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.
Hey "nags"
Dunno even your name but you've been a total saviour of mine…started out with your hyderabadi bagara baigan n tonight gonna try this one…between there've been so many more and thats left me and dad with a full tummy every dinner…hopfefully he wont miss mom's cooking till she comes back!! Thanks soo much!! 🙂 🙂
Is the coconut used fresh or dried?
I used fresh and that tastes best, but anything goes 🙂
shreya!! its so nice that you still visit my blog 🙂 thanks for the tips and vendakka rasam sounds great but i am sure TH won’t touch it 😀
Hi Nags, I love this dish, and I make this quite often.If you want more vendakka recipes (one being vendakka rasam)- let me know,I can give atleast 3 more that will take out the sliminess (if that’s the word)! It’s my daughter’s fav and my hubby’s and mine too:-) We make it atleast 2ce a wk, and so a kilo a week of it is inevitable!Also, the mango curry – is something I make whenever i get raw mangoes, as i love the tangy taste-try adding the raw mango chutney recipe too.If mangoes are too sour, you can try adding a tsp or two of melted jaggery. It’s really yum!waiting for next post- love,shreya.
I love okara, but here it little bit expensive. nice recipe with okra.
I have never tried making aviyal with okra should try it sometime
First time I have heard of this dish and it looks very yummy! 🙂
By the way, you can change it to DH (dear husband) when he’s in your good books! 🙂
Hi,nice blog…
I want exchange link with your blog, my blog is about soup recipe. Please leave me a message if you wanna exchange link with me. Thank you.
Beautiful dish girl, I love Okra but hard to get it here other than frozen ones. Great recipe Nags, glad to see you posting!:)