Priya has been a very enthusiastic participant in all my egg substitute events month after month. I think she has sent at least 30 entries so far. I can never match her contribution but I wanted to send at least one or two for her events.
This month she is hosting the Microwave Easy Cooking - Snack event. I really don't use the microwave oven that much. I heat water and I cook papads in it because we don't deep fry it. Initially the microwaved papads didn't suit my taste (being so used to the deep fried ones) but now have got used to it. Another little trick is I spray the appalam or the finger chips using non stick spray and then cook it for a minute in the microwave oven. This tastes really good.
I didn't know what to send for her event. Then only I remembered my mom preparing okra (ladies' finger in India) fries in the microwave oven. The original recipe is my grandmother's but she deep fries it in oil. So I decided to prepare my mom's version. I have done it with tindora (kovakkai) but not okra.
The only difficult part in this recipe is cutting the okra. You would have to cut a big batch of okra because when cooked the yield is very little. My son was relishing these fries like he would devour potato chips. It's irresistible for adults as well. I prepared this as side dish for our lunch but we snacked so much that we didn't have much to have with rice.
One disclaimer though, I don't know much about microwave oven settings. The time I have given is based on my oven. So try with small increments of time with the first batch, stir it in between and proceed further. Also note that I used 2 pounds of okra, but the measurement is given only for one batch. So use seasonings accordingly.
Who doesn't like tasty yet fat free and crunchy snacks? If you are one, then you should try this roasted chick peas recipe too the next time. You won't be disappointed.
Recipe
Fat Free Okra Fries
Ingredients
- 1 and ½ cups Okra Slit Lengthwise And Then Cut Into 1 Inch Pieces
- A Pinch Turmeric Powder
- ½ teaspoon Red Chili Powder or per taste
- A Pinch Salt or per taste
- ½ tablespoon Chickpeas flour Besan flour
- ½ - 1 tablespoon Rice Flour
- 1 - 2 teaspoons Oil (optional)
Instructions
- Wash and dry the okra. Discard the top and bottom of the okra. Cut it lengthwise. Again split each half lengthwise. So you would have 4 finger like pieces. If the okra is big cut the pieces half midway (so 8 pieces from each okra) or use it as it is.
- Transfer the okra pieces to a bowl. Add oil (if using) or sprinkle very little water so that the seasonings would stick to the okra.
- Then add all the other ingredients and mix it thoroughly with your hand.
- Make sure the plate in the microwave is clean and place the seasoned okra on it directly.
- First I set the time for 5 minutes. Stirred it and cooked it for another 2 minutes. Be careful while stirring because the plate will be hot. Microwave oven settings vary, so chose the time considering the type of oven you are using.
- From then on I increased the time by 30 seconds each time until I got the crispy texture. Don't forget to stir after every 30 seconds. I did like this thrice. Be alert or else it would get burnt.
- Taste it after a standing time of 1 minute. You would be floored by the crispiness. Repeat the same for rest of the okra.
My Notes
- First I did it with oil and then tried it with water. Both taste the same if consumed immediately, but the one with water becomes a little chewy after a while.
- I resisted my temptation to chow down everything to see how it fares after sometime. It stays crisp at least for 2 hours but becomes chewy later.
Nutrition
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Vrinda mahi says
I lov okra, looks crispy and dry...yum
Malar Gandhi says
Good variation, sounds lot healthy to me.
Laavanya says
That's really cool and I've gotten used to MW vadaams & appalams too and only make them that way. Thanks for the tip about the oven for cooking Papads - comment from Lakshmi. Need to try that - what temp. do you typically use? Thanks.
Laavanya you can bake it at 350-400F. Actually whenever the oven is on after baking something I bake the papads/finger chips etc using the same temperature. It may take around 5-8 minutes depending on the temp. Just keep an eye on the oven so that it does not brown or burn. But this works for only certain types of papads. I tried few vadams but it did not come out well. But the finger chips you get in Indian stores puffs up beautifully and evenly.
Lakshmi Venkatesh says
Okra fry looks very nice. I also like you don't much like the microwave cooked papads/appalams. but for me the oven works better in taste. the papads/appalams come out super in the oven. for vathals a bit of oil spray gives a better spray.
That's true Lakshmi. Whenever the oven is on I bake papads in it only. It fries evenly and better than in the microwave oven.
Cham says
I am gonna try this one sounds super cool this recipe Madhu 😆
Siri says
The okra fries look so good Madhu. 😀 😀 - just like the ones I had once in an Indian restaurant in Raleigh. will try it for sure as they are my favorite of all. 😆
Cheers,
Siri
Nags says
We are not okra lovers and though there was a burst of okra recipes on my blog in between, it slowly died down. but really, thanks for the non stick oil spray on MW papads. Dying to try that!
A&N says
They look so crisp! Should try this sometime?
DivyA Vikram says
When I read the title fatfree I thought u must have baked these. But this sounds so simple using mW!
mahimaa says
yum yum okras.. i can eat them even everyday, that much i love okra... looks very good madhu.
Sumathi says
I love okra and this is the only version DH would eat.. I usually do it on stove top..But next time will try it in microwave.. The Okras looks really crispy..
Priya Sriram says
Hi Madhu, I donno about others, but I love okra like anything, Sriram thinks its weird.. hee hee...
Love your diff version of okra fry.. will def. give it a try as I have a bunch of them in my fridge... 🙂 Thanks for the wonderful recipe as always!
Cilantro says
My daughters favorite...she would love them Madhu, I use the Microwave only for reheating and rarely use them for making any dishes. Should give this a try.
Ashwini says
Wow that looks so crispy and yum..Nice munch.
Deesha says
Wow these look gorgeous, I have only made baked potato fries, this is definitely on my list ..
Happy Cook says
Wow crunch crunch yumm.
🙂 🙂
Pallavi says
Wow.. I deep fry these.. and using microwave seems like a nice easy option. Like you, I dont use the microwave for cooking much.. This may be a good one for me to try. Thanks ! This is awesome.. !
jayasree says
Okra looks very crispy. So its almost the same way we make masala peanuts in MW. But never thought of okra. Thanks for the notes too.
Asha says
Looks great. I am using MW more now too, but mostly with gravy dishes. Never tried Okra, looks crispy and yummy. Good one! :))
I will post for you next week at FH, have photos but still need to type in recipes.
Sweatha says
Love it Madhu,I too love okra fries.The microwave makes it much easier,thgh timings may vary as you have said.Thanks for the notes as well.They give the correct picture.I am planning to catchup on your older posts that I have missed.