Rajasthani Bendi Masala Fry (Delicious Lady Finger/Bendakaya/Bendikai/Okra Fry)

This 'Bendi Masala' is a traditional Rajasthani Dish,special for its chatpata taste. In this we use lady finger/bendakaya/bendikai/okra in combination with tomatoes,chat masala powder and amchur/dry mango powder to satisfy the needs of our tastebuds. There are several health benefits of lady finger,I am discussing few benefits here.

Health Benefits Of Lady Finger/bendakaya/bendikai/okra : It is another vegetable having very less calories,it contains less than 30 calories per 100 gm. It is rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber content,which is very important in preventing constipation.The mucilaginous content also helps in relieving constipation. It also  contains Vitamin -A and C, Vitamin-A,which is required for proper vision and Vitamin-C which is required for increasing immunity in the body and also for healthy skin.It contain good amount of Vitamin-K which is a co-factor for blood clotting enzymes.It is the green vegetable having highest amount of anti oxidants like beta carotenes,Xanthin and lutein. It mainly contain high amount of folates which helps in preventing neural-tube defects on new born babies,hence this is highly recommended for women during pre-conception and pregnancy period. it also contain minerals like calcium,Iron,Manganese and Magnesium.

Preparation time : 10 mins

Cooking time : 20 mins

Yield : 2

Ingredients :

Lady Finger/bendakaya/bendikai/okra : 1/4 kg

Onion pieces : 1/2 cup

Ginger-garlic paste : 1 tbsp

Tomato pieces : 1/2 cup

Mustard seeds/sasive/avallu : 1 tsp

Curry leaves/karivebina soppu/karivepaku : few

Turmeric/arishana pudi/pasupu : a pinch

Red chili powder/ona menasina kayi pudi/karam : 1 tbsp

Salt : to taste

Amchur powder/dry ginger powder : 1 tsp

Chat masala powder : 1 tsp

Coriander leaves/kothumbari soppu/kothmir : fistful

Oil : 2 tbsp + 1 tsp

Method of Preparation :

1. Cut lady finger/bendakaya/bendikai/okra into long  thin pieces. Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a kadai and fry lady finger pieces till they slightly change their color. They should look like this (see below picture).


2. 
   
   [caption id="attachment_245" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Fried bendi pieces[/caption]


3. Heat 1 tsp of oil in another kadai, add mustard seeds and saute till they splutter, then add curry leaves,onion pieces and saute till the onions turn transparent.


4. Then add turmeric powder,ginger-garlic paste and saute till the raw smell goes off. Add tomato pieces and cook till they turn soft.


5. Add fried lady finger pieces/bendakaya/bendikai pieces ,salt,red chili powder and mix well,cook for 2-3 minutes.


6. Finally add Amchur powder,chat masala powder,coriander leaves,cook for 1 minute and dish out. It goes well with rice.

[caption id="attachment_248" align="aligncenter" width="300"]      Rajasthani Bendi Masala Fry[/caption]

 

Note : You can even deep fry lady finger pieces instead of shallow fry in step 1.