Bhindi Masala – Okra Bell Pepper Stir-Fry
"This recipe needs very basic ingredients available in most household kitchens."
Serves 4 | Prep Time 15 mins | Cook Time 20 minsWhy I Love This Recipe
Enhanced Bhindi Masala recipe with Shimla Mirch, i.e. Okra Bell Pepper Stir Fry, to give it a unique flavor and colorful look. Bhindi (Hindi word for Okra) is like a staple vegetable in Northern India. Most families will cook bhindi for at least one meal during the week. My family also love bhindi, so I try to make it in different ways. This recipe needs very basic ingredients available in most household kitchens.
Ingredients You'll Need
1 lb Okra chopped in ½ inch roundels
150 gm Potatoes Russet/Idaho medium size diced small
150 gm Colored Bellpeppers ½ of each color
5 gm Green Chilies: 2-3 slit into halves – adjust as per spice level
15 gm Cilantro: handful chopped
Directions
Stove Top Method:
-Heat wok/kadhai on medium heat and add oil in it. Add asafetida, carom seeds and green chilis. Sauté for few seconds.
-Now add chopped okra and diced potatoes give it a good stir.
-Keep stiring in between for even cooking.
-It will take 15 minutes okra to cook.
-Now add diced colored bell peppers.
-Add all the spices and mix well.
-Garnish with chopped cilantro and enjoy.
-The whole dish needs to be cooked on medium heat.
Notes
Tips and Tricks of Making Perfect Crisp Bhindi Masala
Even though bhindi is an everyday vegetable, it is a tricky vegetable to cook. It can very easily get slimly and most people do not like the slimy texture. Ideally, cooked bhindi is supposed to be crispy and non-slimy. Below are some important tips to keep in mind for the same:
-Wash and dry them nicely with kitchen towel before cutting.
-There should not be any water contact after chopping the bhindi. Water will make the bhindi
-A good way to cut down the slime is to roast bhindi for 10 to 15 minutes in an over or air fryer before frying.
-Add all the spices towards the end when the bhindi is almost cooked. Even if you add the salt in the initial phase, that salt will make them slimy.
-Do not use lemon juice, instead use dry mango powder to make it tangy.