Fried Okra in Air fryer | Bhindi Masala

Fried okra in air fryer with no breading or flour is delightfully tasty. It is a great vegetable side.

Super easy recipe and okra comes out crispy while retaining its beautiful green colour.

This is the famous bhindi masala that is a popular Indian vegetable side.

Okra is among my favourite vegetable. I love this crunchy chickpea flour coated kurkuri bhindi in air fryer. 

Okra is slightly tricky to cook as it turns slimy and messy if you don’t cook it correctly.

Otherwise it is a tasty vegetable. You can also do fried okra along with sliced onion to add more flavour to your side.

You may also like: Crispy Okra Indian style air fryer, Bharwan Bhindi in air fryer, air fryer broccoli

Tips to Make Okra in Air fryer

1. Wash okra, dry it completely. It is very important that your okra be totally dry.

Else it will turn slimy instead of crunchy when air frying or cooking on gas stove..

2. Preheat Air fryer while you add the spices with oil to the okra.

This is done so that we don’t leave okra sitting around in spices releasing water.

3. After preheating time, spread okra in air fryer basket, making sure that you put them in one layer without overlapping. 

4. Air fry till the okra is cooked and crispy. Take out and serve hot.

5. You can store the air fried okra in air tight container for 2-3 days. Air fry or microwave to heat up when serving.

6. Using lemon juice or amchur powder (dry mango powder) helps in keeping sliminess at bay.

7. I love using cayenne and pepper both as I love spice. But use whatever you are comfortable with.

This recipe will not work without oil.

8. You can also air fry one sliced onion along with okra for a delicious vegetable side. You will get crispy fried onion along with okra.

9. The same recipe works equally well on stove top. The instructions are the same. The okra is not crispy but well cooked on stove top.

Can You Make Frozen Okra in Air Fryer?

Yes, you can. Place frozen okra in preheated air fryer at 400F or 200C.

Add all the spices and oil for this recipe to your frozen okra and lay in air fryer.

Air fry for about 18-20 minutes at 400F or 200C till crispy and done.

Frozen okra can be used in stove top version too.

Stepwise Pictures

Wash and completely dry okra. Snip off the ends and cut into ½ to 1” long pieces. Set aside.

Assemble all the spices together.

You can also use 1 sliced onion in the recipe.

Add the spices along with oil to the okra pieces and mix well.

You can also use frozen okra in the recipe. Just add oil and spices to it.

Air frying instructions

Preheat air fryer at 180C or 360F for 5 minutes.

Lay the okra in air fryer basket in one layer ensuring that they do not overlap.

Air fry at 180C or 360F for about 10-12 minutes till okra is crispy and well cooked.

Once or twice during air frying time, take out the basket and shake. 

This is to ensure that they cook evenly.

To check for doneness, you can pick out one and eat.

Now take them out and serve hot as a vegetable side. Your air fried okra is done.

Skillet

Heat a skillet. Add oil till hot.

Add 2 cloves minced garlic and ½ tsp. cumin seeds.

Add in the sliced onion after 30 seconds and cook till slightly browned.

Now add the okra washed, dried and cut into pieces. You can also use frozen okra in this recipe (instructions shared below).

Mix well with oil. Add amchur powder or lemon juice and mix well.

This helps in cutting down the slime.

Cook it without cover for about 10 minutes while stirring once every few minutes.

This helps in cooking the okra while retaining its green colour.

Keep stirring once every 3-4 minutes to avoid them sticking to the bottom.

Once almost completely cooked (takes about 5-10 minutes), add all the spices with salt and mix well.

Cook on low flame uncovered till done to your liking.

Your bhindi masala is ready.

Frozen Okra for Bhindi Masala

Heat a skillet. Add oil till hot.

Add 2 cloves minced garlic, ½ tsp. cumin seeds and 2 dry red chillies (optional) broken in half.

Add in the sliced onion after 30 seconds and cook till slightly browned.

Add frozen okra. Mix well. Add in all the spices and salt.

It will release water. Cook for about 8-10 minutes uncovered.

Cook till water evaporates and the bhindi or okra cooks. It may become a bit slimy but the slime goes away once bhindi is cooked.

Enjoy your bhindi masala.

Serve hot.

This okra side is also a popular Indian side known as bhindi masala or bhindi fry. Have it with rotis. Enjoy.

Here's the recipe card:

📖 Recipe Card

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