This classic okra curry contains ripe tomatoes, onion and loads of Indian spices! Serve it hot or cold, as a spicy side dish or a light veggie lunch!
This is the first time ever that I cook with fresh okra!
Have you tasted or – let alone cooked or prepared okra before?
I have eaten okra a couple of times before, with mixed feelings afterwards.
They ranged from delicious and crunchy to bland, comatose and rather slimy.
So what is it about this okra then that people seem to enjoy so much after all?
Hard To Cook?
I am convinced that you have to find the right way to cook it.
It is true, undercooked or overcooked okra are not very pleasant.
You can grill, stew and fry okra.
Those seem to be the most popular ways to prepare them.
I have heard people complain about okra because they tend to be too slimy.
And apparently that simply has to do with which okras you pick and how you prepare them afterwards.
The smaller the better, small okra tend to have a less slimier texture.
Easy Okra Curry (Spicy Bhindi Masala with Tomatoes)
Also cook them fast when you want to fry, stir fry or grill them.
Use high heat and work fast. If you make stews, add tomatoes for instance. The acidity in the tomatoes will tackle the slime problem.
A splash of lemon or lime juice will also do.
So what is the best okra dish that I have ever tasted?
That must be in Atlanta, in a restaurant by the name of Chai Pani. The okra fries there were to die for.
What an excellent appetizer or vegetable side dish!
Fried Okra
We loved this okra curry a lot, great flavors and the okras stay quite al dente.
This dish also tastes great cold the day after, just saying!
I saw okra at the local farmers market and I thought it would make a great vegetable side dish for my butter chicken main course.
I am looking forward to next week’s farmers market because I hope that the lady still sells okra by then!
Enjoy this okra curry!
Easy Okra Curry Recipe
This classic okra curry contains ripe tomatoes, onion and loads of Indian spices! Serve it hot or cold, as a spicy side dish or a light lunch!
- 7 oz fresh okra (200 g)
- 4,5 oz canned chopped tomatoes (125 g)
- ½ small onion sliced
- 2 large garlic cloves chopped
- ½ tsp cumin seeds
- ½ tsp coriander seeds
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- ½ tsp sesame seeds
- ½ tsp garam masala
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- ½ tsp curcuma powder
- ½ tsp coriander powder
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger grated
- ½ tsp chili flakes
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro chopped
- ½ tsp caster sugar
- nutmeg
- salt
Trim the ends of the okras and chop the larger ones in half. Rinse them well. Pour the vegetable oil in a large wok or non-stick pan and place it over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the okra.
Stir fry the okra for 6 to 8 minutes until they start to soften. Then scoop them out of the hot wok (leave the remaining oil in the wok) and transfer the fried okra to a clean plate until needed later on. Add the sliced onion and chopped garlic to the oil in the wok.
- Stir fry the onion and garlic for 2 minutes. Then add the chopped canned tomatoes and all the spiced. Season with a pinch of salt and nutmeg. Also add 3 tablespoons of water.
Stir fry the tomato mixture for until the liquid has almost gone. Keep stirring until you end up with a very sticky tomato paste. Make sure it doesn’t burn. Then add the butter.
Stir and add the freshly chopped cilantro and the fried okra.
- Take the wok off the heat and stir well. Then check the seasoning and add extra salt to taste if necessary. Scoop the okra and tomato sauce into a large bowl and serve.
What is bhindi masala?
Bhindi Masala is a popular Indian dish made with okra (bhindi) cooked in a spicy onion and tomato–based sauce.
Okra curry is usually served as a side dish and is a great accompaniment to roti, naan, or rice. It is often flavored with garam masala, cumin, and other spices.
Why is okra often slimy?
Okra is often slimy because it contains a thick gel–like substance called mucilage.
This mucilage is composed of sugars and proteins and is released when the okra is cut or cooked.
The mucilage helps to thicken and bind sauces, soups and stews.
How to make okra less slimy in an okra curry?
To make okra less slimy, you can try cutting the okra into smaller pieces and cooking it over high heat before adding it to the okra curry sauce.
This will help reduce the amount of mucilage released from the okra.
You can also add a pinch of baking soda or a teaspoon of vinegar to the cooking water to help reduce the sliminess.
Additionally, you can coat the okra with a light layer of cornstarch or flour before cooking to help reduce the sliminess.
Is okra healthy?
Yes, okra is a healthy addition to any diet.
It is low in calories and a good source of dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals.
It is also a good source of antioxidants, which can help protect against disease.
