Vendaikkai Puzhicurry/Fried Okra in Coconut-tamarind based curry

Hey all,
I'm back after long time and hoping to blog regularly from here onwards. Finally got some ideas to keep my toddler girl busy while i am experimenting over the kitchen.It took almost 1 year for me and rest of the family to adjust to her routine..:D.Everything revolves around her, her nap time, her play time, her tantrums etc.Anyways got idea of few things she like to make her super busy , if i need some time for cooking.

Vendaikkai Puzhi curry is a favourite dish of my dear S.His mom makes this every week with different vegetables.This dish is made with fried vendaikkai/okra and coconut-tamarind gravy.You can subsitute okra with drumsticks,brinjals,cucumber,or all veggies together.


Ingredient

Vendaikkai/okra - 10 no.s (cut into half)
Coconut - 1/2 cup (shredded)
Jeera - 1/2 tsp
Garlic - 1 small pod
Whole red chillies - 8-10 no.s
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Tamarind - 1 lemon size ( soak it in 1 1/2cups of water and extract the juice)
Salt - as needed
Oil - 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1tsp
Fenugreek seeds - 1/24tsp
Curry leaves - a few

For frying Okra

Okra - as mentioned above
Oil - 2 tbsp
Salt - 2 pinches
Red chilli powder - 1/4tsp
Turmeric powder - 2 pinches

Method

Grind coconut,garlic,jeera,red chillies and turmeric powder into a fine paste.In pan heat 2 tbsp of oil and fry vendaikkai/okra.Add salt,turmeric and red chilli powder and fry till they are somewhat crispy.In another pan, heat tamarind extract with grinded coconut paste and salt.*At this point, add little water if you want).Let this boil till raw smell goes and gravy thickens.Now add fried okra into this and let it simmer for about 5 minutes.Finally for tadka, heat 1 tbsp of oil, fry mustard seeds,fenugreek seeds,curry leaves and pour this into the gravy.Serve it hot with rice.




Vendaikkai Puzhi Curry



Rice served with Cucumber/Vellarikkai Puzhi Curry and Vazhakkai Thoran