Vendakkai Sadham (Okra/Lady'sfinger Rice)

Category: Rice Varieties
Preparation Time: 15 mins  
Cooking Time: 20 mins
Servings: 2 servings

Vendakkai Sadham

Vendakkai Sadham / Okra rice is a healthy variety rice and perfect for lunch box. Kids will really love the crispy Okra along with roasted nuts in this rice. 

Vendakkai Sadham with Tomato & Roasted Peanuts

We can prepare this with or without tomato. In the step by step recipe, I haven't used tomato. 

To make it more rich, we can use ghee roasted cashews or roast the peanuts in oil and add to it at the end.

Vendakkai Sadham (without Tomato)

Ingredients:

• Rice - 1 cup
• Lady's finger / Okra - around 20-25 nos
• Peanuts, Roasted & halved - 1/4 cup
• Oil - 1/2 tbsp + 1/2 tbsp
• Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Onion, finely chopped - 1 no
• Green chilly - 1 nos (Optional)
• Ginger-Garlic paste - 1 tbsp
• Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
• Sugar - a pinch
• Salt - to taste
• Masala powder - 1 tsp* (I used home made Pav bhaji Masala powder and little Garam Masala powder)
• Lemon juice - from 1/2 lemon**

*Masala Powder: We can use Sambhar Powder or Pav Bhaji Masala Powder or a mix of coriander powder, chilli powder and Garam Masala powder; Quantity can be adjusted as per taste and spice level

**We can also use Tomato instead of lemon while using Sambhar powder; In that case we can saute it well before adding okra 

Method:

1. Wash and soak 1 cup of rice for atleast 30 mins and then cook as usual in such a way the grains are separate. Once its done, spread it in a plate and allow it to cool
2. Wash the Okra and wipe off any moisture on them, trim off the ends and chop them into 1/2 inch pieces
   
3. Heat 1/2 tbsp of oil in a pan and add the chopped Okra pieces, sprinkle a pinch of sugar and little salt over it and saute in medium high flame for few mins until the stickiness went off. Once its done, switch off
   
4. Meanwhile, heat remaining oil in a pan, once it becomes hot add the mustard seeds, followed by cumin seeds
5. Add finely chopped onion along with a pinch of salt and saute for few mins in medium flame until the onion turns golden brown. If using green chilly, we can add along with the onion
   
6. Now add the Ginger-garlic paste and saute for 3-4 mins in medium flame until the raw smell goes off
   
7. Then add the turmeric powder and Masala powders, saute for a min and add required salt
   
8. Now add the sauted okra pieces and fry for 2 mins in low to medium flame until the masala gets blended well
   
9. Add the roasted peanuts, mix well
   
   
   
   
10. Add in the cooked rice and mix gently until it gets mixed well and Switch it off
    
11. Check for salt and then drizzle the lemon juice over the mixed rice and gently mix them up
    
12. Serve hot!
    
13. We can have just with fryums or even raita