Okra/bhindi must be our most favorite vegetable. We buy it every time we go to Indian grocery store here. I love to learn new dishes with this vegetable. So far whatever I tried with this vegetable, it has always been a hit.
This recipe is based on a recipe I saw on TV few years ago. I don’t remember the name of the original dish, it had coconut base, but when I made it, I did not use coconut. It came out very good. Simple and tasty.
Ingredients: 3 cups chopped okra/bhindi 1 tea spn chana dal 1 tea spn + 1/2 tea spn urad dal 1/2 tea spn cumin seeds 1 tea spn coriander seeds 1 tea spn mustard seeds A pinch asafoetida 4-5 red chillies 1 tea spn jaggery 1/2 tea spn tamarind 2-3 cloves 1″ cinnamon 5-6 curry leaves A pinch turmeric Oil Salt
Method: Heat oil and cloves, cinnamon, chana dal, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, 1 tea spn urad dal, red chillies, asafoetida and make into a powder. Heat oil and add mustard seeds, urad dal. When they start popping, add curry leaves. Add okra, salt and turmeric. Fry for a while till they soften. Add the powder, jaggery, tamarind and cook till done.
Serves : 2-3 Preparation time : 20mins
V’s grand mother is a very enthusiastic cook. It amazes me to see her interested in cooking even at an age of 85+. Everytime I call her, I ask for V’s favorite recipes. V has loads of childhood memories associated with her, she knows his likes and dislikes.
Few days ago when I had found Spanish mackerel here , she told me to make this dish. She makes this amazing Iswana sukke – king fish in a spicy coconut paste. When I told her I don’t have coconut, she asked me to follow this recipe. It came out very delicious.
Coconut oil gives it a very nice aroma. You can leave it out if you don’t like it, but according to me coconut oil takes this simple dish to a whole new level.
This time I got the fish nicely cut by the Whole foods. So this dish got ready literally in minutes.
Ingredients: 1 lb (0.45kg) king fish(seer fish/ surmai/ Iswan) 1/2 cup chopped onion 2 tea spns chilli powder 1/2 tea spn tamarind extract 1 tea spn coriander seeds A pinch turmeric 1 tea spn chopped ginger Coconut oil Salt
Method: Heat a little oil and fry coriander seeds. Powder them. (Ready made coriander powder gives a very different taste, so make it at home). Heat coconut oil and add onions, ginger. Fry till the onions turn translucent. Now add fish, tamarind, salt, coriander powder, chilli powder, 1/2 cup water. Cover and cook till fish is done. While serving, drizzle some coconut oil on top.
Serves : 3-4 Preparation time : 20mins
