If there are few things that I have been trying to prepare for my hubby dear, but unsuccessful so far, they must be surely be Bhindi Masala and Moong Dal Halwa. These are his most favorite dishes that he remembers eating in Delhi and has been asking me to prepare them at home over the years.
Bindi Masala is something I tried quite sometime and never succeeded in getting his approval. In fact I remember asking every Delhite I come across, if they know how Bindi Masala gets cooked in Delhi. Though I tried all, it was never the right one as per hubby dear. I have googled it many times, looked wherever possible, but the perfect one always eluded me.
This challenge has left me feeling very incompetent in cooking and I never really liked thinking about it. Of course he remembers other delicacies that he used to enjoy over in Delhi, which I believe is a foodies paradise. I have never been to Delhi, though we have been planning for a trip. He keeps telling me that during the trip, he will take me to all the dabbas that he used to frequent. And get me eat those excellent dishes like Shahi Paneer and Paneer Kulchas.
He says he has never seen anybody else cook these dishes as they were served in Delhi. For a person who is so well fed on authentic andhra dishes, this is something truly remarkable. So I think those dishes must've been really above the mark. We are planning to visit just for the foodie's enjoyment sometime later. Till then I got to dish out these to satisfy hubby dear.
Coming back to this dish I prepared, the other day while shopping I remembered that I have always wanted to prepare with Anardana and never actually got down to it. So finally came home with a packet of anardana, being well satisfied with myself. I remember the many dishes that Chef Sanjeev Kapoor used to prepare with the pomegranate seeds. Coming back home, all I did was just shoving the packet to the freezer. It has been lying around for about 2-3 weeks now I guess. Athamma, while searching for something else, found this and asked me what it was it. It was always behind my mind that I should get around doing something with it.
I realized that I have been planning to send this finally, if nothing works out. It then struck me that I have anardana and I can do something with that. And I have been pestering hubby dear to get this fruit, he persists in getting only papaya and it's ending up as halwa! The thoughts persisted and I went home determined to do something about it.
Situation at home seemed rather placid for me to venture into kitchen. so out came Sanjeev's book out and I leafed through it. I remember seeing couple of dishes with Anardana. Bingo, one with a Lady's finger, another with an aloo. Of course, with Aloo it will be three birds with one shot. But time was precious at the moment. So glanced through both the recipes and found the Bhindi to be very simple. I passed on the book to hubby dear and asked if it looks appealing. He asked if it was spicy or sweet. I said it should be spicy, for which he asked, "So what are those fresh seeds doing on that. Don't you dare prepare something with chili and decorate with seeds"
With my sensible sentiments offended, I said I will not decorate mine with those seeds (in mind, my thoughts were, of course my blog pictures were never so glamorous). Seeing that I am in full swing to proceed to kitchen, he asked with an appalled tone, if I was about to venture into something new. I said yeah if time permits. Well I guess I was little too early. It turned out that he planned to go out and I ended up playing with the kids. By the time they returned, it was time for dinner and hubby dear said he was really very hungry. I guess this is the fastest thing I have ever prepared. It took all about 5 mins or so.
Well here comes Bindi Masala finally to rescue.
Ingredients Needed
Bindi / Lady's finger/ Okra - 6 tender ones
Onions - 1 medium
Cooking Oil - 1 tsp
Masala Paste:
Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder a pinch
Salt to taste
Garam Masala - 1/2 tsp
Anardana powder - 1/2 tsp
Cooking Oil - 1 tsp
Method to prepare:
Recipe
Bindi Masala
Ingredients
- 6 tender ones Bindi / Lady's Finger/ Okra
- 1 medium Onions
- 1 tsp Cooking Oil
- Masala paste
- 1/2 tsp Chilli Powder
- 1/2 tsp Coriander Powder
- A pinch Turmeric powder
- Salt to taste
- 1/2 tsp Garam Masala
- 1/2 tsp Anardana Powder
- 1 tsp Cooking Oil
Instructions
- Clean and wipe the Bindi dry. Trim the crown and tips. Make a deep slit in the middle. Chop Onions as julienne. Keep aside.
