Indian Okra curry or bhindi masala with gravy is a delectable veg recipe for dinner or lunch. Less slimy stir fried okra simmered in a spicy onion and tomato curry makes a perfect flavor to serve with rice, roti, or paratha.
Check the stovetop and Instant pot recipe down below the recipe card.
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Okra Curry Recipe
When it comes to making veg with gravy then okra curry tickled to my mind as it makes a perfect flavor in gravy (salan). Stir fried okra with less slimy texture blends so well with onion and tomato curry especially if you eat after a day. Must try this and you will love the flavor.
Okra (Okro) is famous as ladies fingers in most of the English countries. In India and Pakistan, it’s famous as bhindi. It can be prepared in a variety of ways but the taste of masala okra with curry makes a desi style flavor and is perfect to serve with the meal as a main course or side dish. Okra has a little sweet and grassy flavor that turns into a delicious dish after cooking.
It’s difficult to get fresh Indian okra in United States so you can use frozen as an option. Also, make a check on Indian or Pakistani stores to find fresh okra.
How to Find the Best Okra (Bhindi)
It is important to get fresh okra which is bright and shiny in color and firm in texture. You can also check the tip, if it’s dull or dark in color then it’s not fresh. Okra is naturally sticky in texture so don’t worry about it. Ripe okra is more sticky as compared to fresh. If it’s fresh but too hard in texture then avoid it as it will tender after cooking.
Sometimes, okra contains worms/insects hidden inside the pods so need to make sure the inside is 100% clean. If there is some doubt of worm then don’t use it. If you are using okra in a long cut then just make a cut from the sides and check it.
How to Cut and Wash Okra
It’s important to properly wash before cutting. Grime sticks to okra skin so rub it with your hands to properly clean. After washing, tap it to dry or keep at room temperature to get dry. As the okra gets dry, then trim the top (head) part and also remove the end part as shown in the picture. Then slice it from the middle if it’s too long. Don’t wash okra after cutting as the sticky substance ‘mucilage’ will drain out and it will be difficult to wash.
Okra Health Benefits
Okra is low calorie vegetable full of Vitamin C, magnesium, folate, fiber, and antioxidants. It also helps to strengthen the immune system, has anti-cancer properties, improves fertility issues. The best thing that I know, it helps to improve your hair shine if applied physically which is really needed after 30 years. Check it to know more about it.
See Also: Pan fried Eggplant
Another Veg Idea: Aloo Palak
Ingredients & Substitutions
Orka (bhindi): Use fresh okra and cut it into 3 inches.
Oil: Any vegetable or sunflower oil can be used to stir fry the okra/bhindi.
Onion: Used finely chopped onion as it helps to make viscous gravy.
Ginger Garlic: Grated ginger and garlic used to add strong garlicky flavor in curry.
Tomato Paste: Homemade tomato paste used. Peel the skin and made a paste in a grinder.
Yogurt: Add thick yogurt to add creamy texture in curry.
Spices: Red chili powder, turmeric powder and coriander powder used along with salt.
Cumin Seeds: will improve the taste of gravy.
Garam Masala: fresh and homemade garam masala used in curry.
How to Make Okra Curry (Bhindi Masala)
First, clean the okra with tap water before cutting. Tap with a cotton cloth to make it dry or naturally dry at room temperature or under the fan.
Cut the okra from the top (head part) and then make a small cut from the tip (end of the okra). Don't wash after cutting as it becomes slimy.
Now In a pan, add oil and stir fry okra on medium to high heat. Keep stirring until it changes the color. Don't make it dark.
Take out stir fried okra and in the same pan, add oil and heat it up. Add finely grated ginger garlic and cumin seeds. Saute for a few seconds and add finely chopped onion. Cook the onion until it becomes aromatic and starts to change color to pink. (Don't make it dark).
Now add spices (red chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, and salt)
Give it a good mix! as oil starts to separate from pan sides.
Add tomato paste and mix well to finely blend in curry. Now add yogurt and mix it well to form a homogenous curry texture.
Add roasted okra in curry with garam masala powder. Add water to simmer okra and give it a gentle and nice mix. Cover the lid and cook for about 20 to 25 minutes on low/medium heat to tender the okra.
After 25 minutes, okra curry is ready to serve with roti or naan. I love to have steamed rice and tadka daal. Must try this, You will surely love the combination.
In veg recipes of India and Pakistan, okra curry is the best addition to your dinner or lunch. Spicy and savory curry with grassy flavor of okra makes a best combination for desi people to try with phulka or chapati.
Okra Curry Video
Here is the step by step video recipe to make okra curry at home.
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Tips - Bhindi Masala Gravy
- Stir fry or roast the okra on medium heat before adding in curry.
- Don’t stir fry for a long time otherwise, it will add a burnt taste.
- Roasting will help to get rid of the raw taste of okra and make it less slimy.
- If you are following a keto diet plan then okra will be a great addition.
