This simple and flavourful South Indian soup-like curry is easy to make, and a great way to cook okra. Serve with basmati rice, papadums, roti, or any other starchy side of your choice.
Course Main Dishes, Side Dish
Cuisine Asian, Indian
Keyword indian okra curry, indian okra soup, okra curry, okra kulambu, okra kuzhambu, south indian okra recipe, vitamix indian recipes
Prep Time 15 minutesminutes
Cook Time 20 minutesminutes
Total Time 35 minutesminutes
Servings 6people
Calories 148kcal
Ingredients
Roasted Vegetables
300gokrastems trimmed off
300gcherry tomatoes
1tspvegetable oil
Masala
85gshallots(about 3-4 medium) coarsely chopped
3clovesgarliccrushed
1/2cupshredded coconut(unsweetened)
1tsptoor dal
1/2tspurad dal
1tspdry rice(any variety, but I used basmati)
1tspcoriander seeds
1/2tspcumin seeds
1/4tspfennel seeds
1-3smalldried chili peppers
1/4tspcinnamon(optional)
1/2tspground turmeric
1/2tspamchoor (dried mango) powder(optional)
1/2tspsugarpreferably palm sugar (jaggery)
saltto taste
Tempering Spices
2tbspvegetable oil
1tspblack mustard seeds
1/2tspfenugreek seed
curry leaves(optional)
Instructions
Place a cast iron pan or pot in the oven and preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Gently toss okra and tomatoes with a little vegetable oil. Carefully remove the hot pan from the oven, spread the vegetables around the pan, and return to the oven. Roast until the okra is well tender and lightly browned and the tomatoes have softened and split (about 10-12 minutes). Once the vegetables are finished, set them aside to cool and return the pan to the stove top to use in step 3.
Heat a small dry pan on the stove top and add the dal, coriander, cumin, and fennel seed. Toast (stirring frequently to avoid hot spots), until the spices are fragrant and slightly darker (about 2 minutes).
Heat the pan or pot used to roast the okra over medium on the stove top. Add the garlic, shallots, and coconut to the pan. Saute, stirring frequently, until the garlic and shallots are fragrant and the coconut is lightly toasted (about 3-4 minutes).
Combine all of the masala ingredients except for the shallots, garlic, and coconut, and pulverize in a spice or coffee grinder, or with a mortar and pestle.
Place roasted tomatoes, spice mix, shallots, garlic, and coconut into blender along with 250 ml (1 cup) water. Puree until the mixture is as smooth as possible.
Combine the puree with 500 ml (2 cups) of water and bring to a boil on the stovetop. Reduce the heat and simmer gently until reduced by about 1/3 and thickened somewhat. Add the roasted okra to the pot and simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes, then remove from heat.
Immediately before serving, heat 2 tbsp of vegetable oil in a small pan or metal ladle. When the oil is shimmering (but not smoking), add the tempering spices and fry for about 30 seconds.
Add the tempered oil and spices to the pot and serve with rice, roti, or another side of your choice.