Indian cooking
Indian cooking / Spice mixtures / Bhindi Masala

Bhindi Masala

Spiced Okra with Mango Powder and Coriander
Vegetarian

A dry-style okra dish with whole cumin and a tangy ground-spice coating, finished with lemon and fresh coriander. The okra stays tender and the flavour is warm, sour and lightly spicy.

Serves4(the book: 4)

Whole cumin for the oil

2.1 gAdded to the hot oil before the okra (step 2)
01
2.1 g1 teaspoon
spice
Keep whole: they go into the hot oil together.

Ground spices for the okra

4.3 gAdded to the okra in two parts during cooking (steps 3–4)
Keep together; add the chilli and coriander first, then the amchoor after 2 minutes.

Coriander garnish

3 gScattered over at the end (step 5)
01
3 g2 tablespoons
herb
Chop and set aside for the end.

Everything else

01
400 g
vegetable
02
40 g3 tablespoons
oil/fat
03
to taste
salt
04
5 g1 teaspoon
souring agent

Method

  1. Dry 400 g okra thoroughly with kitchen paper. Trim the stem and tip from each pod and cut it into three pieces.
  2. Heat a wide frying pan over medium heat. Pour in 40.5 g vegetable oil and, once hot, add the whole cumin for the oil (2.1 g cumin seed). Let it sizzle for 10–20 seconds. Add the okra and toss gently so the oil coats it. Cover and cook for 1 minute. Remove the lid, shake the pan twice without stirring, cover again and cook for 4 minutes more.
  3. Add the ground spices for the okra (1.2 g kashmiri chilli powder or mild paprika and 1.8 g ground coriander). Stir once, cover and fry for 2 minutes.
  4. Stir in the amchoor from the ground spices for the okra (1.3 g) and salt to taste. Remove from the heat and let it cool for a few minutes.
  5. Scatter over the coriander garnish (3 g coriander leaves) and add 5.1 g lemon juice just before serving.

Don't have something?

Okra
  • Cluster bean

    Use the same weight, topped, tailed and cut into similar pieces. It is firmer and less mucilaginous; cook a few minutes longer until tender.

  • Green bean

    Use the same weight, trimmed and cut into short lengths. It cooks faster and stays crisp; add towards the end and expect no okra stickiness.

  • Aubergine

    Use the same weight, cut into small pieces and cook until soft. It gives a soft, seedy texture but no okra mucilage and absorbs more oil.

Vegetable oil
  • Peanut oil

    Use 1:1 by weight. Handles high-heat frying identically and introduces a very subtle, pleasant nuttiness.

  • Ghee

    Use 1:1 by weight. Yields a much richer, authentic aroma and a glossy, heavier mouthfeel.

  • Mustard oil

    Use 1:1 by weight. Heat until smoking, then cool slightly before cooking to temper its intensely pungent, sharp mustard kick.

Cumin seed
  • Ground cumin

    Use 70% of the weight; add with ground spices or sauce bases rather than hot oil tempering, where it scorches quickly and turns bitter.

  • Black cumin seeds

    Use equal weight for oil tempering. Delivers an earthy profile with an additional musky, smoky, and slightly bitter edge.

  • Fennel seed

    Use 60% of the weight for tempering; offers comparable warm aroma, but leans sweet and liquorice-like rather than savoury and earthy.

Kashmiri chilli powder or mild paprika
  • Kashmiri chilli powder

    Use the same weight; this is the first half of the book's option and gives the best red colour with mild heat.

  • Mild paprika

    Use the same weight; add a pinch of cayenne pepper for warmth. Slightly less colour.

  • Paprika

    Use the same weight and add cayenne pepper to taste; works but is less aromatic.

Ground coriander
  • Coriander seeds

    Dry-roast lightly in a pan and grind to a fine powder; use equal weight (1:1). Offers a noticeably fresher, brighter citrus note.

  • Ground cumin

    Use 50% to 75% of the weight. Lacks the floral, citrusy profile of coriander and turns the gravy heavier, earthier, and darker.

  • Garam masala

    Use 50% of the weight and stir in near the end of cooking. Adds warmth and depth since it contains ground coriander, but introduces stronger spices like clove and cinnamon.

Amchoor
  • Lemon juice

    Use 15 g (1 tbsp) for every 5 g of amchoor. Stir in at the very end off the heat; adds liquid and fresh citrus aroma rather than dry fruity tang.

  • Tamarind extract

    Use 75% of the weight, dissolved in a splash of warm water. Simmer briefly; darkens the gravy and provides a deeper, caramelised sourness.

Coriander leaves
  • Coriander (cilantro) or basil

    Use the same weight, choosing the coriander element if available. If only basil is available, expect a sweeter, more aniseed flavour.

  • Basil leaves

    Use the same weight. Basil is sweeter and more aromatic in a different way; add near the end so it keeps its perfume.

  • Coriander paste

    Use 1.5 times the weight and reduce other liquid slightly; it is less fresh and more concentrated, so taste before adding more.

Lemon juice
  • Lime juice

    Use equal volume or weight; delivers almost identical sharp acidity with a faintly more aromatic, bitter-edged profile.

  • Dried mango powder

    Use 25% of the weight (about 1 g amchoor for 4 g juice); provides clean fruity tartness without thinning the sauce.

  • White vinegar

    Use 75% of the volume; gives direct sourness without any citrus floral fragrance.