In Tamil this dish is called “Vendikkai varai”  “Vendikkai” is the Tamil name for Okra.

Ingredients

• 2 cups finely chopped okra
• 3 tablespoons sesame oil
• ¼ teaspoon chili powder
• ¾ cup red onion finely chopped
• 2 – 3 dried chilies each broken into 2 – 3 pieces
• 1 tablespoon shredded unsweetened coconut
• salt to taste

Method

• chop okra into very fine pieces (slit each okra length wise into 4 quarters and chop them very finely)
• add 2 tablespoon sesame oil to a skillet and add the okra and fry on low flame for about 15 minutes
• add shredded coconut, chili powder and salt and fry for another 3 – 4 minutes
• set aside
• in another skillet add one tablespoon sesame oil and fry onion for about 7 – 8 minutes or until golden brown
• add broken red chilies and fry for another 2 – 3 minutes
• mix this fried onion with fried okra
• serve warm with rice.  This goes well with pittu also

Yields about 2 – 3 side dishes