Besan Bhindi/Besan wali Bhindi

Besan Bhindi/Besan wali Bhindi spicy masala bhindi/okra recipe in Indian flavors with chickpea flour and Indian spices.

No Onion No Garlic Bhindi recipe with besan or gram flour/chickpea flour, serve as side with your main meals.

Easy and quick to make Besan Bhindi/Besan wali Masala Bhindi, relished with rotis parathas or pooris.

Bhindi/Okra/Lady's Finger

Bhindi or Okra aka Lady's Finger as it is popularly known in India, is one of the most commonly made and a favorite vegetable among all the age groups. Kids especially eat this vegetable with chapatis or paranthas without any fuss and love to take this for there school lunch.

Bhindi/Okra is a very versatile veggie and it is cooked in many versions and ways depending on the region and state. In North Indian states of U.P and Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana, it commonly cooked with onion and Indian spices like coriander powder, fennel and cumin seeds, red chilli powder.

Many people down Southern and Western, states make in yogurt based gravy or in peanut and coconut masala and some stir fry it with curry leaves and spices. Whatever way it prepared, it a part of everyday meals and festive menus.

About the recipe

Besan Bhindi or Besanwali Bhindi recipe is an easy and quick version of Bharwan Bhindi/Stuffed Bhindi, where spices are mixed with besan or chickpea flour(gram flour) and stuffed in vegetable through slits made in bhindi and then the vegetable is cooked in oil.

My naani used to cook masala bhindi this way many times. Bhindi is my favorite vegetable right from my childhood days and I loved having it with hot ghee chapatis and chilled meethi dahi(sweet yogurt).

What is Besan Bhindi

Besan Bhindi is a quick and easy version comes handy for busy mornings or preparing and elaborate meal for parties and get-togethers.

Bhindi is cut into half and cooked with besan and spices instead of stuffing the masala in the vegetable. This saves time which saves time while preparing for a big crowd. The taste and the texture of bhindi is just like the stuffed bhindi or bharwan bhindi. We call it 'Lipta hua' well coated masala in Western U.P dialect.

Cooking Bhindi can get tricky as many people complain of the stickiness in the vegetable. It is due to a slime like substance that makes bhindi sticky and spoils the texture of cooked vegetable.

Few pointers for non sticky and perfect Besan Bhindi

• Select soft bhindis, thick bhindis are over ripe and have lot of seeds which spoil the taste of vegetable.
• Wash Bhindi properly in running water. Pat dry with a kitchen towel or paper tissue.
• While cooking, if the vegetable starts getting very sticky or there is lot of slime in it, this trick by my mom always a saver.. squeeze some lemon juice in bhindi, and the cook as per the process till the vegetable is cooked.
• After adding oil with spices, cook it in open pan for 2-3 minutes, then close the lid so that it gets cooked well. Then, again when before switching off the gas saute it in open pan on medium flame taking care not to burn it.

Ingredients to make Besan Bhindi

Bhindi/Okra or Lady' Finger- To make Besan wali Masala Bhindi, use properly dried fresh bhindi or okra. Besan or Chickpeas flour and powdered spices for Masala Bhindi.

Spices-

Powdered Spices- Coriander Powder(dhaniya), Fennel Powder(Saunf Powder), Red Chilli Powder, Dry Mango Powder(Amchur) and Turmeric Powder.

Whole Spices- Cumin seeds(jeera), Fennel seeds(saunf) and Asafetida(hing). Those with Gluten allergies can skip hing or use gluten-free hing.

Oil- In North India, people use Mustard oil to cook most of the dry vegetables. Use of oil differs from region to to region. Like, in Southern states of India people use Coconut oil and in Western India, peanut oil. Northeastern and Eastern parts of India most people use Mustard oil but it varies as per one's preferences.

Use any other oil like rice bran, corn oil or olive oil if you don't want to use mustard oil.

How to make Besan Bhindi/Besan wali Masala Bhindi

1. Wash bhindi and pat dry it dry on a kitchen towel or paper tissues. Cut both the ends of Bhindi, the head and the tip of tail.
2. Lengthwise cut bhindi into half and if it is very long you can again halve the pieces.
3. In a bowl, mix all the powdered dry spices and besan.
4. Heat oil in a pan (heavy bottomed or non-stick), add hing(optional), cumin seeds and ajwain/caraway seeds.
5. Once the seeds crackle add besan mix and roast for a 1-2 minutes on low flame.
6. Add cut bhindi to masala, mix nicely so that msala coats all the pieces.
7. Now, add amchur or dry mango powder and salt. In case you do not have dry mango powder add 1-2 tbsp of lemon juice. Cook in for few minutes in open pan, after that cover it with lid.
8. Cook till bhindi is till it is on the crispy side. Keep the flame low and keep on lightly stirring the vegetable so that it doesn't burn.
9. Before switching off the flame, take off the lid add kadhai masala(optional) and cook the vegetable for another 2 minutes.
10. Switch off the flame and transfer masala bhindi to serving bowl.

Stepwise pics on how to make Besan Bhindi

Serving Suggestions

Do make this spicy bhindi vegetable and relish with fresh chapatis or paratha. Since masala bhindi is made with dry spices with no water and onion or tomato, it stays longer and can be carried taken as travel food with parathas(Tikadia), Ajwain Paratha or pooris.

You can also make it during the festivals when you abstain from from no-onion no-garlic food. One of the best side dishes with Dal Chawal or any other lentil with chapatis. Spice level(red chilli powder) can be adjusted as per one's preference and heat tolerance.

Do try this Masala Bhindi and serve for your meals. This is a perfect lunchbox recipe and side to serve at parties with Dal Tadka, Chole or Matar Paneer.

Other dry veggie recipes or subzis (Indian Side Dishes) for everyday meal from the blog

Gajar Aloo Methi Ki Subzi, Baigan Ka Bharta, Karele Ki subzi, Ivy Gourd Stir Fry/Tindora Subzi, Aloo Gobhi Masala, Gobhi Matar ka Kheema, Khatte Meethe Baigan, Gawar Phali ki Sabzi, Beans Poriyal, Swiss Chard Potatoes, Kathal Ki Subzi, Shalgam ki Subzi, Mooli Ke Patte Ki Bhurji, Matar ki Ghugni and many more

Frequently asked questions

Related Bhindi/Okra recipe from the blog

Recipe Card for Besan wali Masala Bhindi

Do try this Besan Bhindi recipe and let me know your feedback. I am sure you and your family will surely love this easy and quick bhindi recipe.

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Also, whenever you try the recipe, I will love to hear/share your feedback or any queries in the comment section below. I will try to answer your queries as soon as possible.

A small request, please rate the recipe as per your experience or feedback. Your feedback and ratings help my site in more google visibility and higher google ratings.

Say Hello!! and visit my social media accounts.. FB, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and You-Tube.

If you like my work, then add you mail id in the box below and HIT the SUBSCRIBE button to get notifications on new posts and share the blog with your loved ones.

Thanks for stopping by!! Keep coming back!!

Swati