Okra with a twist

Okra alias Ladies finger is very common in traditional Indian Cooking. It’s normally sautéed until crisp or deep-fried all the way. The recipe today is okra with a slight twist, in that it has yogurt in it. I skeptically tried it once and ever since couldn't let go. I make this so very often for dinner now. This recipe is simple, requires not much time, and best of all turns out delicious. It’s also easy on the waistline, since it requires no deep- frying at all.

Ingredients:

1 pound of okra (Ladies finger)

1 tsp chopped ginger

1 cup chopped tomatoes

½ cup yogurt

¼ tsp turmeric powder

1 chili powder

2 tsp coriander powder

2 Tbsp oil

1 tsp dry methi leaves( Kasuri methi)

1 tbsp Fennel seeds

1 tsp mustard seeds

½ tsp fenugreek seeds ( methi seeds)

Pinch of Asafoetida

Salt

Pepper

  

Method:

Pat dry the ladies finger and sauté the vegetable in Tbsp of oil or even better with a no stick spray.

Meanwhile, heat the 2 Tbsp of oil and add the dry methi leaves, Fennel, mustard, fenugreek, Asafoetida. Once they crackle in the oil, add the ginger and tomatoes. At this point salt it a bit. In the meanwhile, mix the yogurt, coriander powder, chilli powder, turmeric powder and the salt (bearing in mind you’ve already salted the tomato mixture in the pan) in a bowl. When the ginger and tomatoes have sautéed enough (you will know this, if the tomato separates from the oil or if the tomatoes look mushy and cooked), add the yogurt mixture, and cook for a couple of minutes.

Remember to never keep the pot screaming hot. The yogurt will curdle on you. Add the sautéed ladies finger in the yogurt mixture and simmer on low for about 2 minutes. Serve hot with some Indian rotis or biriyani.

• Throughout the cooking of this recipe, keep the stove on medium high or below that. Never cook on high in this recipe, as the yogurt will curdle.
• You could use fresh or frozen ladies finger. If using the frozen one, buy the already chopped one and let it thaw before you cook it.