Vendakka Kichadi (Pachadi) | Fried Okra in Yogurt Coconut Sauce ~ Sadya Dish

Onam is early this year towards August last week and most of the electronics,apparels and many things are on offers at this time of the year. This is one of the best festive time when all Keralites celebrate with zeal and enthusiasm.  Today's post is a simple dish with vendakka /okra and mixed with yogurt and coconut sauce. This dish is popularly called pachadi in our place but towards the central part and northern part of Kerala this is khichadi and the sweet version is called pachadi. Anyways the name doesn't make the dish differ in taste and this is a quick yet simple sadya dish which can be prepared towards the end of sadya making within no time. We are not celebrating Onam this year as my FIL passed away early this year. So no much fun to go on with Onam but I do prepare these sadya dishes not all together but one or the other in between.Unlike other pachadi or khichadi this has a delicious taste of the fried okra in the yogurt coconut sauce. Add the fried okra/vendakka just before serving to get the yummy flavors. This is a very small serving of khichadi but if you wish to make larger quantities then double up the ingredients and try this out. I usually make it as a side dish and so make only very less amount. Do check this out !!

Preparation time ~ 10 minutes
Cooking time ~ 10 minutes
Serves ~ 4
Author ~ Julie

Ingredients
vendakka / okra 8-10
salt to taste
oil 2tbsp

to grind coarse
coconut grated 1/2 cup
green chillies 2
mustard seeds 1/2 tsp

to temper 
mustard seeds 3/4 tsp
dry red chillies, 2 broken
curry leaves, a sprig
oil 2tsp

Method

• Wash and pat dry the vendakka /okra. Cut in small pieces in rounds.
• Grind the ingredients under listed to grind to a smooth paste. Remove the paste and add the curd and beat well in a mixer.
• Heat oil in a pan and add the okra pieces. Add in a dash of salt. Fry till the okra turns crispy. Drain on a plate and if you have left over oil then temper the kichadi in the same pan, keep aside.

• In another pan, heat the coconut yogurt mixture on a low heat and turn off heat as soon as it is heated (don't wait for it to boil). Add salt as needed.
• Heat oil in the okra fried pan and splutter mustard seeds, dry red chillies and curry leaves. Pour this over the curd mixture.

• Add in the fried okra just before serving. Mix and serve warm.

NOTES
* Use a mildly sour curd or yogurt. Don't use very sour yogurt.
* The kichadi thickens as it sits and can be prepared few hours in advance but make sure to mix the fried okra only just before serving.

A few more kichadi/ pachadi recipes that you can prepare for this Onam-
* Kumbalanga Kichadi (pachadi)
* Thamaravalayam Kichadi( Lotus Stem Kichadi)
* Pineapple Pachadi
* Beetroot kichadi
* Sweet Pachadi

Please enjoy making ur favorite dishes this Onam by clicking on this link- SADYA RECIPES