Bendakaya pulusu recipe is Andhra style okra curry with tamarind. Since tamarind is used, obviously the bendakaya curry will be sour.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 20 minutes
  • Cook time: 30 minutes
  • Total time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 3
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: Andhra

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon tightly packed tamarind
  • ½ cup hot water
  • 1.5 tablespoons oil
  • ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 8 to 10 fenugreek seeds ((methi seeds))
  • 1 sprig curry leaves (or 10 to 12 curry leaves)
  • 50 grams onion (or 1 medium onion or ⅓ cup chopped onions)
  • 50 grams tomato (or 1 medium tomato or ⅓ cup chopped tomato)
  • 1 or 2 green chilies, (chopped)
  • 250 grams okra, (2.25 cups chopped okra)
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 teaspoon red chilli powder
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
  • 2 to 2.5 cups water, (add as required depending on the consistency you want, slightly thin or thick)
  • ½ teaspoon jaggery (- optional)
  • 2 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves
  • salt as required

Method

preparation for bendakaya pulusu

  1. Soak tamarind in 1/2 cup hot water for 20 to 30 minutes.
  2. After 20 to 30 minutes, prepare the tamarind pulp by squeezing the tamarind in to the water. Keep aside.
  3. When the tamarind is soaking, rinse the okra very well and dry them with a clean kitchen towel. You can also spread them in a plate or a kitchen cotton napkin and let them dry naturally.
  4. Now chop the okra in 2 to 2.5 inches pieces. Thinly slice off the crown and base tip while chopping okra and discard them.
  5. Also chop the onion, tomato and green chilies.

making bendakaya pulusu

  1. Heat 1.5 tablespoons oil in a pan. Add 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds and 8 to 10 methi seeds. Saute till the mustard seeds crackle.
  2. Then add 10 to 12 curry leaves and stir.
  3. Now add 1/3 cup chopped onions.
  4. Saute till the onions turn translucent.
  5. Then add 1/3 cup chopped tomato and chopped green chilies. You can also use dry red chilies instead of using green chilies.
  6. Mix well and saute till the tomatoes soften.
  7. Then add the okra. mix the okra with the rest of the ingredients.
  8. Add 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon chilli powder and 1 teaspoon coriander powder.
  9. Mix the spice powders very well with the okra.

cooking bendakaya curry

  1. Add 2 to 2.5 cups water, depending on the consistency you want in the bendakaya pulusu, slightly thin or thick.
  2. Now strain the tamarind pulp through a strainer and directly add in the pan. Mix well.
  3. Season with salt and stir. Cover the pan with lid and simmer on a low flame till the okra is cooked. Do check a couple of times when the okra is getting cooked. The okra just needs to be tender and cooked. Do not overcook and make okra mushy.
  4. Now add 1/2 teaspoon jaggery powder or add as required. Mix again and simmer for a minute.
  5. Switch off the flame and add 2 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves. Stir.
  6. Serve bendakaya pulusu hot with steamed rice.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.