Vendakka theeyal recipe with step by step photos

Vendakka theeyal is a typical coconut and vegetable based Kerala side dish. This dish uses ladyfinger and coconut as main ingredients. Usually served with rice with vegetarian meals. A normal old fashioned Kerala recipe

Who doesn't love amma's home-made food? Yes, me too, I really miss my home. We may not be given much importance to our mom's food when we were young and living with them. But once we moved out and started food preparation by ourselves, We badly will realize the truth and how desperately we crave for amma's food.

I was not that much interested in cooking before my marriage, because my mom is a pretty good cook and she used to make spicy fish curries and other delicious traditional Kerala dishes for me and my brother. But after marriage, everything has changed, I moved with my husband to Chennai (He was working there) , miles away from our families, each and every moment filled the emptiness in my mind, yes, I missed Kerala, my home, my family, everything... I believe each and every event happening in our life which may be painful and unbearable, will bring ultimate everlasting happiness. As Gita says everything happening for the best. So enjoy the changes, enjoy each and every moment in life.

Here, I am giving such a dish which I wish to have from my mother's hand, a traditional Kerala dish, vendakka theeyal. Vendakka or Okra is the Malayalam name of ladyfinger. The basic preparation of theeyal is always the same. I have given ulli theeyal recipe before, same steps are followed here also, the ladyfinger cooked in tamarind juice is then blended with roasted coconut and some basic spices. It tastes similar to sambar, but I believe it is very much tastier than sambar. Try and let me know your opinion. Shall we start................

Vendakka Theeyal - Tips and Tricks

Amount of tamarind used depends on its strength, So do a taste test before proceeding. Add more if needed.
Take care while roasting coconut, cook on medium flame and immediately transfer into the mixer grinder once it is ready. Otherwise, will burn due to the heat of the pan.
If you feel any difficulty in grinding roasted coconut, add one or two tablespoon oil (not water) and grind again.
Usually, theeyal has a semi-thick consistency. If you like, you can make it a loose gravy also. In that case, add 1 more cup of water while cooking ladyfinger in tamarind juice before adding the roasted coconut paste (thenga varutharachathu).

Kerala Vendakka theeyla recipe | How To Make okra theeyal How to Make Kerala Style vendakka theeyal

Ladyfinger in spicy and tangy sauce

Preparation time: 10 minutes | Cooking time: 20 minutes | Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

10 to 12 ladyfingers / vendakka / Okra, chopped into 2" pieces
A gooseberry sized tamarind\ puli

To grind

1 cup grated coconut
1 teaspoon chili powder
2 teaspoon coriander powder
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
3 tablespoon oil

To temper

2 tablespoon coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
4 shallots, chopped
2 dried red chilies, halved
1 spring curry leaves

Vendakka theeyal preparation with step by step photos

Soak a small gooseberry sized ball of tamarind in 1/2 cup of hot water 10 to 15 minutes before cooking.
Heat oil in a pan and roast 1 cup grated coconut till golden brown and add 1 teaspoon chili powder, 2 teaspoon coriander powder and 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder, mix immediately.
Make fine paste when cool down. For more details, please check my post: Roasted coconut paste or thenga varutharachathu.
Heat 2 tablespoon oil in another pan and saute ladyfinger for two to three minutes on medium flame till softens. (Both ends of ladyfingers are trimmed and chopped into two. I used small ladyfingers, so I chopped into two pieces. Make 2" sized pieces).
The next step is cooking the ladyfingers in tamarind water. Pour tamarind juice, 1 1/2 cup water and salt. Let it boil on high flame.
Cook covered, then reduce the flame to medium and cook till the ladyfingers are cooked completely. Do not overcook, should retain its shape. Add more water if you want, give a boil. Then add the roasted coconut paste or thenga varutharachathu and mix well.
Cover with a lid and boil till the gravy thickens. You can take it from semi-thick to thick consistency. If you don't have gravy, just loosen it because it is very delicious in all the three forms. Once the gravy attains required consistency, switch off the flame.
Now we will prepare seasoning. Crackle mustard seeds in 2 tablespoon oil.
Sauté red chilies, shallots and curry leaves, until the shallots turns crispy or golden brown.
Pour this over the curry and serve with rice, dosa, chapati etc.