Steamed and Stir-fried Okra

A much healthier version of okra I learnt to make from my ma in law; a simple dish which goes well with steamed rice or any Indian bread!
The guilt free recipe of this side dish is again special as the veggie is steamed and later stir-fried in minimum oil to spice up in a perfect Tamil way!

Ingredients:

• Okra / vendakkai / ladies finger- ¼ kg

• Marinate with..
• Turmeric power-1/4 tsp
• Sambhar Powder- ¾ tsp or more or less according to your spice level (you can substitute with 1/2 tsp red chilly powder+ 1/4 tsp dhania powder+ a pinch of jeera powder. Feel free to use a little garam masala if you like the flavour in it)
• Water- a few drops
• Salt- to taste

• Season with..
• Oil- 2 tsps
• Mustard seeds- and urad dal- ¼ tsp each
• Small onions-sliced thin, lengthwise- 3 tbsps
• Garlic-sliced thin, length wise-1 tsp (optional) I avoid garlic
• Ripe tomato-1 large (less sour variety)-cut into small even sized cubes
• Curry leaves- a sprig

Method:

Wash the okra, chop off the edges and cut into 1 inch pieces.
Mix salt, turmeric and sambhar powders with your fingers and rub onto the pieces with minimum amount of water sprinkled in. You may just toss them altogether in a bowl too, but see to it that the powders are coated evenly. Let it stand for 20-30 minutes.

Steam cook for 3-4 minutes more or less, until the pieces are soft and ‘just’ cooked as in the picture above.

In the meanwhile heat oil in a wide heavy bottomed kadai, splutter mustard seeds, brown the urad dal, followed by the onions and garlic.Throw in the curry leaves.Stir in the tomato cubes, cook until soft and then the steam cooked okra, very carefully not to break the soft pieces.

Check salt and toss or stir gently to coat the seasonings evenly on them.

Tastes best with rice and phulkas!

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