Tablespoons (Chickpea Flour)
  • Salt to taste
  • Oil for deep frying
Method of Preparation
  1. Wash and dry the Okra thoroughly. Cut them into thin long slices.
  2. Add sliced Onion, Red Chilly Powder, Asafoetida Powder, Curry Leaves and Salt to the Okra pieces; mix well and keep it aside for 10 minutes.
  3. Heat Oil for deep frying in a deep pan (a wok/ Cheenachatti works the best for this) on high heat. (At least a cup of Oil is needed)
  4. Sprinkle the Besan/ Kadalamavu/ Chickpea Flour to the seasoned Okra pieces and toss gently.
  5. Deep fry the tossed Okra in hot Oil till golden brown.
  6. Once golden brown, remove this from the Oil; drain the excess Oil on a kitchen tissue and serve hot with Rice.
Notes:
  • Washing and drying the Okra really good (Typically I do this part way in advance) sometime before using tends to reduce the sliminess a bit. In this recipe, Chickpea Flour also helps reduce it.
  • The moisture created by the Salt in the marinated Okra pieces will help the Besan stick to them. If some Flour is left behind, please do discard them. This is to prevent the loose Flour from burning in hot Oil. (Believe me... burnt Flour does not taste good!!!)
  • I never used shallow frying in this recipe and hence not so sure about the outcome.
  • Deep frying should be done only in plenty of Oil. Otherwise the Okra pieces will reduce the heat of the Oil resulting in heavy absorption of Oil by them.
  • As the Okra pieces are sliced thin, it will take only a few minutes for them to cook. So it is okay to fry these on high heat. Also high heat will reduce the absorption of Oil by Okra.
  • This recipe is loosely adapted from a recipe by Mrs. K.M Mathew.
 



Make it, enjoy the deliciousness and 
serve it to your family with love…

9 comments:

Priya Suresh said...

Wow super crispy fry,absolutely inviting..

Faseela said...

so tempting.......crispy fry

Julie said...

Very tempting n delicious...love this a lot!!

Erivum Puliyum
Ongoing Event -Christmas Delicacy (15 Nov-31 Dec 2011)

Tina said...

Crispy and yummy bhindi..

Sandhya Hariharan said...

This is quite a innovative okra fry.... thanks for sharing


First time here... and a glad to be here....Following you !
Do sneak a peek when time permits..

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Anonymous said...

Oh wow its my favorite Vegetable i like ladys finger. delicious look and yummy recipes.
Indian Fashion

Indu said...

I am not a fan of okra, but this looks very tempting...

Indu @ http://indgetscooking.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Amazing recipe,okra looks crisp and utterly delicious...

Njoy blogging n Happy Cooking....

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