Bendakaya Pulusu (Okra in tamarind gravy)

 It is a very popular dish in Andhra made with lightly fried Okra cooked in spicy tangy tamarind sauce. It is simple and easy to prepare. We can easily prepare with minimal ingredients.

This goes very well with papad, vada, any fry...

Ingredients

Okra/Lady’s Finger/Vendaikkai – 2 cups

Sliced Onions – 1 (big)

Peeled Garlic – 1 (big)

Salt to taste

Chilli Powder – 1 ½ tsp

Coriander Powder – 2 tsp

Tamarind Water – 1 cup

Cumin Powder – ½ tsp

Jaggery – a pinch

(To Temper)

Mustard Seeds – 1 tsp

Fenugreek Seeds – ¼ tsp

Dry Red Chilli – 3

Sesame Oil – 2 tsp

Curry Leaves – few

Method

In a vessel add 1 cup of hot water and soak lemon sized tamarind balls into that. Once it done, extract the tamarind water.

In a kadai, heat oil. Add mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, curry leaf and dry red chilli then let it be for few seconds.

Then add sliced onions, garlic and saute it for few seconds. Then add okra pieces with salt and saute it well.

Now add chilli powder, cumin powder and coriander powder and mix well. Then add tamarind water and required water then close the lid and keep cook on 10 min.

Add a pinch of jaggery and let it be for 2 to 3 min. Now add chopped coriander leaves.

Then serve hot with steamed rice with papad.