Indian Bhindi (Okra)
Indian spices of turmeric, ginger, cumin, and Kashmiri red chili powder come together to flavor okra (bhindi). The aroma is amazing!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon ghee
- 1/2 teaspoon black mustard seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
- pinch hing
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated on a microplane
- 1 tablespoon garlic, finely minced
- 3 hot chiles, seeded and cut into long strips
- 1/4 cup red onion, small diced
- 1 large fresh tomato, diced
- 1 pound okra, trimmed and cut into 1" chunks
- 6 fresh curry leaves, sliced
- 1/4 teaspoon amchur powder
- kosher salt, to taste
- freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the ghee.
- Once melted, add the mustard and cumin seeds and heat until the seeds seem to be popping.
- Add hing, turmeric, and chili powder. Stir and allow the oils from the spices to become aromatic, about another 2 minutes.
- Add garlic and ginger, stir.
- Add hot chiles, onion, and tomato. Stir gently and allow to soften for about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add okra and curry leaves and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, gently stirring occasionally.
- Add amchur powder and stir again, and allow to cook for another minute or two.
- Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper as desired.
- Serve warm.
Notes
I used this pretty red okra, but the traditional green would be fine, too!
Many of the spices listed were either purchased online or at an Indian grocery store. My husband and I took a day and drove about an hour and a half away to a larger city and shopped at the ethnic groceries that were clustered together. That was a blast!
Hing, also known as asafetida, is super-pungent. It will take over your pantry. I have mine stored inside 3 plastic baggies inside an air-tight container. Yep, it’s that strong.
I do not boast myself a genius at Indian cooking, but I do try my hand at it often. I admit I have not studied it to date, but if anyone wants to suggest an insightful cookbook, I’m all ears.
Nutrition Facts
Indian Bhindi (Okra)
Amount per Serving
Calories
115
% Daily Value*
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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