Stuffed Okra with Coconut and Spices / Bharwan Bendi

 
Hi everyone! Here I am, back again after a long hiatus!
Had some mishappenings on side, which made it difficult to post. Tho I was missing it very much, I had no choice, but to lay dormant for a while.

First, after my computer crashed and was fixed, it crashed yet again, this time taking all my new pictures along with it. I was very much disappointed and frustrated. I didn't want that to happen again, so I didn't copy anymore pictures onto this computer. I didn't want to loose them again! At least my old pictures are still intact and are not effected! I am hoping to get a new computer within the next couple of weeks, so that I can again start taking new pictures again.

Second, my little one had a fall and hurt behind his head. Due to which we ended up spending 5 days in the ICU. He had to have a head surgery to remove the clots which formed due to his fall. One of the biggest nightmares of my life. He really did give us a scare! Thanks to God's grace, he is doing much better now and back to his normal naughty self! Healing time is long, almost 6-10 months, so we just are careful now that he doesn't fall again. But what can we say to 4 yr olds and who can keep them from running around?

Then I had a writer's block or should I say a blogger's block??!!
I wanted to write but just couldn't bring myself to do it! I don't know if it was the crash of the laptop or my kiddo's fall, but I just didn't feel like doing it!
But I couldn't stay away for long, I had to come back! And I am glad I did!
Thinking about food and clicking pictures always makes me happy and hopefully this will lead to a better way!

I am still using my old laptop, but hopefully move on to a newer desktop soon! Then I will start taking to new food clicks, but for now I am posting a recipe from my drafts. I hope you guys will enjoy it!

Bharwan Bendi

Ingredients:

15-20 Bendi / Bendakaya / Okra, Washed and slitted in the middle

1 cup grated coconut (fresh or dried can be used, I used dried)
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp jeera powder
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp amchoor powder
1/2 tsp ginger garlic paste
1 tsp chilli powder
pinch of turmeric
salt to taste

Oil for shallow fry

(You can also add thinly chopped onions if you wish, But I like to omit it)

Method:

Wash and dry the okra with a paper towel. Make a slit from the top to the bottom of the bendi, to make a pocket. You can cut the top off or leave it intact, either way is fine, just don't slit it all the way down.

Mix all the other ingredients in a bowl. Taste to see if the salt and spice is right, if not adjust accordingly.

Stuff this mixture into slits of the bendakaya. Stuff all the bendi in the same way.

Heat a tbsp of oil in a shallow frying pan. Shallow fry the okra, a few at a time to avoid crowding the pan. If you crowd the pan, they will not become crisp and they may become soft.

Sprinkle salt on them, just very little, cause we already added salt the stuffing.

Fry till they are brown, flip them over and fry for another couple of minutes.

Remove onto a plate and sprinkle chopped coriander leaves on the top.

Serve as a side dish with rice or roti. I just love to eat them just like that too. Great for snacking I should say!:)

Enjoy!!!