Kurkuri Bhindi......Faux Friying..kurkur kurkur

We recently went to Corbett…landed at the hotel at 5:00 a.m. , had breakfast and going by that, was looking forward to the lunch spread…but…didn’t like the mutton and chicken thing the chef had made for lunch and had to focus my attention on the veg dishes…even though as a rule ,I don’t eat vegetarian food on vacation...BAM!!...three of my favorite veg dishes…all three requiring deep frying and hence a no no at home for me…I HATE deep frying and avoid it as much as possible…not because I only eat healthy (hah!) but because I can’t seem to stop at just frying one thing…there is always too much oil left and I fry another thing and then another and then another…so anyways, thought I would go back and convert one into a non- fry thingy…so here is Kurkuri Bhindi or Crispy Fried Spiced Okra made in the microwave oven…normally made by deep frying Bhindis which have been marinated with spices, gram flour and rice flour...try this one, no guilt involved J

Kurkuri Bhindi - Microwave recipe

Ingredients:

• Bhindi/Okra, 500 gm
• Garlic, sliced finely, 5-6 cloves
• Aamchur/Dry mango powder OR Chaat Masala, ½ tsp or to taste
• Coriander powder, ½ to 1 tsp
• Red Chili powder, ½ to 1 tsp
• Garam Masala powder, a pinch
• Salt to taste
• Oil, ½ to 1 tsp
• Water, about 2 tbsp

Instructions:

Wash bhindis and wipe dry – please ensure they are absolutely dry. If not, spread them out to dry first. 
Top & tail them and cut each one of them into 8 to 10 thin long slices.

Spread them on a greased (use very little oil here)  big glass platter and sprinkle with salt. Microwave  on high for 3-4 minutes. 
Check and toss/shake them around a bit and back into the microwave for another 3-4 minutes . Mine took 9 minutes in the microwave to completely get dry/dehydrated/crisp up.

Cooking time will vary slightly, depending on the wattage of your microwave and the thickness of the slices. 

Let the bhindis cool completely.

All cooking on low flame. Heat oil in a non stick pan, add the garlic and fry till it starts going light golden.

Add all the spice powders followed by water so that the spices don’t burn. 
Stir for about 5-10 secs till the spice powders are cooked. 

Add the bhindi and stir so that the spices and garlic coats the bhindi. 

Serve hot with Dal and Rice.