Bhindi bhaji is a very popular and common dish cooked all over India. Bhindi bhaji is Indian curried okra dish made with fresh okra or ladyfinger stir fried with onions, tomatoes, herbs, and spices garnished with freshly chopped coriander leaves.
Bhaji is the Hindi word used for a type of vegetable dish that is usually served fairly dry and without a sauce or gravy.Bhindi bhaji is one of the most recognized Indian vegetable and liked by all. It is universally favorite veggies especially to the kids too.
This dish is called as Bhindi bhaji mostly in north India especially in Maharashtra. There are a number of recipe that can be made with Okra or ladyfinger which include the popular Bharwan Bhindi (stuffed okra), Bendakaaya pulusu (okra cooked in tamarind sauce, a popular Andhra dish), Bhindi Gosht etc.
Ladyfinger is very easy to cook vegetable and can be fried or made into a curry or stuffed with masala. Bhindi bhaji is a simple dish to prepare having subtle flavors, enhanced by spices. It is generally served as a side dish and a part of a vegetarian meal with rice, roti, dal, raita and chutney.
Lady finger is a popular vegetable throughout India and World and is available almost all through the year. Okra or Lady’s finger is commonly used to thicken soup. Okra is also commonly known as bhindi, lady’s finger, gumbo and is a member of the cotton – mallow family.
These are a group of plants that exude a gelatinous substance when sliced. This substance is called mucilage. It is the mucilage which contributes to the slime factor in okra. For best cooking results, use fresh bhindi that are tender and small (about 3 inches in size) or they become tough and stringy.
To prepare this simple and humble Bhindi bhaji, first cut the tip and the very bottom of the okra just to clean it. Do not slice the lady’s finger. Heat oil in a pan or kadai over medium heat and when the oil gets hot add chopped onions and cook for about 3 minutes.
Add all other ingredients except okra, tomato and cilantro. Cook for another 3 minutes. Add Okra and then cook for 6 to 8 minutes. Garnish with tomato and cilantro (freshly chopped coriander leaves). Serve this dish with hot cooked rice, naan or pita bread.
Cooking Okra is simple and fast to prepare. But one should remember that as it has a stickiness when cut, cook the bhindi with out covering lid. Do try this fantastic and delicious recipe. Click on the below link for detailed recipe:
https://www.vahrehvah.com/bhindi-bhaji-recipe
Okra is highly nutritious and is considered to have many health benefits. Okra is a nutritious vegetable with high potassium, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium and vitamins A and C. It also contains starch, thiamine and riboflavin. Okra is rich in fiber, both soluble and insoluble. The fiber also helps stabilize blood sugar level by delaying sugar absorption from the intestines. Okra is good for constipation, asthma, blood sugar, preventing diabetes and cholesterol level.