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Bhindi Shimla Mirch (Okra sauteed with Red Peppers)

This post comes to you 35,000 feet up in the air as I fly from New York – London – New Delhi. A painfully loooooooooong flight.bhindi shimla mirch 007
For the longest time I was obsessed, loved, and adored the British accent, but after today’s flight on Virgin Atlantic, I can conclude the British accent sounds so much better on a man, than a woman.  bhindi shimla mirch 014
I’m sitting next to the food service area and have been trying to get some shut-eye for the past 2 hours, but all I hear are a bunch of stewardesses gossiping NONSTOP amongst themselves in their British accent.  I so want to scream SHUT THE [email protected]&# UP, it’s still so early!  Clearly, I’m not in a good mood with merely 3 hours of sleep on this dreaded 8 AM flight to India.bhindi shimla mirch 020
Of course, each time the pilot makes an announcement on the intercom, his accent sounds so charming and I can’t help but smile and fall in love with the accent all over again. 
Not to mention the little girl sitting in front of me who says to her mum in her sweet British accent, “do you know BFF stands for big fat friend.”  LOL!  Her comment has me laughing so hard.
Once my Chicken Korma and Orange Juice with Vodka rolled around, the gossipy stewardesses were a lot more pleasant to my ears.  I suppose we can all agree waking up super early is not my cup of tea.
Yes, I know what you’re thinking… I’m probably one of the few people in the world who actually loves airplane food, especially Virgin Atlantic’s.


And now, a slight twist on a Punjabi classic – Bhindi (okra) sauteed with Shimla Mirch (bell peppers).  Hope you fancy this dish.    bhindi shimla mirch 031

NUTRITION: Okra is rich in Vitamins A, B6, C, and Fiber. It is also a good source of Folic Acid.  Bell Peppers are a great source of Vitamins A, B6, and C.


INGREDIENTS:

  • Olive Oil – 2 tbsp
  • Asafetida (hing) – 1/8 tsp
  • Turmeric Powder – 1/2 tsp
  • Medium Onion – 1 (chopped)
  • Red Pepper – 1 (chopped)  … you can also add a green pepper
  • Okra – 6 handfuls (chopped)
  • Coriander Powder – 3 to 4 tsp
  • Red Chili Powder – 1/2 to 1 tsp
  • Garam Masala – 1/2 tsp
  • Mango Powder (Amchoor) – 1/2 tsp
  • salt to taste


DIRECTIONS:
1. Start by chopping an onion.
2. Heat a pan on medium heat, once hot add oil, add asafetida and turmeric powder.  bhindi shimla mirch 049
3. Should sizzle right away, stir it around for a few seconds.bhindi shimla mirch 050
4. Drop the onions in.  Season with salt.  Stir.  Lower the heat to dial low-medium.bhindi shimla mirch 052
5. While the onions cook (about 7 to 10 minutes), chop the okra.
TIP: when working with okra, wash it and allow it to try completely to avoid any stickiness. 
6. This is how the onions should look.  bhindi shimla mirch 056
7. Add the okra and season with salt.  Stir.  Allow the okra to cook for 5 minutes.bhindi shimla mirch 058
8. In the meantime, chop a red bell pepper.  Feel free to also add a green bell pepper, I bet it would still taste amazing.
9. Add the bell pepper along with the red chili powder, coriander powder, and salt.  Stir.
10. Cover with a lid and allow the veggies to cook on low heat (dial #3) for 20 minutes.  Keep checking in between.bhindi shimla mirch 065 
11. This is what you should have 20 minutes later.  Taste the okra, make sure it is soft and completely cooked.
12. Add garam masala and mango powder.  Stir.  Turn off the stove.
13. Goes best with roti/chapatti and raita (Indian yogurt).bhindi shimla mirch 003
TELL ME: What things annoy you most about flying? 



Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Khushboo says

    Haha glad the korma sorted out your mood! One thing I can't stand when I'm traveling is crying babies…I am sure my opinions will change when I am a mother but for now, I am going to go ahead and say that babies should not be allowed on flights ;)!! Also when people sitting behind me kick my seat, it really irks me!

    Reply

  3. Sarah says

    What a beautifully colourful dish, I bet it tastes great. When I'm flying I hate people who play music really loud through headphones when I'm trying to sleep. And hey, my accent sounds great on me, thank you very much! 🙂

    Reply

  6. Ameena says

    Air travel has totally gone from fun to painful. But Virgin Atlantic is really the best flight, I have to say.

    I had no idea you were going to India! I hope you have a fantastic time and eat some amazing dosa for me, will you?

    Safe travels my friend!

    Reply

  7. Tina says

    Glad to come across this recipe using okra. My husband loves the stuff, but there are not a whole lot of recipes out there using this. You did put some awesome spices in there too-yum!
    Long flights find me with a sleep mask on and ear plugs-that is the only way to find peace.
    Enjoy your visit to New Delhi!

    Reply

  13. BeetleBuggy says

    Oh, I absolutely fancy this dish {in the best British accent I can muster up in my head}! I love bhindi in any shape or form!

    I'm glad food sorted your nerves out on the flight. I'm one of those people that enjoys airplane food too. And I thank my stars that I kind of never get cranky on these long-a$$ flights…as long as I have a ton of movies to watch, I'm happy as a bunny 😛 Enjoy your stay in India!

    Reply

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