Bhendi ~ Baingan ~ Aloo Masala.

“Bhendi ~ Baingan ~ Aloo Masala / Lady’s Finger ~ Brinjal ~ Potato Curry” … A Simple ~ Spicy ~ Delicious side dish similar to our Konkani Saraswat’s very own panna upkari but a little bit dry dish … Goes very well with Chapati / Roti / Naan / Paratha / Panpolo / Dosa etc., ….. Yummy Yumz …

Diwali is hardly a few days away and almost every Indian is busy with cleaning, purchasing and preparing yummy dishes like sweets and savories. Everywhere you see people being in full active mode. In my food group “Konkani Delicacies” too all my members are busy preparing and posting their delicacies with full pride, that it really makes me happy that finally we have a place where yummy food is shared and enjoyed all round the world. Coming to Diwali, one hardly finds time now to cook a proper meal as we are all busy with other preparations. So its something light always. Today I had one medium sized brinjal remaining in my fridge and some lady finger, so I decided to prepare this yummy combo of dish that goes very well with roti / paratha or dosa … I served it with roti. I prepared this dish in similar lines of our very own Amchi / Konkani Saraswats panna upkari, but a little bit dry textured dish and it tasted yum. Well, without wasting time lets move on to the yummy recipe …

Ingredients :

Brinjal / Vangi / Vaingan : 1 medium sized (about 200 gms)

Lady’s Finger / Bhendi / Okra : 200 gms.

Potato / Batata : 1 large sized or 2 medium sized.

Onions : 2 medium sized.

Tomatoes : 1 large

Garlic : 12-15 cloves

Kashmiri Red Chilly Powder : 1- 1.5 tblsp

Coriander / Dhania Powder : 1 tsp

Salt to taste

Oil : 2-3 tblsp

** Wash, cut off the edge of Brinjal / Vangi and cut them into medium thickness strips of 2 inch in length. Wash and keep them aside.

** Wash bhendi / lady finger and pat them dry. Slice off the edges and cut them into pieces of 2 inch length, giving them slant cuts.

** Peel off the skin and cut the potatoes also into medium thickness strips similar to baingan / brinjal of 2 inch in length. Wash and keep them aside.

** Peel off the skin of onions and slice them lengthwise thinly and keep them also ready aside.

** Wash and Slice off the stem side of the tomato and cut it into lengthwise strips similar to brinjal and potato. Keep it ready aside.

** Peel of the skin of garlic and either crush them with a heavy weight / stone or cut them into 2 pieces lengthwise.

** Heat oil in a thick bottomed kadai, when hot lower the heat to medium and add in the garlic and fry till it turns slightly brownish in color. Now add in the onions and further fry till they also turn translucent.

** Now add in chilly powder and coriander powder, mix well and fry for a few minutes. Add in the potatoes and mix well. Lower the heat, sprinkle some water and cook covered for 5 minutes. Now add in the brinjal and lady finger and mix all well. Once again cover and let cook on low heat till 75% cooked.

** Add in the tomato pieces, salt to taste, sprinkle some water and mix all the ingredients well. Cover and cook till all the vegetables are cooked and done. Do not overcook them or else they loose taste.

** “Bhendi ~ Baingan ~ Aloo Masala / Lady Finger ~ Brinjal ~ Potato Curry” is done and is ready to be served. Serve this spicy side dish with any dish as accompaniment to it. But goes best with roti / dosa / parathas. Do prepare this awesome dish and enjoy with your family and friends.