Stuffed Okra

“Okra” or “ Lady’s finger” or “ Bhendi” (in Hindi) is generally available throughout the year. A variety of dishes can be prepared from this wonderful green vegetable.

This Maharashtrian dish is not only tasty and attractive.but also quite easy to prepare. Try it out.

Ingredients:

250 gms tender Okra (lady’s fingers)

For Filling:

3tbsps Gram flour

1 tsp Chilly powder

1 tsp Garam Masala

½ tsp – sugar

Juice of 1 lime

Salt to taste

For Seasoning:

2 tbsps oil

1 tsp mustard seeds

A pinch asafetida

½ tsp turmeric powder

For Garnishing:

1 tbsp coriander leaves

1 tbsp grated coconut

Method:

1. Wash the Okra (lady’s fingers) and pat them dry with a kitchen towel. Cut off the edges and make a slit in the centre lengthwise into each one of them.
2. Mix all the filling items in a bowl to form a thick paste. Take a little of this paste and stuff it well into each okra slits.
3. Heat oil in a shallow pan or Kadai. Add to it the seasoning ingredients. When the mustard seeds stops spluttering, add the stuffed okra one by one taking care to see that the stuffing (masala) does not come out.
4. Cover the pan and cook on low heat. Occasionally stir the okra taking care to see that they are not burnt. Cook till done.
5. Garnish with coriander leaves and grated coconut.

Serves: 3

Note:

• This dish goes well with Rice & Dal.
• It is advisable to use non-stick pan/kadai while cooking this dish as no water is added while cooking.
  

Stuffed & Fried Snake Gourd Rings

In my last post I had promised you all another snake gourd recipe. Well, here I am with two variations in the recipes for the price of one!!

The first (potato) one is the typical Konkani type but the other one (gram flour) is the Maharashtrian version. Yet another filling variation is to substitute sweet potato for the regular potato stuffing. All the versions are equally tasty.

Generally salt is applied to the cut snake gourd rings and then stuffed. But here, I have steamed the snake gourd rings first before stuffing. This is one of my friend’s suggestions which I have followed and I feel it’s a healthier version. Moreover, it takes less time to cook during frying and with the result less oil is also used.

Steamed snake gourd rings with the stuffings

Stuffed and fried snake gourd rings

Ingredients:

Snakegourd (small)	1
Boiled Potato (large)	1
Onion (chopped)	1
Green Chilly (chopped)	1 or as per taste
Corriander leaves(chopped)	1 tbsp
Lemon juice	1 tsp
Salt	as per taste
Oil	for shallow frying
Fine semolina/ sooji/rawa	2-3 tbsps

Method :

1. Wash and scrape the snake gourd and scoop out the seeds and the pulp.
2. Cut it into 1.5" size rings. Steam these rings for about 15 minutes and keep aside.
3. Mash the boiled potato in a bowl and add to it the chopped onions, chopped green chilies, salt and lime juice. Mix it well.
4. Stuff this mixture into the Snake gourd rings.
5. Heat a frying pan and smear oil on it. Roll each stuffed snake gourd rings into the fine semolina and fry it in the frying pan with the heat lowered. Add oil all around if necessary and do the same on the other side till golden brown.
6. Remove and serve hot.

About 11 rings can be cut from one small snake gourd.

II - Variation

Ingredients : Gram flour, turmeric powder, chilly powder, jeera (cumin) powder, pepper powder, salt, sugar, eno or soda and tamarind water.

Mix all these ingredients to form a thick paste and stuff this into the steamed snake gourd rings. Frying procedure is the same as mentioned above.

Note:

• This can be eaten as a side dish or as an evening snack.
  
• You can substitute boiled sweet potatoes for the regular potato in which case add asafoetida and another chilly to the stuffing mixture as sweet potato is naturally sweet.