This is a new dish for me on many levels. New as in I’d never attempted it and new as in I’d never eaten okra ❤️.

I was inspired to find a recipe and create it after hearing stories from a work colleague about it when he was at home in Indian. I could hear the passion for the dish in his voice, a kind of homesick dish plus a proper food memory of home. I have saved some for him so I hope I get his approval.

The ingredients are a little rough due to the research I had to do plus it was adapted to my tastes. The dish itself can be a main dish or a side dish, which it was for me. So here goes –

Ingredients-

200g of okra chopped into bite size pieces

8 small potatoes peeled, cut in half and par-boiled then left to cool

4 tbsp of vegetable oil

1 heaped tbsp of mustard seeds

Handful of curry leaves

2 or 3 green chillies diced

1 tbsp of diced garlic

1 tsp of turmeric

1 tsp of chilli powder

1 tsp of coriander powder

1 tsp of ground black pepper

1 tsp of amchor powder (mango powder)

2 tsp of tamarind concentrate

3 tbsp of brown sugar

1 tsp of garam masala

1 tsp of salt

Large handful of chopped coriander

Large knob of butter

Juice of 1/2 a lemon

Method –

Par-boil your potatoes. Don’t over cook them as you want them to hold their shape for the cooking within the main dish. Drain and set aside.

Do you prep so you are ready to go….

Heat the oil in a heavy based pan. Add the okra and gently fry for 5/6 minutes.

After 5/6 minutes the okra would have taken on a lovely colour with them browning. once they have browned, use a slotted spoon to taken them from the oil and set aside.

Keep the pan on the heat. Add in the mustard seeds and curry leaves. Cook until the mustard seeds start to pop and crackle.

Add the chopped chilli……

Followed be the chopped garlic……fry in the oil for 30 seconds or so.

Now we start to build the dish. Add in the par-boiled potatoes. Give them a good stir in pan.

Add the turmeric…..

Followed by the chilli powder…..

Give the pan a good stir. The potatoes will take all the flavours on. Allow these to cook for 5 minutes. Give the pans a stir as the flavours will coat and caramelise at the base of the pan.

Add the okra…….

Followed by the coriander…..

Followed by the black pepper…….

Followed by the amchor powder……

Give the pan a good stir. Cover and cook for another 5 minutes.

Finish with the garam masala…….

Add the chopped coriander……

To finish the dish….add the knob of butter as this will bring all the flavours together at the bottom of the pan…….

Then the final ingredient to bring the dish together…lemon juice. Give the pan a scrap and the butter with the lemon bring it all together ❤️

Just an outstanding dish.

I’ll be making this over and over.

Thank you for reading my ramblings if you have.