Bendakaya (Okra) Masala Pulusu Recipe

Recipe Contributed By : Lakshmi Chilukuri

Location                         : Frankfort, USA

Ingredients:

• Bendakayalu (Okra) -250gms cut into 1 inch pieces
• Tomatoe - 1 chopped 
• Onions - 2 medium chopped 
• Tamarind/Chintapandu about small lime size.  
• Green Chillies - 2 cut into length wise 
• Ginger garilic paste - 1tsp
• Menthi/Fenugreek - 1/8tsp 
• Red Chilli powder - 1tbsp or more according to ur taste 
• Salt to taste 
• Turmeric - 1/4 tsp 
• Aavalu/Mustard seeds- 1tsp 
• Jeelakarra/Cumin seeds - 1tsp 
• Coriander leaves chopped -2tbsp 
• Oil- 4tbsp 
• Sugar or Jaggery 1 tsp optional

For Masala
Dry fry the following ingredients for few minutes and make it powder
Cloves 3
Cinnamon/Dalchini - 1/4 stick
Cardamom/Elachi - 2
Coriander seeds 1 tsp

Method:

• Soak tamarind for 5-10 minutes and extract the juice from it (about 2-3 cups juice).
• Heat Oil in a pan. Add Menthi/Fenugreek, Avalu, Curry leaves/karvepaaku,Jeelakarra and allow it to splutter. Once spluttering starts add green chillies, Onion.
• After few minutes add Ginger garilic paste, and fry for 2 minutes. Cook in  low flame. 
• Add red chilli powder, turmeric powder, salt to taste. 
• Add tomatoes and fry for 10 minutes or until they are well cooked.Cook in  low flame. 
• Now add bendakayalu/okras and fry for  5 minutes.
• Add masala powder and fry it for 1 minute.
• Add 1 cup water and cover and allow it to come to boil.
• When Bendakaya/ okra pieces gets soft Add Chintapandu/tamarind rasam and sugar(optional).
• Bring to boil  for 10 to 15 minutes. You can add more water if required. 
• Garnish it with coriander leaves and serve hot with rice.

Note: Adjust tamarind according to your taste