Bharli Bhendi Recipe | Maharastrian Style Bharli Bhindi Recipe |Stuffed Bhindi with Coconut Recipe

main ingredients

• 200 grams okra/bhindi/bhendi/lady finger 20 to 22 small to medium sized okra
• 3 tbsp oil for sauteing okra
• tsp ½mustard seeds/rai
• tsp ¼turmeric powder/haldi
• pinch aof asafoetida/hing
• leaves A few chopped corianderfor garnish

to be ground coarsely

• 2 cup to 3 garlic chopped + ¼chopped coriander leaves/dhania patta + ¼roasted peanuts/moongphali + 1 green chili, chopped
• cup ¼tightly packed grated coconut or ¼unsweetened desiccated coconut
• tsp ½cumin powder/jeera powder
• tsp ½coriander powder/dhania powder
• 2 tsp goda masala or ½garam masala powder
• tsp ½lime or lemon juice or add as per taste
• tsp ½sugar or powdered jaggery or add as per taste optional
• salt as required

INSTRUCTIONS

1. heat a pan and add ¼ cup peanuts.
2. on a low flame, roast the peanuts till they are crunchy and golden. keep aside and allow them to cool.
3. rinse 20 to 22 medium sized bhendi/okra/bhindi in running water for a couple of times. then dry them with a clean kitchen towel or dry them naturally by spreading them in a plate.
4. slice off the crown and base tip of the bhendi. with a knife give a slit on one side. make slits on all the okra and keep aside.

preparing the stuffing

1. in a grinder jar, add the roasted peanuts along with 1 green chili, 2 to 3 garlic, and ¼ cup chopped coriander leaves.
2. without adding water coarsely grind and keep this mixture aside.
3. in a plate or mixing bowl, take the ground mixture along with ¼ cup tightly packed grated coconut, ½ tsp cumin powder, ½ tsp coriander powder, 2 tsp goda masala or ½ tsp garam masala powder, ½ tsp lime or lemon juice and ½ tsp sugar or salt as per taste.
4. mix the stuffing mixture very well.
5. now stuff this mixture in each bhindi very well.

sauteing and cooking

1. heat 3 tbsp oil and crackle ½ tsp mustard seeds first. use a shallow frying pan.
2. lower the flame and then add ¼ tsp turmeric powder and a pinch of asafoetida.
3. stir very well and then add the stuffed okra. stir the okra well.
4. now cover the pan tightly with a lid and cook the okra.
5. do check in between and if the mixture looks dry or getting too browned, then sprinkle some water (about 1 to 2 tbsp water). stir, cover and continue to cook.
6. when the okra is half done, add the remaining ground stuffing masala.
7. stir. sprinkle some water if required. cover and cook.
8. it takes about 15 to 18 minutes for the okra to cook on a low flame. this is a dry sabzi when cooked. so there should be no water in the okra.
9. garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve bharli bhendi with chapatis or a side dish with dal-rice or varan-bhat.