Bendakaya pulusu recipe with step by step photos. This is an Andhra style okra gravy with tamarind. Since tamarind is used, obviously the bendakaya curry will be sour. Bendakaya means okra or bhindi and pulusu means tamarind based stew or any sour stew. I must say, try this curry to experience something unique, as compared to your regular dishes with okra.
Okra and tamarind are a good combo and their flavors and taste actually compliment in this dish.
Pulusu is made with different veggies in Andhra cuisine. This bendakaya pulusu tastes very good with steamed rice accompanied by some vadams (papads). The recipe is simple to make and does not take much time.
It is also one of those recipes that is naturally gluten free and vegan since all the other ingredients in this dish are also plant-based.
Since okra is one of the star ingredients in the dish. So I will definitely recommend using soft, tender and fresh okra pods for the best taste. Avoid using fibrous okra.
I have added a bit of jaggery in the recipe. As I always add some jaggery in recipes where tamarind is one of the main ingredients, e.g Tamarind Rice. The sweetness from the jaggery perfectly balances the sourness of the tamarind. This makes the dish even more delicious. However, you can always skip adding the jaggery.
So if you have some okra and you like tangy tasting curries, you can give a try to this bendakaya curry recipe.
How to make Bendakaya Pulusu
1. Firstly take 1 tablespoon of tightly packed tamarind.
2. Soak tamarind in ½ cup hot water for 20 to 30 minutes.
3. Rinse the okra very well and dry them with a clean kitchen towel. You can also spread them on a plate or a kitchen cotton napkin and let them dry naturally.
Make sure that there is no moisture on okra before you move to the next step.
4. Now chop the okra in 2 to 2.5 inches pieces. Slice off the crown and base tip while chopping okra and discard them.
5. Prepare the tamarind pulp by squeezing the tamarind directly into the water. Keep aside.
Making bendakaya pulusu
6. Heat 1.5 tablespoons oil in a pan. Add ½ teaspoon mustard seeds and 8 to 10 methi seeds. Saute till the mustard seeds crackle.
7. Then add 10 to 12 curry leaves and stir.
8. Now add ⅓ cup of chopped onions.
9. Saute stirring often till the onions turn translucent.
10. Then add ⅓ cup chopped tomato and 1 or 2 green chilies (chopped). You can also use dry red chilies instead of using green chilies. Break and remove the seeds from dry red chilies and then add.
11. Mix well and saute till the tomatoes soften.
12. Then add the okra.
13. Stir and mix the okra with the rest of the ingredients.
14. Then add the following spice powders:
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
15. Mix the spice powders very well with the okra.
Cooking bendakaya curry
16. Add 2 to 2.5 cups water, depending on the consistency you want in the bendakaya curry, slightly thin or thick.
17. Now strain the tamarind pulp through a strainer and directly add in the pan.
18. Stir and mix well.
19. Season with salt as per taste and stir. Cover the pan with a lid and simmer on a low heat 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.
20. Here is a pic showing that the okra is cooked.
21. Now add ½ teaspoon jaggery powder or add as required. Mix again and simmer the curry for a minute.
22. Switch off the heat and add 2 tablespoons of chopped coriander leaves. Stir.
23. Serve bendakaya pulusu hot or warm with steamed rice. You can also garnish this curry with coriander leaves while serving.
If you are looking for more Bendakaya recipes then do check:
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bendakaya pulusu
Ingredients
for tamarind pulp
- 1 tablespoon tightly packed tamarind
- ½ cup hot water
other ingredients
- 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
Instructions
preparation for bendakaya pulusu
- Soak tamarind in 1/2 cup hot water for 20 to 30 minutes.
- After 20 to 30 minutes, prepare the tamarind pulp by squeezing the tamarind in to the water. Keep aside.
- 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.
- 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.
- Also chop the onion, tomato and green chilies.
making bendakaya pulusu
- 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.
- Then add 10 to 12 curry leaves and stir.
- Now add 1/3 cup chopped onions.
- Saute till the onions turn translucent.
- Then add 1/3 cup chopped tomato and chopped green chilies. You can also use dry red chilies instead of using green chilies.
- Mix well and saute till the tomatoes soften.
- Then add the okra. mix the okra with the rest of the ingredients.
- Add 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon chilli powder and 1 teaspoon coriander powder.
- Mix the spice powders very well with the okra.
cooking bendakaya curry
- Add 2 to 2.5 cups water, depending on the consistency you want in the bendakaya pulusu, slightly thin or thick.
- Now strain the tamarind pulp through a strainer and directly add in the pan. Mix well.
- 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.
- Now add 1/2 teaspoon jaggery powder or add as required. Mix again and simmer for a minute.
- Switch off the flame and add 2 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves. Stir.
- Serve bendakaya pulusu hot with steamed rice.
Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)
This Bendakaya Pulusu post from the blog archives first published in September 2016 has been updated and republished on January 2023.
