Vendakka/ Ladies finger Kichadi

Onam is within reach. Only few more days left for the most awaited Malayali utsav. Everyone are already in the festive mood, which is very much evident in the textile shops and floral shops in Kerala. 

Today I am sharing a kichadi recipe here. Kichadis are common in sadyas, the varieties ranging from vellarika/cucumber kichadi, mathan/pumpkin kichadi, pavakka/bittergourd kichadi and so on. But onion is not usually used in the sadya kichadi recipes. At home, we all love vendakka kichadi or ladiesfinger kichadi. Onion is added in the recipe here, but even if you skip the onion and go on with the recipe, it still tastes awesome. 

Ingredients
250 grams ladies finger/vendakka/okra sliced into thin rounds
1 onion chopped fine
1 green chili chopped
1/2 inch ginger piece, chopped fine
few curry leaves
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 cup yoghurt, beaten well
salt
1 - 2 tablespoon oil

Method

• Heat oil in a non-stick pan. Add the mustard seeds. Once they splutter add the onion, ginger, green chilies and curry leaves.
• Sauté until the onion turns soft and translucent.
• Add the ladies finger and salt. Mix well.
• Cook covered for 2 minutes.
• Open and fry the ladies finger on a medium low flame until the ladies finger turns brown and crisp. This will take around 10-15 minutes. Remember to cook on a low flame taking care not to burn the ladies finger.
• Once the ladies finger turns crispy, off the flame.
• Add the yoghurt and serve immediately.
• The yoghurt should be added only at the time of serving, in order to maintain the crispiness of the ladies finger.