Bhindi fry (or bhendi bhaja) is a popular & very simple Bengali summer dish. Within a jiffy, you can prepare this awesome summer dish. Bengali people love this fried dish a lot and often prepare at home to have it with plain rice or roti. But did you ever try the real taste of Bengali style Bhindi fry? Yes, the real taste of homemade bhendi bhaja.
You may be surprised when I said the real taste of this dish. Right? What does it mean?
I think you must admit that the taste of a vegetable is better when it is fresh and chemical pesticide free. It will be great if that vegetable is organically grown.
You will definitely understand the difference of taste of bhendi bhaja (Bengali style okra fry) prepared with homegrown, organic & chemical pesticide free okra as well as the same dish prepared with market bought okra.
Normally, you buy vegetables from the market which is already a few days old and that too people store in the refrigerator for a few more days. But when you grow own vegetables then you just need to harvest fresh vegetables and you can cook immediately just after harvesting.
I have grown many vegetables in my rooftop garden and okra/lady’s finger is in the list of such homegrown vegetables. Whenever I harvest vegetables from my garden and prepare this Bengali style bhindi fry (bhendi bhaja) I can actually realize the difference and the real taste of bhindi fry.
Also read: Green tomato curry, Doi alu chokha, Dal chawal breakfast
Though during this lockdown period, buying vegetables and fruits becomes a stressful job and it is risky too because may get infected. But my rooftop garden has rescued me during this critical time. Now we need to go out lesser number of times. Particularly for buying vegetable, I did not need to go out since last two weeks. But one problem I am facing that is the scarcity of organic fertilizers. That is why since last 2 weeks, I am applying a very little amount of chemical fertilizer to my vegetables & fruits plants.
I am harvesting okra from my garden since last ten days regularly. I am surprised that I am getting approx 40 okra per week from 11 plants. It meets the demand of my family.
Bhendi bhaja recipe
- 15 pieces of okra/lady's finger/bhindi, cut into small pieces
- 1 medium size potato, cut into small pieces
- 2 teaspoons whole kalonji/nigella seeds/kalo jeera (in Bengali)
- 3 green chillies
- 1.5 teaspoons turmeric powder
- Salt to taste
- 1.5 tablespoons any vegetable oil
- Clean okra and cut into small pieces
- Peel potato and cut into small pieces and keep it aside for further use
- Heat oil in a kadai and add kalonji seeds & green chillies and saute till nice aroma comes out
- Then add potato pieces, stir and cook for next 4-5 minutes
- Now add chopped okra (bhindi) pieces and stir, add salt & turmeric powder
- Now stir and cook those for another 4-5 minutes
- Switch off flame & serve it with roti or rice
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