Dahi Bhendi/Okra Raita was one of the first dishes that I had learnt from my MIL after our marriage. Okras are crisped and then added to seasoned yogurt; the crisped okra then absorbs the yogurt and plumps up giving it a unique flavorful taste. I loved the taste and have been making it ever since.
This Raita makes a very good side dish Rotis/Chapathis and also with Rice. This is very easy to prepare and is also a good way to finish of those few remaining Okras/lady’s finger sitting in the fridge. My MIL makes this the traditional way by roasting the okra in a wok/kadhai. But I have learnt to roast the okra similar way in the microwave and this process does not require any handling at all.
Please Note: about crisping the okra/lady’s finger in the microwave: Please use only glass plates for crisping the okra in the microwave. The lady’s finger gets crisped very fast in the microwave and the stickiness is gone too. The okra in the picture above was crisped in the microwave, mine takes only about 3 minutes. Depending on the power of the microwave the time might vary, do keep a close eye on it though. The crisp okra with salt is very tasty and kids love to snack on it as is!
If you have never tried this dish before, I strongly recommend that you try it one and you will be surprised!
Ingredients:
- 10-12 big lady’s finger/okra/bhendi
- 1 cup yogurt
- Milk/water to thin out the yogurt
- Mustard seeds
- Curry leaves
- Green chillies slit (depending on taste)
- Chopped coriander leaves
- Oil
- salt
Serves:
3-4 people
Method:
- Wash and wipe the okras clean. Cut then into small discs about an inch long.
- Next we need to crisp the lady’s finger. This can be done in a traditional way in a wok/Kadhai or using the microwave.
- Microwave: Take a microwave safe plate (I recommend a glass plate) and place the cut okras, pour in about 1-2 tsp of oil and some salt and mix well. Microwave for about 2-3 minutes (depending on the power) until it becomes crisp and crunchy.
- Kadhai/wok: Take a heavy bottom pan, add some oil and put in the cut okras. Continue stir in intervals until it becomes crisp and crunchy. Resist the urge to snack on the okras at this time J
- Meanwhile in a big bowl add the yogurt and if thick then thin it out with milk (if yogurt is sour) or water. Please make sure that the yogurt is not thick else this will not taste good.
- Add salt, green chillies, coriander leaves and mix well.
- Add the crisp okra to this yogurt and mix well.
- Prepare a tadka/seasoning of oil mustard seeds, cumin seeds, curry leaves, red chillies (optional) and add it to the yogurt mixture.
Serve with warm Rotis/Chapathis or Rice.
Looks delicious and I loved the idea of crisping the okra in a microwave, I am definitely going to try that !
How much I love this one .. I learnt it from my hubby. goes so good with anna saaru .. Never tried microwaving it though
Tushar loves okra. will definitely try and make it for him
Looks good and microwave idea is genius.
I like the nuking idea – will try that next time. Loved the raitha, RC!
Another new recipe:-) I have done it once with eggplants, but never with okra. great idea for summer & I would not mind having a bowl just by itself.
Amma made them often, simple and a tasty raitha. My daughter will not have them in yogurt, she loves the crispy fried okra with salt and chilli powder.
Simple and delish.I too make this,but never tried the microwave method.Always the stovetop one.Looks lovely and perfect
Okra with yogurt is completely new to me……looks drool worthy…….
Looks lovely and my fav raita too.. wonderful click..
Looks good.I bake it in Oven so they r done like kadai fry…sure need to try in microwave.
Look delicious! Love yogurt raita in any form.:)
(sevenspice.wordpress.com)
Even I prepare bhindi raita….love those crunchy okras in the dahi…perfect combo with roti n pulav.
Lovely.. something new. I’ll try this recipe …
looks so delish… and with the microwave method, so much simpler.
Looks awesome supriya..This is my favourite raita too as i don’t like any other form other than the fried ones as only frying removes the stickiness of the ladies finger thoroughly..We make this usually during festival days as part of an elaborate feast..Microwave method sounds good. Did this method remove the “sticky substance” from the ladies finger completely???
Priya: Yes indeed! The stickiness of the okra is completely gone when done from the microwave and it does not take time either. You will be surprised.
Love the idea of crisping them first and then adding to the curd. But am looking at those methi/palak rotis/parathas too … please pardon me this gross line … but my tummy growled when I saw that snap … it is lunchtime here .. but did not realise that till I came across this snap.
I cook this the very same way, in the microwave.sprinkling a bit of yoghurt halfway will remove the glue from bendis. it is a delicious side dish. I too am looking at the parathas….they look very inviting too.
I made this many times:
http://chefatwork.blogspot.com/2007/06/vendakka-pachadi-ladys-finger-in-curd.html
I also use the oven to bake the bhindi these days
Love it. For a long time, this was the only thing I could make with bhindi.
Yours looks so pretty!
This kind of raita is new to me. Thanks for sharing the recipe Supriya, looks so delicious!
This is new to me!Making the Okra crisp is also new but loved the idea.Your raita looks yummy!
Have never tried making this in the MW. Looks too good!
Looks wonderful…my all time fav one.I use the microwave to fry Okras,for evening snacks.Havent made this kind..This is a perfect raita.
My uncle had made this for us, when we visited him:) The only difference is, he used a pan for frying and added ginger, green chillies, onion too while frying.
I liked the idea of crisping it in microwave. Saves a lot of time and effort! am definitely gonna try this one:)
Looks wonderful RC! Perfect with parathas!
this is something new and i like the concept a lot…looks delicious.
Thank you all very much for the warm comments. Crisping the okra in the microwave is easy and all the stikiness is gone too! Great time saver.
I liked the idea of crisping okra in microwave. will sure try this soon.
delicious raita to go with rice and sambar
yummy!
I love your dahi bhindi… And in the microwave – new one…
Another of our staples and a favourite with us. Only we add a bit of coconut ground with green chillies (not into a paste) to the yogurt.
I’ve never crisped the okra in the MW before. Thanks for that tip. Do you add a bit of salt to the okra before MWing it?
Thanks Aparna. Yes I first add some salt and oil to the okra,mix it well on the glass plate and after that microwave it. Hope this helps.