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Bhindi masala or cooked okra
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Fried Okra in Air fryer I Bhindi Masala

This delicious fried okra in air fryer or bhindi masala is without any breading or flour. It is a very tasty and crunchy vegetable side where the okra is perfectly cooked without going slimy.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American, Indian
Keyword air fryer fried okra, air fryer okra, fried okra air fryer, fried okra in air fryer
recipe air fryer vegetarian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 17 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 82kcal
Author Rachna Parmar

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. Okra or about 500 gm.
  • ½ tsp. Cumin seeds
  • 1 onion sliced optional
  • 2 red chillies dry optiinal
  • 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil or vegetable oil
  • ¾ tsp. Garlic powder or minced garlic
  • ¾ tsp. Cayenne or paprika
  • ¼ tsp. Pepper
  • ½ tsp. Mango powder or amchur or use 1 tsp. Lemon juice as an alternative
  • ½ tsp. Ground coriander
  • ½ tsp. Salt
  • ¼ tsp. Turmeric optional

Instructions

  • Wash and completely dry okra. Snip off the ends and cut into ½ to 1” long pieces. Set aside.
  • Assemble all the spices together.
  • Add the spices along with oil to the okra pieces and mix well.

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

Skillet on Stove Top

  • Heat a skillet. Add oil till hot. Add cumin seeds, broken red chillies (optional) and minced garlic. Fry for 30 seconds.
  • If using sliced onion, add it now. Fry till it is golden brown.
  • Now add the okra washed, completely dried and cut into pieces. Mix well.
  • Add amchur powder or lemon juice and mix well. This helps in reducing the sliminess.
  • Cook uncovered on low flame for about 10 minutes, stirring once every few minutes.
  • Once okra is half cooked, put a lid and cook covered. Keep stirring once every 2-3 minutes to avoid them sticking to the bottom.
  • Once almost completely cooked, add all the spices with salt and mix well. Cook on low flame uncovered till done to your liking. Serve hot.
  • This okra side is also a popular Indian side known as bhindi masala or bhindi fry. Have it with rotis. Enjoy.

Using Frozen Okra to Make Bhindi Masala

  • 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 is done. It may become a bit slimy but the slime goes away once bhindi is cooked.
  • Enjoy your bhindi masala. Serve hot.

Notes

1. Wash okra, dry it completely. It is very important that your okra be nicely dried. Else it will turn slimy instead of crunchy when air frying.
2. Preheat Air fryer while you add the spices with oil to the okra.
3. This is done so that we don’t leave okra sitting around in spices releasing water.
4. After preheating time, spread okra in air fryer basket, making sure that you put them in one layer without overlapping.
5. Air fry till the okra is cooked and crispy. Take out and serve hot.
6. You can store the air fried okra in air tight container for 2-3 days. Air fry or microwave to heat up when serving.
7. Using lemon juice or amchur powder (dry mango powder) helps in keeping sliminess at bay.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. The skillet on stove top instructions are how the bhindi masala is traditionally made. This version is not crispy like air fryer.

Nutrition

Calories: 82kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 248mg | Potassium: 388mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1198IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 1mg