OKRA/BHENDI KADHI (SPICED OKRA BUTTERMILK CURRY)
Its been really hot these past few days and what better way then to cool off with a “Gujju Ben” influenced Kadhi.As a kid I have tasted its close cousin the “Mor Kuzhambu” in the southern part of India,while they look similar, they vary in the ingredients & the tempering process itself.Gujarathis who hail from Western India are known for their amazing vegetarian dishes,”Kadhi” is one such dish which is served with the quintessential Khichdi in a Gujarathi Thali on an everyday basis.This dish is light and easy on your diet on a warm summer’s day.
When I grew up,though we had a lot of Gujju friends,I had only tasted most of their amazing sweets in their cuisine,not so much their everyday food.There is an advantage of being a student away from home,learning about different cultures,meeting different people tasting different cuisines…..one such encounters lead to this pleasant accident of learning to make this comfort food of the Gujju’s called the Kadhi/Buttermilk curry.Life is a journey and you learn each day,apart from the kadhi I also learnt that the Gujus loved flamboyant colors and you can easily spot them where there is more “bling” in the air.They are passionate about anything edible,they can do a “garba” for any song in the world &” Dandiya” is their Prom.They always needed to set the “Elaram” to wake up in the mornings in the dorms & they shouted their guts out on international calls,thinking they can be heard better on the other side when they were “Coal” ing people in India.Come Navarathri season, if you do not go for it, you do not exsist according to them,where Vile parle & New Jersey felt like home and they collectively owned the Reliance:).They always prepared authentic gujju food be it at home or in the dorms,the unlucky days we would have a taste of “Meggi” noodles,you are family as long as you can utter”Kem Cho” when you bump into one.Enterpreneurial skills & bargaining was born with them,infact that is their calling card apart from the wonderfully delicious food they make.This is my version of the Gujju food I learnt from my” Kem cho” friends while globe trotting & sure is comfort food for the soul.
One could use any vegetable, since I had Okras/Bhendi’s in my refrigerator sitting idle waiting for their turn I used them for this curry…what better way to bring a touch of the season into your home.
