Bendakaya Bajji is a gooey stew made with Lady's Finger from Anantapur, Andhra. This is a no Oil dish that pairs well with Ragi Sangati , a rice dish made with Finger Millet.
This is my Athamma's signature dish and it took me many years to finally get approval from Hubby Dear not because I couldn't make it right but I finally made an attempt to make on myself. When Athamma is with us, I always ask her to make this Bajji when we plan for Sangati.
I started making this regularly since two years ago when Athamma started making frequent visits to my SIL's place. So now when she visits us, I make it for our breakfast and must say that this combination is surely an acquired taste.
Though I make this at least once a week, I just couldn't take new pictures. Finally, I got Athamma to make it for me to click the pictures, even then the final picture was pending to happen much later. I am not updating or changing what I wrote many years ago, it surely makes up for a hearty laugh at my own writing!
-Updated 24th Jan 2019
The first time I heard of this dish, I mistook it for a snack! I got to know about this dish from Hubby dear. He is fond of Ragi Sangati with Bendakaya Bajji. We normally make Peanut Chutney or Endimirapakaya Pappu, for Ragi Sangati. So a dish with Bendakaya was strange to me.
Now don't ask me why its called Bajji. My in-laws are from a strange land. They address lean person as small person and other way round (sshh..hope hubby dear doesn't get to read this post..)
Well as every mom-in-law tries to impress the son-in-law, my mom did too. She must've tried out everything on earth she knows, plus she made it a point to know from my mil what my hubby dear is fond of. She was in for a surprise, she came to know that he is fond of Ragi Sangati with Bendakaya Bajji.
We wondered how on earth does a bajji goes with a Sangati. Only then we were introduced to this dish which we feel is so simple that it can't be really so tasty. But then people have their fancies. When biryanis failed to please His Majesty, this simple bajji did.
It has to be seen to believe hubby dear's expression, when I first presented him with a plate of Sangati with Bajji. Small price to be paid for such happiness.
Step by Step Pictures for making Bendakayya Bajji 
Bendakaya Bajji
Ingredients Needed:
250 gms Bendakaya
1 tsp Cumin Seeds
1 small Onion
4 pods Garlic
1 small Tomato
2 inch Tamarind
5 to 6 Dry Red Chillies
Salt to taste
Coriander leaves few
Salt to taste
Method to prepare:
Wash and cut Bendakaya to 1' pieces. Chop onions and tomatoes.
In a pressure cooker, take all the ingredients except garlic and salt.
Add enough water and pressure cook for 3 whistles.
When the pressure falls down, drain the excess water, add crushed garlic, salt and mash it well.
Add back the water and bring to a boil to get a thick stew.
The gravy will be sticky and smooth and is served with Ragi Sangati.
Recipe
Bendakayya Bajji
Ingredients
- 250 gms Bendakaya
- 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
- 1 small Onions
- 1 small Tomato
- 4 Cloves Garlic
- 2 inch Tamarind
- 5 to 6 Dry Red Chillies
- Salt to taste
- Handful Coriander Leaves
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Wash and cut Bendakaya to 1' pieces. Chop onions and tomatoes.
- In a pressure cooker, take all the ingredients except garlic and salt.
- Add enough water and pressure cook for 3 whistles.
- When the pressure falls down, drain the excess water, add crushed garlic, salt and mash it well.
- Add back the water and bring to a boil to get a thick stew.
- The gravy will be sticky and smooth and is served with Ragi Sangati.
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ramya says
this sounds intresting.Ya bajji can't go with ragi sankati but this is a curry right.nice to know.
Latha Narasimhan says
Hi Srivalli,
I have prepared bheni with onion. With tomatoes it must be adding to the taste! Simple recipe. Being Athamma's it will be great.
Lia says
what is bendakaya? seems knew for me 🙂 thanks
Suma Gandlur says
You could impress your husband with a simle dish. How cool. Now, I was thinking bajji is some thing like peugupachchadi. Kannidagas call it mosaru bajji.
Padma says
Srivalli, even I got confused when my MIL was talking about Sorakaya Bajji, its not a snack!...I think this is an Ongole dish...Bendakaya bajji recipe is cute but where is the image, I wanna seeeeee....
TBC says
I like this a lot but somehow don't make this often.
Suganya says
I think I will like this combo too... Hearty meal it is!
Sirisha Kilambi says
Hi Valli....Thanks....have been searching for this recipe a couple of days ago.....thanks for the recipe dear 🙂
Sharmi says
bhindi tastes great with onions and tomatoes. great recipe.
SeeC says
Okra bajji sounds new. Should try it sometime.
Prema Sundar says
This recipe is new to me too srivalli. I did mistook it for a snack when I read the title. Usually i too do not add tomatoes with okra, but want to try it out once.. thanks for the recipe.
Prajusha says
sri,
this bajji looks similiar to our vendakka upperi.
Cynthia says
His majesty is pleased and the world is at peace 🙂 The lengths we go to for our loved ones.
Raaga says
Hi,
In konkani we also call some chutney type of preparations as bajji 🙂 First thing that comes to mind is peerkangai 🙂
Nice... I am always looking for new ways to cook bhindi.
Asha says
Sounds great Sri:)
Jyothsna says
Seems good. Okra is alweways good !
Coffee says
I wonder how I missed this post! This really sounds amazing! 😀
Srivalli says
Sure does Latha..thanks for the nice comments....athamma will love to know
sorry but I thought I mentioned okra...bendakaya is okra...Lia
Thanks ramya
thanks Suma...glad to know your names of dish...
hahha....thanks for the input on the ongole dish...will update the image soon Padma
glad to know you prepare this TBC
agree with you Suganya..
welcome Sirisha...do prepare and let me know how it comes out
thanks Sharmi
pls do SeeC...my folks like this a lot
welcome Prema..
is it...then let me know how that is prepare...will try it sometime Prajusha
hha...agree with you Cynthia
Thanks Raaga ...nice to know names in konkani...
thanks Asha
yes Jyothsna agree with you
thanks Coffee glad you found this now...
pelicano says
What!? This is way too easy to be someone's favorite dish! 🙂
usha says
Even I mistook it for a fritter and when you said stew, I though you were referring to baaji. But this is totally new to me. Simple and interesting recipe. Need to try it once.
jayashreetrao says
The simple food is always a comfort food. This looks like gojju to me, looks delicious.
Sushma Pinjala says
Yum Yum, Bendakaya bajji with ragi sankati sounds interesting and healthy too. Good one
sapna says
Interesting reading about your in laws and of course make sure your hubby never reads this post 🙂 The new pictures are really nice.
vaishalisabnani says
Absolutely new for me , I haven’t heard of both the dishes , oil free sounds very interesting but I am wondering if the curry will be liked by my family , since it will be very sticky and gooey .
Btw all families are strange when you are newly married but later change :))
Gayathri Kumar says
Both the dishes are new for me. At first even I thought that it is a deep fried bujji, but the stew looks good. The combination must be yum.
Pavani says
That is such an interesting recipe with bendakaya Valli. First off calling it bajji is quite different. Never pressure cooked okra before. Will have to try this recipe next time I buy okra. Served with ragi sankati, it looks like a comforting meal.
harini says
I know that sometimes bajji is referred to some kind of mushy chutney kind of a dish. This more or less sounds like the vankaya bajji my mom makes. Good to know that it is made with bhendi as well. Good one, Valli.
Renu Agrawal Dongre says
I have never added water to Bendakaya. This looks completely different recipe. Must try.
chefmireille says
I know a lot of people dont like the gooey characteristics of okra but it is one of my fave veggies and I would love this stew for sure