Vendakka Pachadi

This recipe is by Mrs.Mano Saminathan. She has an experience of 40 years in cooking. You can find many of her recipes here.

Ingredients

Okra - 1 small packet (about 10-15 small vendaikkai)

Tamarind - 1 small lime size

Coconut - 2 tblsp

Mustard seeds - 3/4 tsp

Jeera - 1 tsp

Jaggery - 1-2 pieces (per taste)

Dry red chillies - 1-2 (as per taste)

Mustard and uarad dal for tempering

Rice flour - 1 tsp

Coconut oil - 2 tsp

Salt to taste

Curry leaves - few

Method

Trim okra and chop into 1/2 inch pieces.

It is important that the okra remains dry before you chop them. (This is true for all preparations of Okra)

Saute the Okra pieces in a pan of hot vegetable or coconut oil (about 1 tsp will do on non-stick pan) until the okra is coated with oil.

No need to fry these until brown.

Add about 1 cup tamarind water, turmeric and salt and cook the okra.

Add 1 piece jaggery half way through.

Meanwhile, grind the fresh coconut with raw jeera, mustard seeds, rice flour and red chillies to a fine paste.

Once the okra is cooked, add this paste to the okra liquid.

Adjust salt and jaggery to taste.

Let it simmer until the raw smell of coconut mixture goes away.

Put off the fire and temper with mustard seeds, urad dal, asafoetida (perungayam) and curry leaves.

I do the tempering in coconut oil.