- If you have the Anardana seeds, then slightly dry roast and make a fine powder. Fine powder may not be possible. But not real coarse. Store in air tight container.
- In a bowl, take all the masalas and mix well with oil. Take this and stuff into the Bindi.
- Heat a pan or kadai with oil. Sauté the onions till they are light brown in colour. Add the stuffed Bindi and add another tsp of oil if required. Cover with lid and simmer for 5 mins or till the bindi is cooked. Best would be to select tender ones as they will get cooked faster. Also I chopped the bindi into two after adding to the pan. This had them getting cooked very fast.
jayasree says
Glad that u could finally cook ur hubby's favorite. Bindi masala is looking yummy.
Nags says
wow, great idea. and i am glad my post inspired you in some way 😀
Uma says
Looks great! Nice post.
vimmi says
Loved ur article. could imagine Bhindi looks yummy. how the two eyes must have been looking at u when u took the pics. we make bhindi the same way. U can use very small onions, and slit and fill the same maslala and cook with the bhindi.
We use anardana in aloo paranthas, and the powder in chana masala. It also gives the gravy a dark brown color
sra says
At long last - now I know, and so do you, where the 'seed' of the problem lay! Thanks for the entry, Srivalli. This made nice reading!
Kamini says
That picture says it all - yum! Yes, anardana seeds are a very special ingredient, providing a sour taste along with a host of other lovely aromas and flavours. I use it when making Punjabi chole (channa masala) and it's really good.
Kamini.
Happy cook says
Don't we all go to alot of trouble to make food for hubby dear. There are time when i also do the same 🙂
Bindi masala looks great. I too have a pack of Anardana powder which i bought a year ago, but not opened yet :-))) didn't kno wht to do about it
Vanamala says
Nice to read sri 🙂 looks tasty bhindi
Asha says
We even order Bhindi masala i the restaurants, that's how much we love that dish! Looks delcious, I get frozen Bhindi, not that good but better than nothing!:)
Jayashree says
Pomegranates don't last very long in my household...what with my daughter being especially fond of them. I have never used the seeds to cook with before, though....you've got me curious enough to find out what it tastes like.
Jaya says
Sri,
do visit Delhi ,its anice place.
Ok what atwist to normal Bhindi fry ..anardana powder gives awhole diff touch to he dish.
hugs and smiles
Meera says
Your bhindi masala looks so nice, srivalli.
Superchef says
bhindi is my favourite anyday!!!
SHANTI BHANU says
bhindi masala is very colorful...yummy dish
Kamini says
Valli,
I just had to let you know, I made this for dinner tonight, and the anardana was the crowning touch! It was delicious.
Kamini.
satya says
Delhi's street food is a real treat to a foodie Srivalli.Paranthas,paneer tikkas,kulche choles.....the list goes on and on.
Your dhaba style bhindi masala looks yummy.
Srivalli says
jayasree, me too...glad it came out so well..
sra, yes..you are so correct!..
Kamini, thats great to know..I shall add this too and check it out..and thanks for trying it and giving me your feedback!
Nags, thank you!
Happy cook, yeah ...do try and let me how it turns out
Vanamala, thank you..
Asha, thats nice to know..yeah it should taste good still
Jayashree, then I recommend you try this
Uma, thanks..
vimmi, hahha..sure will try next time..thanks
Shanti, nice to see you after a such a long time...thank you
Jaya, thanks for de-lurking to comment..thanks will try something..
Meera, thanks ..
Manju, then you got to try this for sure
satya, yeah thats what I heard..will try to get there sometime...thank you!
Archana says
hey, first time in your blog. Liked the story about the bhindi and glad that hubby dear liked it. Those anar seeds are an amazing addition. I use them a lot as well.
Srivalli says
Thanks for dropping by Archana. Glad you like it.
Vcuisine says
You have tried to retain the color valli. That's very important. Viji
Srivalli says
Yes Viji, that was so beautiful to look at..thank you for your comment..
Linda says
Hello Sri dear, too long since I could get into my computer properly and make the blog-rounds -- I love this okra dish, your tempting photo, and the story too 🙂 Hope to get something for your dosa mela -- have to finish the taxes first! 😉