Showing posts with label Vegetable:Lady's Finger/Okra. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vegetable:Lady's Finger/Okra. Show all posts

Monday, 17 August 2015

Bhenda Huli-Lady's Finger/Okra Cooked in a Spicy Tangy Coconut Gravy


This dish is typically Konkan but not known to everyone as it was new to me  as well after my marriage once when my Mother-in-law had prepared .I like the taste so much that now when there is a batch of okra from veggie shopping a dozen are set aside for this dish.It is similar to batate humman a curry made with potatoes where the flavour is of asafoetida and coconut oil and this one is an extended version as apart from potatoes even okra,tomato are  added and the masala had coriander seeds and needless to say this dish is lipsmacking good!!!.I can call this as Vintage dish as my mother in law had learnt from her MIL..cool na.

Ingredients:
Lady's finger/Okra                      10-12
Onion(L)                                          1 nos
Potato(M)boiled                           1 nos
Tomato(M)1nos
Hogplum(Ambado)
Chopped                                           1nos
Or Bilimbi(Bimbul)                     2-3nos
Tamarind extract(thick)           1/2-3/4tsp
 if not using bilimbi/
hogplum)
salt                                                      to taste

For masala:
Fresh grated coconut                 3/4cup
Roasted red chillies                    5-6
(2 byadagi for a nice colour)
Coriander(dhania) seeds           1tsp

For seasoning:
Coconut oil                                      1-2tsp
Hing(asafoetida)                         1/4tsp

Method:
  • Wash okra and dry on a towel .
  • Cut the okra into 1 inch fingers after discarding the tip ends.
  • Slice the onions into thick 1 inch pieces.
  • Slice tomatoes too in the same manner.
  • If using hogplum/bilimbi slice into cubes or fingers.
  • In a blending jar take all the ingredients mentioned in the masala,also tamarind if using and blend everything to a smooth paste adding required amount of water.
  • Bring a soup pot with hogplum/bilimbi,tomatoes,onions to boil with a glass or two of water.
  • Once onions are tender add the okra pieces,cubed potatoes salt to taste,and cook for 2-3 minutes.
  • If the contents are slimy in texture add a little bit tamarind extract as this helps to get rid of sliminess.
  • Add the masala,water as required to get the curry consistency and bring to a good boil,lowering the flame ,add hing and cook for another 5-7 minutes until rawness of the masala goes off.
  • Finally add raw coconut oil give a quick stir and siwtch off the flame and cover with a lid.
  • Tastes truly heaven when served with white or red boiled rice.
Note:
  • There are two varieties of hogplum..one with a fibrous seed and the other one with a soft seed
  • While cutting the harder one it may not be able to slice into chunks,just chip slices all around and then in a mortar using a stone it may be crushed lightly and used in the curry,it may be discarded,some like to chew it like you do with mango,but beware the seed is smaller than the one in mango..so don't gulp..
 For a view on hogplum and bilimbi please go here.

Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Bhenda Alle Piyavu-(Lady's finger cooked in a spicy coconut sauce and flavoured with onion and ginger)


This is a totally traditional recipe of the GSB community of Mangalore region.I love this dish as I have grown up eating this one but my Mom-in law prepares this dish with a vegetable called breadfruit.Itseems this curry can be prepared with fish as well ,but,sorry I do not have any idea as I have never cooked anything beyond egg in NV.This is a curry which has delicate flavour of ginger and onion with lots of coconut which makes your portion of rice double as this tastes best with rice,that too boiled rice.

Ingredients:
Lady's finger,tender ones            20 nos
Onion (M)sliced                        3-4(abt 1.5cups)
Ginger chopped                         1tsp
Green chilli(slit)                        1
Salt                                            to taste
lime juice                                  1/2tsp

For Masala:
Fresh coconut                           1cup
(grated)
Roasted red chillies                  3-4
(byadagi variety)
Tamarind                                  size of chickpea
For seasoning:
Coconut oil                                1.5tsp

Method:
  • Wash the lady's finger and towel dry,later cut into pieces.
  • Prepare a masala paste with mentioned ingredients to a smooth consistency.
  • In a pan take the chopped onions,slit ladys' finger,salt,green chilli.
  • Add a cup of water with 1/2tsp lime juice and bring to boil.
  • Cover and cook for 2 minutes , add chopped ginger and the ground masala.
  • Bring to a good boil.Add required water to get a curry consistency.
  • Cover and cook till lady's finger and onions are tender.
  • Finally drizzle fresh coconut oil,cook for another 1 minute.
  • Switch off.
  • Goes good with rice.


Note:
Other variants instead of Lady's finger are Malabar cucumber(magge in Konkani,dosakai in Telugu,Manglur sauthe in Kannada);Breadfruit(jeevkadgi in Konkani,Deevi halasu in kannada);Potato.
In case of these vegetables-then take the sliced vegetable along with chopped ginger and green chillies with little salt and pressure cook it with little water to 1-2 whistles(time taken by that particular vegetable)