Quick and Easy Indian Okra Recipe with Air Fryer, Bindha nu Shaak
An easy fresh okra recipe that can be cooked within minutes without the slime! This Indian Okra Recipe with an Air Fryer cooking option is packed with spices such as turmeric, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, and coriander powder. It is vegan and can be cooked with a crispy finish. Your love for this healthy green vegetable is about to increase, trust me.
Quick and Easy Okra Recipe
Bhindi Masala Recipes are common in North Indian cooking. However, what I am sharing today is a Gujarati Recipe with medium heat that includes simple spices and one which includes no tomatoes, onions, or garam masala. Instead it has a few simple ingredients that pair well together for a tasty dish. Enjoy the sabji with your favorite roti or give my carrot roti recipe a try for some extra veggies in your diet r
How this recipe came about?
This right here is an old time favorite which is now my children's favorite recipe. A tradition recipe that dates back generations. Not a spice has changed in this recipe, but the cooking techniques have evolved. So, I don't know where the recipe originated but I can tell you that it is a family favorite!
Is this recipe kid friendly?
YES! My kids love to eat this at least once a week. I make it with no spice and add large cloves of garlic during the cooking process. This allows me to pull out the cloves of garlic right before serving. Hence, the flavor has been infused but the distinct bite is removed. Serve it with rice or your favorite roti.
Where can I buy okra?
Almost all large grocery stores in the US carry okra, but I understand it can be frustrating when you can't find them. They are a seasonal item. If you have trouble located this tasty vegetable then be sure to check your local Indian Grocery Store or Asian Grocery Store. Either way, you don't want to pass up making a tasty Indian Okra Recipe for too long.
Can I add anything else to it?
Yes, you can add other vegetables to this Indian okra recipe! The most common addition to bindha nu shaak is potatoes. Slice them or dice them just be sure to precook them. Some other things you can add to a simple Gujarati Indian Okra Recipe Dish are...
- Sweet Potato
- Carrots
- Broccoli Stems
- Peas
- Asparagus
I prefer to eat it with just okra or a simple potato addition. However, I add these nutritious ingredients when cooking for kids to give them an added boost of vitamins.
Enjoy this fiber filled dish with roti and call it a meal.
How can I Air Fry Okra?
I highly recommend air frying the okra for this bindha nu shaak recipe before you cook it. Not only will it remove the slimy texture of the vegetable, but it will give you a crisp vegetable that is quick to cook with a final stir fry. In fact, this is a common practice when making okra for large events. If you ever attend an Indian Event and okra is being served, 10/10 times it will be oily and that is because it has to be fried to give that non slimy texture. Plus, large quantity of food needs extra oil otherwise it will not look very appetizing. My Dad loved to cook for large events for fun and there was no way around this.
With that said, air frying is definitely a great option and highly recommended. If you do not have an air fryer then simply cook the recipe for a little longer until desired doneness. I prefer okra to be a bit slimy, but not everyone likes that texture.
What's the best way to cut okra for this recipe?
My mom makes Gujarati Indian Okra Saak every single day in the summer months. Why? because my dad would plant 40 individual okra plants every single year. So we would eat it EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. He was obsessed with this vegetable. How she managed to keep it entertaining was by cutting it different everyday. One day she would cut it lengthwise, another day she would cut it round, etc etc. My tip, if you prefer a crispy texture then cut it very small.
Let's get cooking!
How to get crispy shaak
- wipe the okra down after washing
- cut the okra and lay them to air dry for about 6-8 hours
- air fry them!
- deep fry the okra before mixing with spices.
How to prep the okra
Start by washing the okra in cold water and wiping each and every single okra with a towel. Then cut the okra to your desired thickness (cooking time will vary based on this). I cut my okra about ¼ inch thick. Pat the dry once again and toss the okra in a little bit of oil.
What kind of air fryer do you use?
I really don't think it matters what type of an air fryer you use to cook the Okra. I personally own a Breville Smart Oven. If you would like to purchase it then you can click here but there are plenty of other options to choose from as well.
What temperature do you cook it in the Air Fryer
I air fry okra at 400 for 5 minutes, then toss it and cook for another 5 minutes. It takes me a few rounds to cook them since I make larger quantities at a time. The timing will vary based on your preference of the end result texture. If you prefer it crispy then be sure to cook it a bit extra.
Feel free to add a sprinkle of chaat masala and eat it as is after they crispen. They taste GREAT!
Final Step
Once the okra is air fried make the bindha nu shaak. Heat a pan with some oil. Then add some mustard seeds and cumin seeds to the oil. After they pop and temper a bit, add some hing and then cook any additional vegetables you want to add to the dish such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, etc. Once those have fully cooked, add the okra and cook for a minute or two. Serve!
Full Recipe Here
📖 Recipe
Indian Okra Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh okra, trimmed and cut small
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 tablespoon coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic, finely chopped (or 3 large cloves of garlic that can be tossed in whole when cooking)
- 1 tablespoon oil
- ½ cup red potato, skinned and chopped small
- ¼ teaspoon hing
- green chili peppers, finely blended (I add 2 thai chilies)
- salt
ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS IF AIR FRYING
- turmeric
- oil
Instructions
AIR FRY OKRA (optional)
- Toss the cut okra in some oil and turmeric powder . Then air fry them at 400 degrees for 5 minutes. Toss and air fry again for an additional 5 minutes. Timing may vary based on the thickness of the okra and quantity in an air fryer. So be sure to keep an eye on it.
- Once done, set it aside. I use the handy towels I recommend so often. Find them here.
COOKING WITH AN AIR FRYER
- Heat oil in a pan on high heat.
- Add cumin seeds and wait for them to slightly pop.
- Add hing and immediately add the potatoes or any other vegetable you choose to add and cook until fully tender.
- Add the AIR FRY PREPPED okra, garlic, and green chilies. Extra turmeric can be added at this point as well. Mix it well.
- Finally, add salt and coriander powder. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.
- Serve hot garnished with fresh cilantro.
COOKING WITHOUT AN AIR FRYER
- Heat oil in a pan on high heat.
- Add cumin seeds and wait for them to slightly pop.
- Add hing and immediately add the potatoes or any other vegetable you choose to add and cook until tender. Otherwise, add the okra.
- Toss the pan to mix the okra instead of using a spatula. This will help prevent any further slime from occurring.
- Add turmeric and toss again. Reduce heat to medium, cover with a lid, and let it cook for for about 7-10 minutes tossing the pan frequently.
- Once the okra is a bit tender and browned, add garlic and green chilies.
- Continue to cook for 5 minutes on medium low heat.
- Add the coriander powder and salt. The okra tends to shrink by the time the dish is cooked and adding salt at the end prevents further smiley texture as well.
- Mix, garnish with fresh chopped cilantro, and serve hot with roti!
Notes
- Wait until the end to add salt to help prevent smily texture and over salting.
- Skip the green chili all together for a non-spicy dish.