Garam Masala Tuesdays: Bhindi Raita

….or put in english- Roasted Okra in Yogurt.

I have posted this recipe long, long back. It was one of the initial few recipes that were put on the blog, when only my close friends knew about the blog. So why am I posting it again. Because I have changed it slightly. Also, things written in that post have also changed. Slightly.

I had started this blog to not only document recipes that I tried but also have a place to jot down snippets from my life, so that one day I can go through a particular blog post and know that on that particular day while preparing macarons I screwed up and ended up with this. Or how people on facebook congratulated me for being pregnant when I clearly was not and as a result made this.

It was also a place to document V and my life together. So when I went back to the old recipe’s post it was amusing to see how some things have changed.

The most obvious is –  the photographs.

Yikes.

The horror!

Blurred, weird angles, horrible lighting, no composition and seriously what’s up with the collage!

But well, everyone has to start somewhere. I  started there :).

I am sure in another year or so I will find ten different things wrong about the pictures I am posting today. We all continue to grow, it’s when we stop doing so, that’s when we should get worried. Till then I’ll embrace all my past and present mistakes and continue to strive to improve on them.

Second, V. I was going through what I had written about V and well, things have changed there as well.

For one, he doesn’t bring me flowers on random occasions anymore.

Well, to be fair it’s actually my fault. Because I feel they are a waste of money (I scream romanticism, dont I?).

See, if you look at it practically (and this is the exact explanation I gave V when he got me flowers one day- tact is not one of my special qualities), sometimes a bunch of flowers costs $10, in that same amount you can get a second hand cookbook and still save a few dollars. I would rather have the second hand cookbook and love you more for it than the bouquet of flowers that will die soon. 🙂

V also doesn’t bring me chocolates also anymore. That too could me my fault. Probably because I buy them for myself on my own and then when I finish them in one sitting, I scream at him for allowing me to eat the whole packet. Well, I dont scream at him (I am actually a nice person) but I do blame him for just sitting there and not saying anything while I eat the said packet of chocolates. So..mayyyybe that’s why those chocolates have stopped coming.

V also doesn’t help me with the dishes anymore. Now that is definitely his doing. Well, there is a whole story to it, but one of my marriage vows to never speak ill about V so I will just leave you at he doesn’t do the dishes anymore. Which sucks. Because I hate doing the dishes. Especially cleaning the pressure cooker. Hate it.

And he has started wincing at my expenditures. But that’s ok, I understand that. Well actually, most of the times he doesn’t say ‘no’ but in my head  I think he says no even before I ask. And then I do not purchase the said item telling myself and people V said no. But, to be fair to me, he does say no sometimes. And that’s why I have these thoughts. I just know him too well I guess.

As for the things that haven’t changed.

He still does continue to check my blog, just not everyday (because I do not post everyday). But he still goes through every post I write. Even when he is busy.

And even though he might not touch dirty dishes, he does help me with cleaning the house before a party and then clearing up the mess after one, even if it gets over in the wee hours of the morning, and even when he is tired because he knows I am tired as hell as well.

And he still loves my food and never cribs that it tastes weird, even when I screw up. 🙂

As for the bhindi raita, with the changes, it just got more awesome!

Garam Masala Tuesdays: Bhindi Raita

 

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Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

5 mins

Total time

10 mins

 

Bhindi or okra is roasted and then mixed in a spiced, thinned down yogurt and then topped with a mustard seed, curry leaf and red chilli tempering.

Author: Shumaila

Recipe type: side dish

Cuisine: Indian, gluten free

Serves: 2-3

Ingredients

• 1 cup bhindi (okra), washed, drained, dried and chopped into small pieces (Its very important for the okra to be dry, else when you cut it, the okra will be very slimy. You can also put it on a paper towel to let dry)
• 1 cup yogurt ( I used greek yogurt)
• ½ cup water (you might need more or less depending on how thick your yogurt is)
• ½ tsp turmeric powder
• ½ tsp chilli powder
• 1 tsp roasted cumin powder
• ½ tsp black salt (kala namak), or to taste (if you can't find black salt, regular salt would do)

for the tempering:

• 1-2 tbsp oil (I used a bit of coconut oil mixed with normal vegetable oil)
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 tsp urad dal
• few dried red chillies
• a bunch of curry leaves (kadi pata)

Instructions

1. Stir yogurt with black salt and roasted cumin powder. Add in water to thin it down a bit. Leave to chill in fridge.
2. Preheat grill to medium setting.
3. Mix the okra with chilli powder, turmeric and oil in bowl. Grill for 8-10 min until sizzling and crispy. (You can also fry the okra but this a healthier option. I have also realized the resulting okra can be used as a dish itself and served with chappati too.)
4. Add in yogurt.
5. Heat oil in a small pan on medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add in mustard seeds. Let them sizzle. Add in urad dal, dried red chillies and curry leaves and let sizzle for a few seconds. Pour over the bhindi raita. Garnish with some more roasted cumin powder

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