Ladys Finger/Vendakkai/Okra Sambar Recipe| Quick| Easy| Step by step pictures & with video| Sambar is a lentil based vegetable soup/stew loved by all south Indian people.
There are so many out there who does not prefer ladys finger because of its stickiness. On the other hand lets see the benefits of eating okra/ladys finger.
It has high levels of vitamin A, B vitamins (B1, B2, B6), and vitamin C, and traces of zinc and calcium, which makes it an ideal vegetable to eat during pregnancy. Okra also serves as a supplement for fiber and folic acid. This helps prevent birth defects like spina bifida and can even stop constipation during pregnancy.
Sambar is a well known side dish for dosas & idly. You can view my other sambar recipes in the link below:
In this recipe I will be using ready made sambar powder. If you want to use homemade sambar powder see the directions in this link. This recipe will help bachelors or working ladies.
There is no need for you to spend much time in kitchen on making sambar. We are going to pressure cook both veggies & dal together.
Here I am making this a lot more healthy by mixing 2 types of dal in half proportion each.:
- Moong dal
- Toor dal
This is up to you. If you do not like using toor or moong dal you can emit which ever dal you are not ok with.You can select veggies of your choice, with the main veggie as ladys finger.
Lady’s Finger/ Vendakkai/ Okra Sambar Recipe
Course: Veg gravyCuisine: IndianDifficulty: Easy6
servings5
minutes10
minutes15
minutesLadys Finger/Vendakkai/Okra Sambar Recipe| Quick| Easy| Step by step pictures & with video| Sambar is a lentil based vegetable soup/stew loved by all south Indian people.
Ingredients
- Pressure Cooking
1/2cup moong dal
1/2cup toor dal
1/4tsp turmeric powder
3cups water
1/4 cups of diced carrots, potato
- Making Sambar
2tbsp oil
pinch of fenugreek seeds
1/2tsp mustard seeds
fresh curry leaves
1 or 2 red chillies
1/4cup ladys finger cut into 1inch length
1/4 cup onions cut into square shape
1/4 cup tomatoes chopped
2 or 3 beans cut into 1 inch length
2tsp sambar powder
1/4 cup coin sized tamarind squeezed water
salt for taste
fresh corriander leaves
Directions
- Pressure cooking dal & veggies together
- In a pressure cooker take 1/2cup moong dal & saute it for 2 min in low flame. Let it cool down.
- Once cooled, add 1/2 cup toor dal into the cooker.
- followed by 3 cups of water or water as required to cook dal, & 1/4tsp turmeric powder .
- Then place a small bowl into a pressure cooker.
- Add veggies (carrots & potatoes) or vegetables of your choice into the bowl. Do not add any water.
- Then cover the cooker and pressure cook for 4 whistles on medium flame.
- Once the pressure releases, take off the cooked vegetables and mash dal well.
- Making Sambar
- Take a coin sized tamarind & soak in 1/4cup water. Squeeze ou the juice & keep aside.
- Heat 2 tbsp oil in a kadai, and crackle a pinch of fenugreek seeds & 1/2tsp mustard seeds .
- Add fresh curry leaves & red chillies.
- Now add in the ladys finger & fry till it turns golden color, otherwise this veggie will be sticky.
- Once done add in the other veggies including cooked veggies from the cooker & saute well till other veggies are cooked.
- Followed by 2tsp sambar powder. Roast the powder along with the veggies & add 1/4cup tamarind squeezed water. Let it boil for 3min.
- Now add in the mashed dal & check for water consistency & saltness.
- Add in the fresh coriander leaves & let it boil for 5 min in low flame.
- Now our tasty Vendakkai sambar is ready to be served with hot idlis.
