Benda Panna Upkari / Spicy Lady finger (Okra) Curry.

Benda Panna Upkari / Spicy Lady finger (Okra) Curry ......... 

Wash and wipe dry 12-15 lady’s finger. Cut off the edges and slit it through the center keeping the edge intact.

Wash and wipe 2 tomatoes. Cut them into even sized rings and keep it ready aside. Also chop into fine pieces 2-3 medium sized onions.

For the Masala : Grind to a fine paste ¼ cup of fresh grated coconut with 15-20 red kashmiri chillies (Plus or minus as per individual taste), a small marble sized tamarind (as the tomatoes we get here are not sour) and 2 tsp of coriander seeds with as little water as possible.

Microwave the lady finger in a microwave dish for 4-5 minutes and keep it ready. 

Heat a thick bottomed kadai with 4 tblsp of oil, when hot add in the finely chopped onions and fry till brown, when evenly browned add 6-7 curry leaves and the ground masala and fry well for 5 minutes, then add in 2 cups of water and bring to a boil.

Add in the tomatoes, when half cooked add in the micro waved lady finger, mix well, add the required amount of salt to taste. Cover and cook till done. 

Serve hot with Dal Chawal or with Roti as a side dish.

Note: If not using microwave method for cooking of lady finger then cook them by sprinkling little water in a kadai separately and keep it ready. Then follow the same above procedure.