Bhindi fry is okra stir fry in Indian style

Bhindi Fry Recipe | Okra Stir Fry

By Swasthi on July 30, 2023, Comments, Jump to Recipe

Bhindi Fry recipe – Simple, delicious and healthy stir fried okra/bhindi. Okra also known as ladies finger is a vegetable widely used in Indian cuisine to make various dishes like sambar, curry, chutney, stir fry and stew. Make perfectly delicious, flavorsome & non-sticky okra stir fry with my easy recipe. Serve it as a side with plain rice, quinoa, roti or chapati.

Bhindi Fry is okra stir fry made in Indian Style

About Bhindi Fry

Bhindi fry is a simple Indian side dish made by stir frying okra with Indian spices and herbs. It is made in numerous ways across India and each home and region has their own recipe to make it. The spices and other ingredients used to make bhindi fry are pretty basic.

But it is seasoned or flavored with different ingredients like garam masala, fresh coconut, sambar powder or other spice powders.

This bhindi fry is flavored with roasted & crushed peanuts, coconut & sesame seeds which perk up the nutrition of dish. It turns out very delicious and aromatic.

I make bhindi often at home since my kids’ love it in any form. Most of the times I end up making stir fry to serve with roti, rice, Sambar or Rasam. I often make Andhra style bendakaya vepudu with coconut and roasted peanuts which is a favorite at home.

Sometimes we also serve it with curd rice. I make bhindi fry each time with different seasonings as my kids’ don’t like repeating the same. The recipe I have shared here is one of the delicious ways to prepare bhindi fry.

If you are a weight watcher skip peanuts and use coconut or sesame. You can also skip all of the 3 and just sprinkle some garam masala.

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Bhindi fry recipe made with okra, spices and curry leaves

Pro Tips

  • Rinse and dry bhindi well with a kitchen tissue or cloth before chopping. This prevents them turning slimy while chopping and stir frying.
  • If using frozen okra for stir frying, then spread them on kitchen tissues for a while so the excess moisture is reduced or absorbed by the tissues. To some extent this helps in reducing the slime while cooking.
  • You can easily skip my spice powder mentioned in the recipe below and use any other spice powders like peanut podi, flax seed podi, idli podi or chutney podi.

Can I Air fry or Bake?

Yes. You can also bake or air fry chopped bhindi for the first few minutes so they cook faster in the pan. Most of the slime will just dry up in the oven/air fryer.

These methods are good when you are making this bhindi fry in large quantity. Ensure you chop them at least ½ inch otherwise they turn too dry. After air frying or baking, follow the recipe as is and add them to the tempering.

In the air fryer I keep them for 4 mins at 160 C (320 F). Keeping them for too long will make them dry & lifeless. I am sharing what works for me. You may need to adjust the timing as it depends on your air fryer. I drizzle little oil before air frying.

To bake them in oven, toss them in little oil and spread them on a greased foil. Bake at 180 C (350 F) for 5 to 6 mins. Avoid baking them for too long they become too dry.

How To Make Bhindi Fry (Stepwise Photos)

Prepare okra

1. Rinse bhindi under running water. Drain them to a colander and wipe dry with a kitchen cloth or tissue. Remember any moisture will make our Bhindi slimy. For this recipe I have used 500 grams of okra.

bhindi or okra for bhindi fry recipe

2. Chop them to half inch pieces and set aside. For comfort while chopping use kitchen tissue to wipe off the slime from the knife.

Make Okra Stir Fry

3. Heat oil in a pan. Once the oil is hot, reduce the flame and add ½ teaspoon cumin seeds. I have used about 2.5 tbsps here since I have not used a non stick pan. You can reduce it to 1.5 tbsp if using a non stick pan.

crackling cumin in oil

4. When the jeera begins to splutter add chopped bhindi and stir fry on a medium heat.

5. Keep stirring at regular intervals. Over doing it will make the bhindi more slimy so do it as needed only. Bhindi will begin to turn slimy after a minute. To reduce the slime I usually sprinkle some lemon juice but I have not done it this time. As we fry them, the slim will reduce. Mean while let us make the nut and spice powder.

stir frying bhindi until the slime reduces

Make Spiced Nut Powder

6. You can skip the peanuts from the recipe and use only coconut or sesame seeds. You can also just use garam masala and skip all of these three. Sometimes I also sprinkle only almond meal, garlic powder, cumin powder and desiccated coconut. The choice is yours.

7. While the bhindi is getting fried, add 1½ tablespoons peanuts and 1 to 2 cloves of garlic to a small pan. Roast them on a medium flame until peanuts turn golden and aromatic. Meanwhile keep an eye on the bhindi and keep stirring.

roasting peanuts

8. Turn off the heat and add 1½ tablespoons dried coconut and 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds. I have also used ½ teaspoon cumin seeds here. Fry lightly for a minute or so until the sesame seeds begin to splutter or until they smell good.

sesame coconut cumin

9. Cool them completely and make a coarse powder.

coarse powder

10. When the bhindi is done, you will find that they are no more slimy. At this stage add 1/3 teaspoon salt and â…› teaspoon turmeric. Mix well.

adding salt to make bhindi fry

11. Pour 1 teaspoon oil to the center of the pan. Add ¾ to 1 teaspoon red chili powder to it. If you have kids at home reduce to ¼ to ½ teaspoon. Let the chilli powder fry in oil for about 10 seconds.

adding spice powder to make bhindi fry

12. Then mix it well with the bhindi. Fry for another 3 to 4 mins if desired. I do not prefer to over cook bhindi so I did not fry further.

