TH and I are both Okra (vendakka in tamil and malayalam) haters. Well, maybe hate is too strong a word, but definitely its a strong dislike. But being my mother’s daughter, ignoring any vegetable is not my thing, so I still continue to buy it and make things that take out the slimy feel from it, cuz that’s what we both hate. My mom frequently makes Kerala Aviyal Recipe, with all possible vegetables and a generous amount of coconut. So I wasn’t too familiar with this particular version of aviyal until I asked her for recipes with Okra (that takes out the sliminess!).
The only considerable difference in Vendakka Aviyal is the addition of tamarind. It gives it a nice tangy flavour and disguises the undesirable parts of the vegetable beautifully.
Vendakka Avial Recipe
Serves 2
Ingredients:
Okra / Vendakka / Ladies finger : 10 nos.
Grated coconut : 1/2 cup
Shallots : 5-6
Tamarind paste : 2 tbsp
Powdered Jeera/Cumin : 1 tsp
Chilli powder : 1 tsp
Curry leaves, mustard : for tempering
Coconut oil : 2 tbsp
Salt : to taste
How I Made It:
1. Chop the okra in 1″ pieces and cook in some salted water till soft.
2. Coarsely grind the coconut, shallots, jeera and chilli with very little water.
3. Heat coconut oil in a kadai and temper with mustard seeds and curry leaves. Add the ground paste and fry for 10 seconds. Then add the okra pieces and the tamarind paste. Keep covered and cook for 2 mins till the curry has mixed well.
4. Adjust salt and remove from fire.
Serve hot with rice.
Hi Nags, how are you? I’ve never come across this dish, nor any other which requires this vegetable to be boiled. I always thought ladies finger + water = slime. 🙂
Well nags i am not wild about okra, mostly it is in sambat we used at home or the other dish i have no idea wht it is called, it is a dry dish.
Thats a new recipe for me:) Vendakka in avial! Wow nice combo Nags:) Must try one:) Next time I think of making avial I am gonna make this:)
What a coincidence Nags, I just posted about my love for Okra! Never came across this type of preparation, but will surely try this sometime.
i love, love and simply love okara. so this innovative recipe is a must try. coconut, okra and tamarind-i can already taste it 🙂
I’m a huge okra fan, so this recipe looks fantastic to me. I usually find that using frozen okra reduces the sliminess of the vegetable.
I’m one as well who isn’t fond of the sliminess…I like it stir fried….
Oohhhhhhh is this the first “TH” mention? 😀 I’m sure there are many more coming…
Vendakka aviyal, huh? Never heard of it!! I love vendakka including some of the slimy preparations… This looks good. Thanks for the entry N…
I’ll take your word for it that this works for okra.:) Looks good though.
I like okra as long as it is stirfried and dry, otherwise I give it a miss!
Sig – Yes, I think this is the first official TH mention 😀
I think okra is like the fruit durian that’s available in plenty here in Singapore. You either hate it or you love it.