Okra in Yogurt Curry

Preparation time: 15 minutes
 
Cooking time: 30 minutes

Servings: 2

Introduction: Okra in yogurt curry is a traditional Maharashtrian recipe and is also called 'Taakatali Bhendi' in Maharashtra. In this recipe, okra is shallow fried with some spices. Then it is cooked in the yogurt-gram flour curry. 

I learned this recipe from grandmother. I love its sour and spicy taste. Let's learn the procedure of making Okra in yogurt curry.

Ingredients:

• 200 grams okra
• 150 grams yogurt
• 2 teaspoons of gram flour
• 2 tablespoons refined oil
• 1 teaspoon of mustard seeds 
• 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon of asafoetida/hing
• ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon of red chili powder
• 5-6 curry leaves               
• 3-4 garlic cloves (crushed)
• 2-3 green chilies
• ½ teaspoon of sugar (optional)
• Salt, to taste
• water, as required

Pre-Preparation:

Wash okra and dry it completely using a cloth. Trim tops and tails, and cut it into 2-inch pieces. Make a slit in the middle of each piece without breaking it into two halves.

Procedure:

Step 1: Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, asafoetida, curry leaves, green chilies and crushed garlic cloves to it. Mix it well and toss it for a minute on medium flame.

Step 2: Add okra in the above tempering. Add turmeric powder and red chili powder, and mix it well. Shallow fry it till the okra gets fully cooked.

Step 3: Add two tablespoons of gram flour to the yogurt and mix it well. Add a half cup of water to it while stirring. Do not allow to form lumps of gram flour in the batter.

Step 4: Add this batter to shallow fried okra. Add salt to it. If the yogurt is too sour, you can add ½ teaspoon of sugar. Boil it for 5 to 6 minutes on medium flame.

Step 5: Garnish it with chopped coriander leaves. Serve it with rice or any kind of Indian bread.