13. Add the peanut powder.

adding nut powder to make bhindi fry

14. Mix it well with the bhindi. It doesn’t need to be cooked further. Taste test bhindi fry and adjust salt accordingly.

stir frying spices nutty bhindi

Enjoy bhindi fry with rice or roti.

bhindi fry

Related Recipes

Recipe Card

bhindi fry

Bhindi Fry | Okra Stir Fry

Bhindi fry is Indian style okra stir fry made with fresh okra, spices, nuts, seeds and herbs. This easy to make dish is delicious and nutrient packed. Serve it as a side in a meal, with rice, quinoa or with roti.
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Servings4
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )

  • 500 grams (1.1 lb) okra (bhindi, ladies finger)
  • 2 tablespoons oil or as needed
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)
  • 1 green chili slit (skip if making for kids)
  • ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
  • â…› teaspoon turmeric
  • ¾ to 1 teaspoon red chili powder (for kids – ¼ to ½ tsp)

To roast or use ¾ tsp garam masala

  • tablespoons peanuts (or 2 tbsps almond meal)
  • tablespoons desiccated coconut (optional) (copra tastes best)
  • 1 tablespoons white sesame seeds (optional)
  • 1 to 2 garlic cloves
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)


Instructions

Preparation

  • Choose okra or bhindi that are young and tender. Wash them well under running water.
  • Drain them to a colander. Wipe off with a clean kitchen cloth or tissues. 
  • Cut off both the ends and discard. Chop them to half inch pieces. Set aside.

How to make Bhindi Fry

  • Pour oil in a pan. When the oil turns hot, add half teaspoon cumin and allow them to splutter. 
  • Then add chopped bhindi and 1 slit green chili.
  • Begin to saute them in oil on a medium heat. Stirring as often as needed. Over stirring can make them more slimy.
  • You can skip this step and just use garam masala. While the bhindi gets fried, in a different pan dry roast peanuts and garlic on a medium flame until deep golden and aromatic. Then add coconut and sesame (both optional). Lastly add in jeera. Saute just for a minute. When the sesame seeds begin to splutter turn off the stove. Cool completely. Make a coarse powder.
  • When the bhindi shrinks and is no more slimy or sticky, then add salt and turmeric.
  • Fry until bhindi is done to your liking. I usually take off the bhindi when it is no more slimy. 
  • Pour 1 tsp oil to the center of the pan, add chili powder to the oil.
  • Mix well and saute the bhindi for another 2 mins until the raw smell of the chili goes away.
  • Now add the powdered peanuts and mix well.
  • Serve bhindi fry with rice or roti as a side.


Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.

For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.

Video

Watch Bhindi Fry Video

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
Bhindi Fry | Okra Stir Fry
Amount Per Serving
Calories 151 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 344mg15%
Potassium 412mg12%
Carbohydrates 12g4%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 995IU20%
Vitamin C 30.4mg37%
Calcium 128mg13%
Iron 1.7mg9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @SwasthisRecipes or tag #swasthisrecipes!

© Swasthi’s Recipes

Bhindi Fry Recipe | Okra Stir Fry

About Swasthi

I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me

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5 stars
Can’t wait to try this as a food, since it is my favorite recipe. Followed your link to Facebook, many millions exposure…

I tried this recipe and it came really good.

5 stars
It turned out so great, all of your recipes are so well explained. Thanks a lot

5 stars
Turned out great and it was my first time ever making okra!

Hi,
Your recipes are a great help…all your recipes that I have tried so far, have turned out amazing.. my family loved the dishes I have made following your recipes… the best part is that your recipes are simple to follow..
Keep up the great job
Thanks once again for your yummylicious recipes..

5 stars
Hi,

I love almost all your recipes… everything I’ve tried so far has come out delicious!

Keep putting up more 🙂

Thanks

5 stars
Made this tonight with the garam masala and it was great. One of the kids loved it. The other is just picky about vegetables (likes them raw instead of cooked mostly). Thanks for a great recipe!

5 stars
Delicious!

Thr receipe was great.very tasty swathy.

Hi, i tried your bhindi fry recipe it turned out very delicious ?. Everybody enjoyed it with rice. Thanx for the recipe

Hi,
Your recipes are a great help…all your recipes that I have tried so far, have turned out amazing.. my family loved the dishes I have made following your recipes… the best part is that your recipes are simple to follow..
Keep up the great job
Thanks once again for your yummylicious recipes..

5 stars
U r recipes r easy to make and great to taste

5 stars
Yummy recipe. I also added some parboiled potatoes and it turned out delicious

5 stars
Most delicious and healthy bhindi I ever made. Thanks for the great recipes

5 stars
I always make bhindi fry very differently just plain. But this one was very good. Thank you for the recipe

4 stars
Hello swasthi,
I tried your bhindi fry. It turned out ?. The whole meal was polished off by the kids just with that. ?