- You can also make the same recipe by adding lamb/mutton. Don’t try with chicken as it doesn’t make any combination.
- Try okra with spinach as both complement with each other.
- Use fresh okra! Avoid ripe okras.
- If you don’t have fresh okra then try with frozen okra. (Never try this recipe with breaded okra in frozen option).
- In spices and herbs, you can make changes to add mango powder or fresh lemon. In the same way, green chilies, Kasuri methi can be used.
- This recipe is without cream.
How to Serve Okra Curry
Well there are plenty of ideas to make serving of okra curry with the different combinations of rice and naan. If it's in main course then make serving with both.
Along with this you can also serve daal, kebab, achar, salad or plain yogurt.
Q & A
If the okra is stir fried then cook it in curry for about 20 to 25 minutes (maximum). Over cooking can make it slimy.
Use fresh okra, stir fry, or roast before use. Add yogurt while cooking. Don’t cook for a long time. Don’t add salt while stir frying or roasting the okra as it will help to release water and as a result will get slimy.
Okra naturally has a grassy taste with slimy texture but it makes savory combination with spices, onion, ginger garlic, and tomatoes.
Well, you don't need to soak it to make Indian/Pakistani curry.
Always prefer to take the young okra that is almost 4 inches pods. Old or mature okra shows hard fiber so avoid it as it will remain hard after cooking.
More Veg Ideas
Indian Okra Curry (Bhindi Masala Gravy)
Ingredients
- 250 g Okra (bhindi)
- 3 teaspoon Oil for stir frying
- 1.5 tablespoon Oil to make curry
- 2 teaspoon Ginger Garlic finely grated
- 1 teaspoon Cumin Seeds
- ¼ cup Onion chopped
- 1.5 teaspoon Red chili powder
- 1.5 teaspoon Coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon Turmeric powder
- ¼ cup Tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Yogurt
- ½ teaspoon Garam Masala
Instructions
Clean & Cut the Okra
- Clean okra with tap water to remove grime. After washing, make it dry and cut the head part and tip (end part) of okra.
Stir Frying (Stove top method)
- In a pan, add oil and stir fry okra on high heat until it changes the color. As it shows slight roasted brown effect then take it out and keep on aside.
Curry Making:
- In a heated pan, add oil and saute finely chopped ginger garlic and cumin for few seconds on medium heat.
- As the ginger garlic become aromatic then add finely chopped onion and cook it until the onion starts to change color to light pink.
- Add red chili powder, coriander powder and turmeric powder with salt.
- Give a good mix to cook all the spices.
- Now add fresly ground tomato paste and stir twell o blend in curry.
- Add yogurt and mix in curry to make one tone curry texture on medium heat.
- As oil seperates from the pan sides, then add stir fried okra and gently mix.
- Sprinkle garam masala powder and add water to simmer the curry.
- Cover the lid and cook for about 20 to 25 minutes on medium/low heat to tender the okra.
- After 25 minutes, give it a nice mix. and it's ready to serve!
Instant Pot Bhindi Masala (Okra Curry)
- After cleaning and cutting the okra, Turn on the saute mode of Instant pot and add oil and let it heat for few seconds then stir fry all the okra in 1 or 2 batches depending upon the size of instant pot. Then take it out and place on a side.
- Again, add oil and temper cumin seeds. Saute onion, ginger garlic paste for few minutes. Season with spices. Red chili powder, coriander powder, and turmeric powder with salt.Give it a good stir to mix all the spices to form a curry.
- Now add freshly ground tomato paste and yogurt and stir well for few minutes to blend in curry in a one-tone texture. As oil starts to get visible at the corners of IP then add the stir fried okra in curry and sprinkle garam masala.
- Add 1 cup water to simmer the curry. Gently mix it!
- Now cover the instant pot and seal the vent. Set the Pressure cooking for 15 minutes at low pressure.
- After cooking, release the vent to drop the steam. Open the lid and check if there is some water then evaporate it on saute mode.
- As the oil appears then dish it out and serve.
Video
Notes
- Stir frying will make the okra less slimy. Alternatively, you can also roast in oven for 15 minutes.
- Never stir fry okra on low heat otherwise it will release water and become slimy.
- Finish stir frying as okra shows a slightly brown or roasted texture. Don't make it dark.
- I have tried this recipe with okra and spinach together that makes a great taste.
- It's the best recipe of okra for keto diet followers. Low calorie and rich in nutrition.
- Use fresh okra! Avoid ripe okras. If you don’t have fresh okra then try with frozen okra. (Never try this recipe with breaded okra in frozen option).
- In spices and herbs, you can make changes to add mango powder or fresh lemon. In the same way, green chilies, Kasuri methi can be used.
- This recipe is without cream or coconut milk.
Hinz
Okra curry or bhindi masala gravy recipe is full of flavor to serve for dinner or lunch. Simple and easy recipe for okra lovers to give it a try!!