Sri Lankan okra stir fry(ladies finger, Bandakka theldala).

An okra stir-fry recipe so easy to make and a tasty vegan, vegetarian, green side dish made in minutes.

Try it, you might be surprised how good it tastes.

How to cook okra

Some call it okra, some, lady’s fingers or ladies fingers(Bandakka). You have the few who love it and most who hate it.

The reason could be the oozing substance that can be unpleasant to some.

As far as my kids are concerned there is only one way they’ll have a dish of cooked okra and that is if I get rid of all that goop(as they like to call it).

But okra or Bandakka, is, in fact, tasty when cooked right.

A good way to bring out the best of this unpopular vegetable is to fry or stir-fry it.

For this recipe, I’m taking the latter approach.

All I’m asking is for you to try this okra recipe made the Sri Lankan way. there are so many benefits in adding it to your meals.

To name a few, they are gluten-free, low-carb, high in Potassium, folic acid, Calcium and low in Calories.

These are reasons enough to add them to your meals.

If you want to know more about this vegetable, read on.

I’ll show you how I get rid of all that slimy liquid for my kids.

Can I eat Okra raw or add it to my raw salads?

You can but I can guarantee, you may not like the uncooked texture with its sticky ooze.

How do I pick the freshest Okra at the store?

Pick green, fresh okras that are not bruised and wilted.

They should be firm to the touch minus any spots.

Try to cook them within three days for best results as they spoil easily and when mature they tend to become hard and dry even when cooked.

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Menus to serve the okra stir fry with

Sri Lankan menu 1

Sri Lankan menu2 

Sri Lankan menu 3

Sri Lankan menu 4

Sri Lankan menu 5

Sri Lankan menu 6

RECIPE DIFFICULTY-EASY

Please make sure to read the recipe instructions carefully to avoid mistakes.

How to get rid of the slime while cooking okra(lady’s fingers, Bandakka) is mentioned below in the recipe.

Ingredients to make the okra recipe

Ingredients mentioned below use standard measuring cups and spoons.

3-4 tablespoons of Oil

10-12 new lady’s fingers/Okra

1 large Tomato sliced

1 large Onion sliced

2 Garlic cloves finely sliced

Pinch of Turmeric

1/2 teaspoon chilli flecks

How to make okra stir-fry

Wash, let dry for a few minutes and cut them diagonally.

Place the cut Okra/Lady’s fingers in a bowl, mix a pinch of Turmeric and season with salt.

How to get rid of the slime of the Okra

Place a skillet over low-medium heat, non-stick would be preferable.

Once the skillet is warm add the Okra/ Lady’s fingers and toss them around for 3-5 minutes.

Remember this is to get rid of the slimy substance that would gradually stick to the pan.

To remove all traces of the sticky substance keep moving the okra around until the edges of the okra are slightly brown.

At this point, you will find there is no sticky ooze left.

Cooking the okra fry

Transfer the okra into a bowl.

Place the same skillet over medium heat and pour oil followed by onions, garlic, tomatoes, and salt to season.

Cook until the onions are soft.

Add the okra to the skillet and cook for 2 minutes.

Sprinkle chilli flecks and stir-fry for another minute or until the okrars turns soft.

Season with salt if you need it.

Serve warm with a bowl of rice.

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Each recipe on this blog has been written with great care and love to the best of my ability with you in mind.
It’s free and on the blog, for you to try anytime.

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