Bhindi masala is a very popular vegan and gluten-free Indian okra recipe made by cooking okra with tomatoes, onions, and a few basic spices.
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Bhindi masala is a very popular and delicious vegan Indian recipe made with okra, tomatoes, onions, and a few basic spices.
Like most of the Indians, Okra is one of my favorite vegetables. During summers, you will find one Okra dish getting cooked in my kitchen almost every alternate day, be it stuffed Okra or today’s recipe – Bhindi masala or any other Okra recipe.
When we were kids, my mother also used to make different types of Okra dishes for us but I never saw her putting tomatoes in any of them.
Adding tomatoes to Okra was something I could never have imagined. Nobody was doing that – not my mother, not the neighbors, and not the mothers of my schoolmates.
I always was of the opinion that adding tomatoes to Okra will make it slimy which everyone hates so never even bothered to try it.
For me, this myth was broken by a colleague of mine, many years back. Once she offered me her packed lunch to taste with a warning that her mother adds tomato to okra so I may not like it.
Her warning proved that I was not the only one who couldn’t imagine okra and tomato together.
Hearing her warning, I lost the appetite as I imagined a runny, slimy okra dish. However, I didn’t want to be rude so took a small bite from her tiffin. Surprisingly, it was one of the best Okra dishes I had ever tried.
I asked my colleague for the recipe and cooked it at home. Now, this Bhindi masala recipe is everyone’s favorite okra recipe at my home.
Whether you love okra or hate it, you must try this super delicious and easy recipe at least once. If you love it, you will start loving it even more and if you hate it, you will start loving it.
How to make slime free okra
- The okra should be completely dry before getting cooked, so wash it a few hours in advance.
- Don't add water to okra while cooking.
- Avoid covering the pan while cooking okra.
- Don't stir okra too much.
- Add salt only at the last stage when okra is completely cooked.
- Add something sour like dry mango powder, lime juice to make it slime free.
How to serve Bhindi Masala
Bhindi Masala can be served in any meal of the day.
For breakfast, it's served with paratha (pan-fried Indian flatbread) or roti.
At lunch or dinner, it can be served with any Indian bread or as a side dish with rice and dal.
More Indian okra recipes
Okra is very popular in India and it's cooked in a lot of different ways. You can check some of these easy Indian okra recipes below:
More easy vegetarian Indian recipes
Looking for easy vegetarian recipes from India? Don't miss to try the following links:
- Aloo baingan (vegan)
- Aloo matar (vegan)
- Cabbage poriyal (vegan)
- Indian style curried turnips (vegan)
- Aloo gobhi (vegan)
- Beetroot raita (vegetarian)
If you try any of my recipes and like them then please don’t miss to rate it in the comments section.
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Step by step photo instructions
How to make Bhindi Masala?
Bhindi Masala
Equipment
- Cooking pot of medium size preferable heavy bottomed
Ingredients
- 500 grams okra
- 1 medium-sized red onion thinly sliced
- 1 large tomato finely chopped
- 1-2 hot green chili peppers finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon red chilli powder
- ½ tablespoon coriander powder
- ¼ teaspoon garam masala
- Salt to taste
- 1.5 tablespoons mustard oil/ any cooking oil of your choice
Instructions
- Wash okra and pat dry. Leave on a kitchen towel for at least an hour to ensure that it's completely dry.
- When okra gets dry, chop off the head and cut into medium size pieces.
- Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds.
- When the cumin seeds stop spluttering, add sliced onion and cook until it starts turning brown.
- Add turmeric powder, red chili powder, and coriander powder. Saute for a few seconds.
- Add chopped tomatoes and green chilies. Cook for 4-5 minutes on medium flame or until the tomatoes turn mushy and are nicely cooked.
- Next, add chopped okra. Cook on a medium flame for around 15 minutes or until okra gets nicely cooked and becomes slime free. Stir occasionally after every 5-6 minutes to avoid burning.
- Once the okra is cooked add salt and mix. Cook for another minute.
- Finally add garam masala. Mix and switch off the stove.
- Serve hot with Indian bread or with rice and daal.
Notes
- The okra should be completely dry before getting cooked, so wash it a few hours in advance.
- Don't add water to okra while cooking.
- Avoid covering the pan while cooking okra.
- Don't stir okra too much.
