Bhindi Masala
Spiced sauteed okra
Ingredients
- 400 g Okra
- 1 Onion
- 1 Tomato
- ½ tsp Ground turmeric
- 1 tsp Ground coriander
- ½ tsp Red chili powder
- ½ tsp Amchur (dried mango powder)
- 3 tbsp Neutral oil
- ¾ tsp Salt
Method
- Wash and fully dry the okra, then cut into lengths; slice the onion and tomato.
- Fry the okra in the oil over medium-high heat until the sliminess cooks off and it browns, then set aside.
- Soften the onion, add the tomato, then stir in the turmeric, coriander, and chili powder and cook for a minute until fragrant.
- Return the okra, season with the amchur and salt, and toss to coat.
- Serve hot with roti.
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About Bhindi Masala
Bhindi masala is a dry-style North Indian side of okra — bhindi — sauteed with onion, tomato, and warm ground spices until the pods are browned and the pan is nearly free of sauce. Unlike a gravied curry, this is a sukhi sabzi, a dry vegetable dish meant to be scooped up with bread. The technique that makes or breaks it is dealing with okra's notorious sliminess: the pods are washed and fully dried, then fried over higher heat until that stickiness cooks off entirely and the edges char.
Done right, it eats tender-crisp and savory, with the okra's own flavor front and center, framed by softened onion, a little tomato acidity, and the earthy warmth of turmeric, coriander, and chili powder. A finish of amchur — dried mango powder — adds a tangy sourness that is characteristic of the dish and keeps it from tasting flat. It is a light, high-fiber vegetable side that pairs naturally with hot roti and a bowl of dal, and it comes together in about twenty-five minutes. Keeping the heat up and the okra dry is the difference between a crisp, bright sabzi and a gummy one.
Bhindi Masala: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Bhindi Masala?
A serving has about 151 calories — 2.8g protein, 13g carbs, 11g fat, 4.9g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Bhindi Masala gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Bhindi Masala has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
How many servings does Bhindi Masala make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.