Stuffed Masala Bhindi/ Stuffed Okra (lady finger)

Okra, bhindi or otherwise sweetly called lady finger is a versatile vegetable. Its healthy a vegetable as long as you retain the nutrition value without over frying or slicing them small. Well, now thats tricky as okra tastes best when deep fried. Here's the solution that not just brings out the taste of this vegetable but also retains its nutrition and is easy to make. Great as party food!

Ingredients:

1 pound okra washed and dried

1 tsp- Besan/ Bengal gram powder

1 tsp- amchur powder/ dry mango powder (available at all India grocery stores)

2 tbsp- Ready made sambhar masala powder  (If you are running out of sambhar masala, you can substitute it by making  a mix of 1 tsp- red chilli powder, 1/8 tsp- hing, 3/4 tsp- coriander powder, 1/4 tsp- turmeric powder)

Salt to taste

Oil 

Servings- 7-8

Process:

1. Wash and dry the okra. Cut the stalk of okra and make a lengthwise slit.

2. Make a mix of the sambhar masala, amchur powder, besan and salt. Amchur is for the tangy taste and besan is the binding agent)

3. Now stuff each okra with this mixture (handle the okras delicately while stuffing them- this is the only time consuming part of the preparation)

4. Meanwhile preheat your oven at 400 F.

5. Grease your baking tray with some oil and place the okras on the tray.

6. Spray oil on top of the okras. (This is to get the deep oil fry effect)

7. Place the tray in oven and allow it to bake for 30 mins or until the okras get cooked.

8. Switch of the oven and turn the sides (flip) of the okras and allow it to be in the oven for another 20-30 mins.

Now instead of baking, you can do the traditional way of frying the okras in oil. You can also saute some green peppers (capsicum) and mix with this baked/ fried okras for more flavor. 

Serve it with rice or roti or just snack it away!