Away from the scorching heat of Chennai, Bangalore feels like heaven to me. While in Chennai, I just prepared some usual fare of rice and vegetables and would try to come out of the kitchen as soon as possible. I am not at all a rice person, given an option I would definitely go for roti subzi. But due to the heat in Chennai, I did not venture into making rotis. Now that I am in Bangalore, and the weather here is so much better than that of Chennai, decided to make some hot rotis and subzi.
Having decided that roti, it was for lunch, finalizing a subzi is not an easy job. While rummaging through my mom’s refrigerator, I found a bag of fresh Okra/Lady’s Finger/Bhindi. Now this particular veggie is a favorite with my kids. So decided to make this tasty restaurant style dish – Bhindi Do Pyaaza.
Bhindi Do Pyaaza is a dry preparation, of crisp stir fried okra with spicy and tangy semi dry gravy of onions and tomatoes. The addition of the spice powder gives it a wonderful flavor and aroma. Tastes best when served with some hot phulkas and pickle.
Serves – 4 to 5
What you’ll need
- Lady’s Finger/Okra – 500 gms
- Onion – 2 Big, thinly sliced
- Onion – 1 Medium, cut into big chunks
- Tomato – 4 Medium, finely chopped
- Turmeric Powder – ½ tsp
- Chilly Powder – 1 tsp
- Salt to taste
- Cumin Seeds – 1 tsp
- Oil – 2 tbsp
For the Spice Powder
- Fennel Seeds/ Saunf – 2 tsp
- Coriander Seeds – 1 tbsp
- Cumin Seeds – 1 tsp
Method
- Powder the ingredients for the spice powder and keep aside.
- Wash and wipe the lady’s finger. Cut into 1 inch pieces.
- Heat a Kadai with oil. Add the Lady’s finger cover and cook on medium flame for about 10 minutes or till the vegetable is cooked.
- Remove lid, add salt and fry for another 4 to 5 minutes or till the lady’s finger turns crisp. Transfer these into another vessel and keep aside.
- Heat another kadai with oil. Add cumin seeds, once the color changes add sliced onions and the onion chunks and turmeric powder. Fry till the onions are light brown.
- Next add the finely chopped tomatoes and fry till the tomatoes turn completely mushy and the raw smell disappears.
- Now add the chilly powder and salt. Mix well.
- Add the fried lady’s finger pieces and mix well.
- Finally add the spice powder and give a good mix taking care not to break the lady’s finger pieces. Fry for a minute. Remove from heat.
That’s it, yummy and delicious Bhindi Do Pyaaza is ready. Serve as an accompaniment with rotis.
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