Crispy Bhindhi

1. Wash the bhindi / okra, and then drying it completely. Place it in a colander, and then use a kitchen towel to dry the bhindi / okra. Never wash bhindi / okra after cutting it, as it can turn into a slimy mess. Cut the bhindi / okra on the thicker side

2. Place the sliced bhindi / okra in a large bowl, and then add crushed coriander seeds, pomegranate seeds, red chili flakes, red chili powder and salt. Also add the oil and mix well.

Stovetop Instructions:
1. To make crispy bhindi on the stovetop, slice the bhindi / okra as you normally would – not too thick, and not too thin.
2. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a frying pan, or shallow karahi / wok. Add the bhindi / okra and let it cook on medium heat for a few minutes. Turn heat to low, and partially cover the bhindi / okra with a lid for a few minutes. Once the bhindi / okra is soft enough, take off the lid and turn heat to medium.
3. Add the spices along with another 1 - 2 tablespoons of oil and fry the bhindi / okra till it is crispy. Reduce the spices by about 20% when making it on the stove versus the air fryer. This is because on the stove, the spices don’t fall through the basket.
4. When making crispy bhindi on the stove, regulating the temperature is super important. The bhindi / okra must be cooked through, but also crispy at the same time. Also, if you don’t have a large enough pan shallow fry the bhindi / okra in batches.

3. Pre-heat an air fryer at 120 C. Place the spiced and sliced bhindi / okra in the pre-heated air fryer. Air fry for about 45 minutes at 120 C till the bhindi / okra is crispy and brown from the outside. Toss the air fryer basket every 10 – 15 minutes to ensure the bhindi / okra is evenly cooked. Don’t overflow the air fryer basket, else the bhindi / okra won’t cook evenly. Fry the bhindi / okra in batches if the basket is small.
4. Once the bhindi / okra is crispy and brown from outside, place it in a serving dish. Add chaat masala, along with lemon juice. Toss it through, and taste. If necessary, add extra salt and spice.

Serve right away with naan / paratha or daal chawal.
5. The crispy bhindi / okra can be re-heated in the air fryer.