Vendakkai / Bhindi / Okra Biryani

Vendakkai / Okra / Bhindi Biryani

The okra's on the rice in the picture were not mixed with masala. I kept it separately to use for decoration only.

This Bhindi biryani is an inspiration from a paneer biryani recipe from a free recipe booklet for "Snehidhi" women's Tamil magazine. 

Okra is my daughters favourite vegetable. i used make fun of her.. saying that she is so fond of okra that.. if we write "okra" in a paper.. she would eat that too! 😅😆. my daughter is happy with this okra biryani. 

when my husband and daughter heard me first saying that i am going to make okra biryani, they both, exclaimed "what.. okra BIRYANI?!" in a chorus.

this biryani has a slight unique flavour as i add some powdered spices. 

here is the recipe for the okra biryani.

Ingredients:

• okra / ladies finger / bhindi - 500 grams
• basmathi rice - 1 cup
• onions - 1
• tomato - 1
• green chillies - 2
• ginger garlic paste - 1 teaspoon
• mint and coriander leaves - as required
• lemon juice - 1/2 teaspoon
• chilli powder - 1 teaspoon
• salt - as required

Spice powder:- Slightly roasted and powdered

• cinnamon - 2 pieces
• cloves - 2
• fennel seeds - 3/4 teaspoon
• coriander seeds - 2 teaspoon
• bay leaf - 2
• maraatti moggu - 2
• star anise - 1 tiny piece
• green cardamom - 2

Procedure:

• get the rice ready: wash and soak the rice for 30 minutes and cook it. transfer it to a broad bowl and let it cool. use a fork to separate the rice from each other. 
• wash and cut the okra into 1 inch pieces. heat some oil in a pan and saute. add salt and little chilli powder to the okra. saute till the okra till the okra is well sauteed with beautiful aroma (approximately 20 minutes). add few drops of lemon to avoid okra's stickiness.
• now heat some oil in a pan.
• add the cut onion, green chillies, ginger-garlic paste and tomato.
• add little salt and mix.
• add the mint leaves and continue sauteing.
• then once all these ingredients are well sauteed, add the spice powder and mix well. 
• then add the sauteed okra and mix for 5 more minutes.
• now add the cooked rice and mix gently. make sure the rice and the okra masala is mixed evenly. 
• add the chopped coriander leaves and lemon juice and stir.
• transfer this to the serving bowl.

thus okra or bhindi biryani is ready. serve it with onion raitha or plain potato chips.

Happy cooking !!