Lady's finger in yoghurt

 
   This is a very easy to make recipe using yoghurt or curd.This preparation is called 'Vendakkai Thayir pachadi' in Tamil  .The North India version is called 'Bhindi Raita'.

To make this you will need :

Lady's fingers chopped into thin slices   -    1 cup

Plain yoghurt or curd                            -     1 cup
( should not be sour)

Grated coconut                                    -      1 tbsp.

Green chillies                                        -     1 or 2

Mustard seeds                                       -    1 tsp.

Oil                                                         -    1 tbsp.

Salt                                                       -     1/2 tsp. or according to taste



  Heat the oil in a pan, add the chopped lady's finger. On medium heat cook ,stirring often . Add salt and continue to cook till the pieces are brown. Remove and keep it aside on a paper towel to remove excess oil, if there is.
 Take the yoghurt in a bowl, beat it to make smooth, do not add any water. Add a pinch or two of salt and keep it aside. Grind the coconut ,green chillies and 1/2 tsp. mustard into a smooth paste and mix this paste with the yoghurt.  Heat the remaining mustard seeds in a little bit of oil, let them splutter and add to the yoghurt. Add the lady's finger pieces ( just before serving ) and mix well.

Note: If you add the lady's finger to the yoghurt just before serving, the pieces will remain crunchy and taste better.


RAITA :

  This is easier than the South Indian version. Skip the coconut and just add finely chopped green chillies to the beaten yoghurt along with salt. Rest of the recipe remains the same.