With a perfect balance of crunchy texture and delicious spiced flavors, this crispy Indian okra stir fry is sure to become a family favorite. Serve this easy vegan side dish along with gluten free Indian rice flour dosa, sambar and aloo masala for a healthy meal any time of the day.
What's to Love
You are going to love how quick and easy this healthy keto Indian recipe is to make. Depending on how fast a chopper you are, you can have this dish on your table in about 6-8 minutes.
Long gone are the days of mushy and slimy okra. This Indian okra recipe much like our four ingredient okra stir fry and grilled chili lime okra is different. It's full of spiced flavor and aromatics and best of all the okra are deliciously crispy and crunchy. You are going to love that little snap, pop and crunch as you bite into the okra and then the aroma of all of the Indian spices are splash of lemon is going to send you swooning.
Healthy & Delicious
Seriously, who knew vegetables could be so delicious and healthy for you too. Crispy Indian okra are not only paleo friendly but it is also diabetic friendly, cardiac friendly, low carb, dairy free, egg-free, gluten-free my new favorite side dish.
Roast your Spices
I have more spices in my pantry than the average person with my spice collection on every surface, cabinet and even finding its way into drawers into the living room.
Roasting the spices before you grind them takes this Indian style okra dish over the top. In addition, you can use less salt. Vegan recipes like in our Spiced Yam and Vegetable stir fry recipe is bursting with flavor without extra sodium. In addition, it makes your house smell fantastic.
Recipe Substitutions
Spices add a whole new level to the simple Indian okra dish. If you do not have all of the spices listed in this recipe, don't sweat it you can always use the pre-ground spice instead. Here are some easy alternatives for the spices...
- ¼ teaspoon of ground yellow mustard seed instead of whole black mustard seeds.
- Exchange fresh coriander (cilantro) or ground coriander for the coriander seed.
- ½ teaspoon of curry powder or fennel seeds instead of fenugreek seeds
- If you like a little spice to your dishes , you can add a little sprinkle of red pepper flakes but this is optional.
More Delicious Vegetable Side Dishes
Balsamic Roasted Fennel and Carrots
How to Cook Shishito Peppers on the Grill
Crispy Roasted Cauliflower Bites
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Crispy Indian Okra
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds (can substitute ½ teaspoon mustard powder)
- 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
(can substitute with ground coriander) - 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
(can substitute with ground cumin) - 1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds (can substitute ½ teaspoon of curry powder or fennel seeds)
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 shallot
chopped - 1 clove garlic
peeled and minced - 20 okra
chopped into 1 cm slices ( 2 and ½ cups) - salt and pepper
to taste - ½ teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
optional - 2 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- In a wok or frying pan, add the dry whole spices (mustard seeds, coriander seeds, cumin and fenugreek seeds) and cook for about 1-2 minutes over medium heat until to start to pop and crackle. Move from heat and grind spice in a mortar and pestle or in a spice grinder. Set aside.
- Add your olive oil to the wok and add chopped shallots and garlic and fry for one minute until aromatic.
- Add the chopped okra, ground spice mixture of mustard, coriander, cumin and fenugreek and stir fry gently for ONLY 1-2 minutes just until the okra soften slightly but are still crunchy. (DO NOT OVERCOOK or the okra will take on that strange gumbo consistency and instead what we are looking for is crispy and delicious and not sticky at all).
- Season will salt and pepper to taste, add a sprinkle of dried red pepper flakes if you would like it a little spicy, however that is optional.
- Turn off the wok and sprinkle the okra with a little fresh lemon juice and serve hot. enjoy!
Danielle Wolter says
Oh my - I do love okra. I usually use it in gumbo, but I absolutely love the flavors in this recipe! It sounds amazing. I learned years ago that fresh toasted spices are just so much better than the pre-ground. I try to use fresh spices whenever I cook, especially Indian food!
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Danielle. Toasting whole spices makes your house smell amazing too and does wonders for this dish. We hope you give it a try. Take Care
Dini @ The Flavor Bender says
My mouth was just drooling while I was scrolling through! I absolutely love Okra (it was the only vegetable I liked to eat when I was young!) and those spices are just making me so happy inside!! I love buying whole spices and roasting it too! I can eat one entire massive bowl of this! It looks delicious!!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks for your sweet comment Dini! Really you ate okra when you were little? There are so many people that are apprehensive about this vegetable but if they make it in a quick stir fry so that is is still crisp, it is beautiful. I have such a huge spice collection, we have talked about knocking out a wall to add more space for the spices.. LOL However, nothing beats whole fresh toasted spices.
Take Two Tapas says
Seeing all these beautiful spices makes me want to throw all my spices out and start over with whole ones! My hubby loves okra so this is going to be a new favorite of his I can tell! Thanks for sharing with Saucy Saturdays!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you dear! Love saucy Saturdays as I always meet so many fun bloggers. You can still make this okra dish with ground spices. Just heat the ground spices up a little bit with the oil before adding the okra and it will be delicious.
Anna @ shenANNAgans says
Loved that you created this crazy healthy dish. Its so darn pretty! I have hunted high and low for some okra to make, but am struggling to find any. Might have to leave it on my food bucket list and eat it when I eventually get over your neck of the woods. 🙂 Thank you again for your amazing guest post, it has gone off in the social media, so my readers have very much enjoyed visiting with you. Hope you are having a stella week my friend. Hugs and love headed your way. xo
ChgoJohn says
Buona Sera, BAM! I've never had okra cooked properly and have steered clear of it ever since. I do love Indian cooking and their spice profiles, though, and probably would like your dish. Must remember not to over cook! I'll be gone from WP for a couple of weeks, BAM, and hope all will be well with you while I'm gone.
The Gourmet Gourmand says
You know how I feel about indian food.. and you are doing it justice here. Love it! 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
I thought this might be right up your alley. I bet your spices cabinet and rooms looks like mine.. Next week we are going to have to start to knock out walls and put on an extension just for my spices.. LOL
The Gourmet Gourmand says
Haha yes!! That sounds just like my place.
Healthy World Cuisine says
🙂
Kristy says
I've never had okra before - at least not that I know of. It sounds delicious and I do love indian spices. I'm going to have to look for some at the store now. 🙂
Dawn says
What a beautiful dish, the okra just looks so cute and delicious!!
Culinary Flavors says
This is one great veg dish Bobbi! As a kid I loved okra, but growing up I avoid it for some peculiar reason. Looking at this I am starting to reconsider! Sharing some love around social media!
Evelyne@cheapethniceatz says
What a great okra dish. I love all the spices and never had such crunchy okra before, I assumes is was gooey uncooked too. Gorgeous pics!
GiGi Eats Celebrities says
I have NEVER EVER had Okra before! 😮