Vendakkai (okra) pachadi

Okra /vendakkai / ladies finger is a slimy veggie yet tasty and healthy.The okra pods are mucilaginous and this prevents many from cooking this tasty and healthy ,low calorie,fat and cholesterol free veggie rich in minerals iron ,magnesium and calcium and vitamins like C and B complex .Apart from this it’s good source of folates and antioxidants.
   The much avoided mucilage in okra helps ease constipation.

Brief cooking ,cutting it big, frying in oil( which may reduce  good properties  -that is  Low calorie, fat and cholesterol free ) adding acidic / sour things like tamarind or lemon or curds can help reduce the sliminess.

 I have made okra fry, kuzhambu,podimas, sambar or raitha but not pachadi particularly this method. My amma used to make using tamarind juice so haven’t tasted this with coconut until our neighbor in Chennai gave me this during my last visit. We liked it and since then I have made this one in our menu.

INGREDIENTS:



Okra- 2 cups chopped medium
Onion- 1medium  size chopped
Small onion- 3 or 4
Tomato - 1 medium size chopped
Garlic- small piece
Green chilli -  1/2 tsp or as per taste
Cumin-1 tsp
Coconut- grated 2 tbs
Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp
Chilli powder - as per tatse
Salt - as per tatse
Water- as needed
Oil- as needed
For Seasoning
Mustard-1/2 tsp
Asafoetida -  pinch
Red chilli - 1 or as needed
Curry leaf - few
METHOD :

1)Grind small onion,ginger,green chilli and coconut to fine paste using water and keep it ready.

2)Heat 1 tbs oil in a pan add cumin and onion and sauté few minutes ( don’t have to do long as it’s going to be pressure cooked again)

3) Add chopped tomatoes and sauté for few minutes like onion add turmeric and chilli powder and mix well.

4) Add chopped okra sauté for few seconds just to mix with rest of the things and add salt ( we will pressure cook this so take care as veggies shrink after cooking)

5) Add the ground paste and just 2 tbs water( Adding more water will make it slimy .we can add more depending on the consistency we like later when seasoning.)
6) Add all the things to pan and pressure cook ( or u can these steps directly in pressure cooker  it self) it for just one whistle and remove.

7) Heat pan add oil and add mustard and when it splutters add asafoetida , red chilli and curry leafs.

8) Add the cooked okra mix and add water in needed and mix and serve.( I wanted it for side dish so did not add water. If we want to use it to mix with rice little water can be added to get thick gravy consistency)

CAN BE MIXED WITH RICE OR HAD AS SIDE DISH FOR RICE .(depending on the consistency)