Wash the bhindi/okra and pat dry them with a towel. Let it air-dry overnight, if possible.[See note]
Cut the bhindi to the desired size.
Heat the oil in a medium-sized kadhai or wok on medium heat and add mustard seeds to it.
When they start spluttering add kadipatta to it. Let it fry for around 20 seconds and then add onions, garlic, salt, and turmeric powder and fry them till the onions are translucent.
Add cumin and coriander powder to the onions and let it fry for about 30 seconds.
Add tomatoes along with chili powder and fry them till they have softened a bit (approximately 5 minutes).
Add the chopped bhindi and mix well.
Lower the heat to medium-low and cover the wok.
After 5 minutes, open the lid and stir. Cover the lid again and cook for another 5 minutes.
[Optional step] Stir in freshly squeezed lime juice and finely chopped cilantro.
Serve with warm rotis or dal and rice.
Notes
Variations
You can replace the lime juice with 1/2 a teaspoon of dry mango powder (amchur powder).
Instead of using cumin, coriander, and chili powder, you can replace it with Kundapur masala.
To make Punjabi bhindi masala, skip the mustard seeds and kadipatta (curry leaves). Use a teaspoon of cumin seeds instead of mustard seeds for tempering.
Instructions to keep okra from getting slimy
After rinsing the okra, dry it completely. Here are the steps to follow
Rinse the okra under running water to remove any dirt or grime. I do it one by one to make sure every single one of them is dirt-free.
Use a clean cloth or paper towel and pat it dry.
Spread it over a clean plate to air-dry them. For best results, air-dry them overnight.
Also, do not add water while cooking.
Last but not the least, when you uncover the lid during the cooking process, ensure that water droplets from the lid don't fall on the bhindi.