Vendakkai Rice | Easy Okra Rice Recipe
Vendakkai Rice is a traditional South Indian dish with okra as its main ingredient along with simple spices. It's a perfect meal for both lunch and dinner and is loved for its simplicity and delicious taste.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Raw Rice
- 2 cups Water to cook the rice
- 3 cups Vendakkai / Okra chopped
- 1 Onion
- 3 cloves Garlic
- Salt as needed
- 1/4 tsp Turmeric Powder
- 1/2 tsp Coriander Powder
- 1 tsp Red Chilli Powder
For tempering
- 1 tbsp Oil
- 1 tsp Mustard Seeds
- 1 tsp Chana Dal
- 1 tsp Urad Dal
- Curry Leaves handful
Instructions
Cook the rice
- Rinse 1 cup raw rice in water. Transfer to a pressure cooker and add 2 cups of water. Cook on a medium flame for 3 whistles.
- Once the rice is cooked, ensure it cools down completely to room temperature before using it in the Vendakkai Rice recipe.
Make the Okra Rice
- Chop Vendakkai /Okras into medium size pieces and keep them ready.
- In a pan, add oil. Once hot, add 1 tsp mustard seeds. Once it splutters, add 1 tsp urad dal, 1 tsp chana dal, a handful of curry leaves.
- Add chopped onions and sauté until the colour slightly changes. Then, add the garlic and cook for a minute.
- Add the okras, salt and cook for 5 minutes. Add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder. Let it combine well with the okras.
- Cook on a medium flame till okras are well cooked.
- Add the cooked rice. Mix well without breaking the rice or okra pieces. Switch off the flame.
- Garnish with coriander leaves and serve the vendakkai rice with your choice of side dish.
Notes
I used sona masoori rice and the brand of rice I used gets cooked with a 1: 2
rice : water ratio and requires 3 whistles to cook. Please adjust according to the type of rice you use. The rice must turn out fluffy. You can use basmati Rice. You can make this okra rice with leftover rice as well. Ensure the rice is at room temperature before using it. Otherwise, the rice may turn mushy or it may break when added to the okra. Adjust the amount of red chilli powder according to your taste and spice level. Add cashewnuts or peanuts while tempering, if preferred.
rice : water ratio and requires 3 whistles to cook. Please adjust according to the type of rice you use. The rice must turn out fluffy. You can use basmati Rice. You can make this okra rice with leftover rice as well. Ensure the rice is at room temperature before using it. Otherwise, the rice may turn mushy or it may break when added to the okra. Adjust the amount of red chilli powder according to your taste and spice level. Add cashewnuts or peanuts while tempering, if preferred.
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