Vendakkai Poriyal Recipe | Okra Stir Fry | Bhindi Stir Fry

South Indian Lunch menu doesn't complete without this main side dish - Poriyal. At home everyone like Poriyal so daily or the other day i make Poriyal or stir fry for lunch. Simple rasam and a poriyal makes our meal more comfort and filling. Vendakkai Poriyal is one healthy & simple Poriyal/Stir fry that can be done in a jiffy if you have chopped okra in hand. Vendakkai Poriyal is my kid's favorite poriyal. He love plain rice mixed with vendakkai poriyal and generous ghee. Even i love okra poriyal that way than as a side dish. Unlike other vegetable, okra has slimy nature and needs little care and patience to cook it perfectly. If you follow this recipe, then you can make super crispy and tasty okra fry without slimy texture and taste.
The below is the Simple South Indian Lunch Platter with

• Tomato Rice
• Plain Rice
• Drumstick Sambar
• Paruppu Rasam
• Vendakkai Poriyal
• Methi Puli Kuzhambu(recipe coming soon)

Simple South Indian Lunch Meal ~ Plain rice, Sambar, Puli kuzhambu, Rasam & Poriyal

Vendakkai Poriyal Recipe

Prep Time : 10-15 minutes | Cook Time : 15 minutes

Recipe Category : Side dish

Serves  4

Ingredients

1. Vendakkai/Okra    300-350 gm
2. Onion    1 medium(finely chopped)
3. Curry leaves   few
4. Turmeric powder   1/4 tsp
5. Chilli powder  1 tsp
6. Cumin powder  1/2 tsp
7. Salt  to taste
8. Cilantro   few finely chopped

To Temper

1. Oil    1 tbsp
2. Mustard seeds  1/2 tsp
3. Chana dal  1/2 tsp
4. Urad dal   1/2 tsp
5. Hing   a pinch

Method

• Wash and wipe okra with kitchen towel and trim both ends of okra and Cut okra into 1/4-1/2" thickness.

• Heat oil in a wok,add mustard seeds when they pop add chana dal and urad dal fry till golden brown.
• Then add curry leaves and chopped onions stir fry for 1-2 minutes and add the chopped okra, turmeric powder, salt and stir fry for 1-2 minutes in medium heat.

• And the turn the heat to low-medium and cook till okra is soft and tender. 
• No need to cover the pan, just stir okra gently now and then.
• Once okra is cooked, add chilli powder, cumin powder and stir fry for another 2 minutes.

• Then if you like can also add few shredded coconut stir well and lastly add some finely chopped cilantro and switch off the stove.
• That's it..Vendakkai Poriyal ready. We had it with Drumstick Sambar, Paruppu Rasam, Tomato Rice, Methi Puli Kuzhambu & Rice.

Notes:
To prevent the slimy and mushy okra, always bring okra to room temperature and then chop and cook.
I usually leave the okra on counter top last night and cook it next day morning.
You can also add 1-2 tsp of plain yogurt/desi curd after adding turmeric powder and keep stirring until the slimy texture leaves.
I sometimes add curd but when I used my cast iron pan, i do not use yogurt.
Always use heavy bottomed pan or kadai or non stick pain to cook okra.
I prefer cast iron pan for my stir fry recipes. It doesn't require much oil and also cooks without sticking to the pan.
You can also add a generous pinch of Amchur powder to the same recipe.
Do not cook okra for long time, the cooked okra should retain the green color and also without slimy texture.
I do not cover my pan while cooking okra, if you want to cover and cook then cover only half of the pan.
No need to add water to cook okra, just cooking in low-medium heat is enough.
Instead of chili powder, you can also use chopped green chili and add along with the tempering ingredients.

More Okra/Vendakkai Recipes :

• Vendakkai Puli Curry
• Vendakkai Sambar
• Vendakkai Puli Kuzhambu
• Bhindi Do Pyaaz / Okra Onion Masala
• Stuffed Okra Fry Recipe