BHINDI KALI MIRCH

 BHINDI KALI MIRCH

Lady's fingers/okra are called Bhindi in Hindi, Bhenda in my mother tongue, Konkani and Bendekayi in Kannada. Did you know that lady's fingers has a component called pectin which helps to reduce the "bad" cholesterol in our system? It has a number of other health benefits as well.

This has to be one of the more common vegetables in the Indian kitchen! I make use of lady's fingers quite often so elsewhere in this blog you will find other recipes for bhindi such as:-

• Aloo Bhindi
• Crispy Bhindi Tawa Fried 
• Bharwan Bhindi

Today's recipe is an easy to make side dish called Bhindi Kali Mirch which can be made quite fast. It gets its name from the black pepper ( Kali Mirch in Hindi) powder which gives this dish a distinctive taste. One of the reasons this can be made in a jiffy is that lady's fingers is one vegetable that gets cooked in no time! 

I have adapted this from Bhindi Kali Mirch by the legendary cookery expert Tarlaji Dalal. 

I tried this out the other day and it was most yummy!!

Ingredients:-

• Bhindi ( Lady's Fingers, Okra), 250 gms
• Large -sized Onion, 1
• Green Chillies, slit, 2
•  Roasted Cumin Seeds Powder, 1/2 tsp
• Chilli Powder, 1/2 tsp
• Freshly ground Black Pepper Powder, 1/4 tsp
• Oil, 2 tbsp
• Salt, to taste

Method:-

Wash the lady's fingers and pat them dry using a clean kitchen towel

Snip off both ends and cut into 2" pieces

Slice the onion into thin slices

Heat oil in a thick-bottomed kadhai and on medium heat add the onion and sauté for a couple of minutes

To this add the slit green chillies and sauté for a few seconds

Next add the cut lady's fingers and salt to taste

Mix well and cook until the lady's fingers get done stirring from time to time

Please take care that the lady's fingers get overcooked to become mushy

Now add the roasted cumin seeds powder, chilli powder, and freshly ground black pepper powder and mix well

Cook for a few minutes until the lady's fingers is well blended with the spice powders

Switch off the gas and transfer the Bhindi Kali Mirch to a serving bowl

Serve hot as a side dish with rice or rotis