- Add salt only at the last stage when okra is completely cooked.
- Add something sour like dry mango powder, lime juice to make it slime free.
The best. Family loves this recipe.
Thank you Linnie.
Can frozen okra be used? Excited to try this new recipe! Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Kristen. Yes, you can use frozen okra in this recipe.
This is an easy and delicious recipe. We love it!!
Thanks a lot Linnie.
I made this, and it was yummy! But did you mean a large Shallot rather a red onion? I used a large red onion, and it turned out pretty onion heavy, and didn’t look like your photo at all. Also, I used 2 large green peppers. Were they supposed to be jalapeños? In your photos the pepper looks more yellow. Albeit it was still delicious. I would love to make it again. Just want to make sure I’m making it correctly :-).
Thanks, Jesika. I use red onion as I like the combination of onion and okra, if you feel it's too oniony for you, you can use shallots too. I have used green chili peppers. Sorry, if that created confusion. I will update the recipe card so that others don't get confused too. Thanks for sharing your feedback with me.
Bhindi is our favorite veggie. My lil ones favorite too, so when in season, i make it very often. Bhindi masala looks very inviting, i add few paneer cubes too, that way i satiate my elder ones paneer craving too!!
Thanks Priya. I never tried the combination of Bhindi and Paneer, will try it soon.
I often make variety of bhindi sabzi and this kind is also prepared. It turns out tasty and ideal with chapati or phulka.
I liked your tips and tricks about okra cooking. This is one of our favorite curries.
Thanks Uma.
A friend of mine gave me okra and I was in search of what to do with it. I happened upon your recipe and made it this evening for dinner. It was amazing. Unfortunately okra is never in any of our supermarkets. What would you use for a substitute because I love all the other flavors in this dish and would love to make it again
Hi Henrietta. Thank you so much for sharing your feedback. I am glad to know that you liked it. A lot of vegetables in India are cooked in a similar way. You can make it with boiled potatoes, mushrooms, French beans, eggplants, cauliflower, paneer (if not vegan), etc. You can check similar recipes on my blog aloo baingan, aloo gobhi, aloo matar. Hope that helps.
We love to try different recipes with Okra. I usually make stir fry but haven't tried this version. Looks delicious.
Thanks a lot Lathiya.
Vandana I've grown up eating dry version of bhindi sabji, so once when my daughter insisted that I make it with onion and tomato, I too was worried about the slimy factor. However, its such a tasteful way to enjoy okra. Love to have it with hot rotis.
Thanks a lot Mayuri.
This bhindi masala is one of my all time favourites. Looking so yummy and full of flavours. I am tempted enough to make it right now and enjoy with some chapati and a bowl of boondi raita on the side.
Thank you Anshu.
Bhindi masala is one of our most favorite dry subzi and we love it with roti or rice. We grow a lot of bhindi in summer. IIn south we don't use onion or tomato but when I am pairing it with roti, I make it very similar to yours. Looks so delicious.
Thanks Sandhya.
This bhindi masala recipe looks so tempting, Vandana. I like all the tips you have given too. I cannot wait to get fresh bhindi now.
Thanks a lot Sandhya 🙂
Like you, we never had okra with tomato while growing up. But I tasted the best Bhindi masala in a restaurant and absolutely loved it. Thanks for your delicious recipe, I will try it for my family 🙂
Thanks Pavani 🙂
I too make bhindi ki sabji, but don't add tomatoes. Sounds delicious and easy recipe. Nice tips ????????
Thanks, Jolly. Yes, I agree a lot of people don't like adding tomatoes to bhindi.
I am a die hard fan of bhindi & can eat it 3 times a day 24×7×365. Yours looking as much tempting that i am feeling like grabbing the bowl right now from the screen.
Thanks Shailender. Bhindi is my favorite too 🙂
Bhindi is our all time favourite too. It's cooked in my kitchen too very frequently during summers.
Loved your tips to make perfect bhindi masala.
Thank you for yummy bhindi masala recipe.
Thanks Lata.
Amazing bhindi masala. It's my most favorite veggie. I can have it all time all day ???????????????? nice easy recipe and tip. Perfect.
Thanks Ruchi. I can also have bhindi everyday :).
I love okra any way, it's the best..
Same here Becky, I love okra too and can have it in any form.