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Spiced Okra

Spiced Okra

40 min Easy 4 servings

Serves 4 · Total 40 min · Prep 15 min · Cook 25 min

Photo: pelican from Tokyo, Japan / CC BY-SA 4.0

A popular Pakistani dry vegetable dish of okra fried until lightly crisp, then simmered with a spiced onion-tomato masala. Frying the okra separately first keeps it from turning slimy, giving a dish that pairs perfectly with roti and plain rice.

Quick answer: 40 min in total · serves 4 · main ingredients: Okra, Onion, Tomato, Ginger · amounts in metric and US

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Ingredients

  • 500 g 1.1 lb Okra, washed, dried fully, trimmed and chopped
  • 1 pc 1 pc Onion, sliced
  • 1 pc 1 pc Tomato, chopped
  • 1 tsp 1 tsp Ginger, paste
  • 1 tsp 1 tsp Garlic, paste
  • 0.5 tsp 0.5 tsp Turmeric
  • 1 tsp 1 tsp Red chilli powder
  • 5 tbsp 5 tbsp Cooking oil
  • to taste to taste Salt

Steps

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  1. Wash the okra and pat it completely dry, then trim the ends and chop into pieces.
  2. Heat oil in a pan and fry the okra on medium heat, turning occasionally, until lightly crisp. Remove and set aside.
    ⏱ Frying okra · 10 min
  3. In the same oil, fry the sliced onion until golden.
    ⏱ Frying onion · 5 min
  4. Add ginger-garlic paste, chopped tomato and spices, and fry until it thickens and the oil separates.
    ⏱ Frying masala · 5 min
  5. Add the fried okra back in, mix gently so it does not break, and cook on low heat.
    ⏱ Cooking · 5 min
  6. Serve hot with roti or plain rice.

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Frequently asked questions

How long does Spiced Okra take?

40 minutes in total: about 15 minutes of prep and 25 minutes of cooking.

Is Spiced Okra hard to make?

Degchi rates it easy. The method has 6 steps, and 4 of them have a timer you can start on this page.

How many people does Spiced Okra serve?

This recipe serves 4. Use the toggle above the ingredient list to see the amounts in metric or US measures. For more or fewer portions, scale every amount in the same proportion, or use the servings control in the Degchi app.

Is Spiced Okra halal, vegetarian or eggless?

It is marked halal in our recipe data. It is vegetarian. It has no egg. It has no beef. Check the labels on any packaged ingredients for your own needs.

What will I probably need to buy for Spiced Okra?

Everyday staples that Degchi counts as pantry basics: turmeric, red chilli powder, cooking oil, salt. Fresh items you will probably need to buy: okra, onion, tomato, ginger, garlic.

Any tips for making Spiced Okra?

Make sure the okra is bone dry before cutting and frying — any moisture makes it sticky. A splash of lemon juice at the end cuts through the richness nicely.

Notes and questions

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Cooking terms in this recipe: Bhunna · Masala

More with tomatoes More with onions