Vendakka Thoran/poriyal/Okra Stir fry

Today i am going to share with you a very simple vegetarian recipe called Vendakka Thoran/Okra stir fry. I think, Okra (ladies finger) is one of everyones favorite vegetables. I like this vegetable so much but my husband is not a great fan of it. He doen't like its texture. So i am very careful while cooking this vegetable. For avoiding the  mushy (gummy) texture, I always make sure that the okra is completely dry ( free of water) and then shallow fry it before cooking.And also do not add excess water while cooking it. Actually it has its own moisture ..so no need to add more water.

Vendakka mezhukkupiratti and theeyal are very poapular dishes in kerala however the Vendakka thoran is not that popular .Yesterday I thought of preparing the vendakka mezhukkupiratti but ended up with preparing the thoran. It came out really good. When i first tried this,it was completely a disaster.Thoran came out as a kulambu(curried form).

usually i prepared it with the original thoran recipe but this time i made some changes.when i prepared the okra avial i just grinded the green chili with the coconut mix..that  gives a very good taste.so for this thoran i crushed the green chili along with the coconut.it gives a very good flavor.

There is a malayalam movie  called Achuvinte Amma..One of the best comedy scene in the movie is that the amma is telling her daughter about how to prpeare the vendakka curry..it is a very funny scene.she is trying to say the entire preparation in English(but she doesn't know english)...I think most of my mallu friends have seen that film and enjoyed it. while preparing this i was telling that dialogues to my husband..He commented that "u are super than urvasi..bhagyayi sathyan anthikad kanathirunnathu"(If the director get a chance to see my acting he could have chosen me for that role;lucky mallus:))Both actresses: Urvasi and Meera jasmine are awesome performers..

lots of stories right...anyway it is the time to  explain the preparation steps

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Cost of the item: 1.49 usd /Pound

Ingredients
Okra: 15 nos
Onion: 1 medium size
For the paste
Green Chili: 3 nos
Cumin seed : 1 tsp
Grated Coconut: 1/4 cup
Salt: to taste
Turmeric Powder: 1/2 tsp
garlic: 1 pod(optional)
For Seasoning
Oil: 1tsp
Mustard seed: 1 tsp
Red chili: 2 nos 
Curry Leaves: 1 spring
Preparation

• Cut the okra into round pieces.place the okra pieces into the kitchen towel to remove the excess water. 
• Add turmeric powder and salt  into the okra pieces  and mix well
• Dice the onion into small pieces.
• Make a coarse paste of green chili, cumin seed,coconut turmeric powder,garlic and salt.use a mortar and pestle for making the paste.

Step1: Heat oil in a pan(just add 1 tbsp of oil).Add the okra pieces into the oil..cook it for sometime..do not stir..
Step2: once the okra get sauted and the oily texture goes off add the onions into it..stir occasionally( be careful do not break the okra pieces)
Step3: once the onions get sauted add the coconut paste  and mix well.Close the pan and let the mix to cook for 5 minutes in medium heat
Step4:Heat oil in another pan,add the mustard seeds,once it get sauted add the red chili and curry leaves..
Step5: Pour this seasoning into the okra thoran
The delicious okara thoran is ready to have..Have it with rice.

Points to ponder

• Do not add water while cooking the okra..
• Before cutting just wipe off all the water from the okra by using a kitchen tissue.
• If u like to make this dish spicy add more green chilies while grinding.