What is Lady Fingers / Bhindi?
Also called lady fingers, Bhindi is a vegetable that is a part of the okra family. It is a green, cylindrical vegetable that is about 12-15 cm long. Bhindi is one of the most popular vegetables in India. Bhindi is also known by some other names like Okra, Bendakaya or Loki.
Where did Bhindi come from?
Bhindi belongs to the Moringaceae family of plants which are native to America and Asia. It was first introduced in India during the Mughal period. The vegetable has health benefits for us as it contains iron, potassium, magnesium, copper and manganese. It is said that ladies who eat lots of bhindi will have beautiful skin .
There are many different varieties of bhindi available today which differ in their color and shape; these include green bhindi (the most common variety), brown bhindi (which is slightly bigger than the green one) and red bhindis (which have a pinkish color).
How to use Bhindi for your day to day meals?
Look out for quality while buying Bhindi
Adulteration of food is a very big problem in India. There are many different types of food that are often adulterated, but one of the most common is bhindi. Bhindi is a vegetable that is very popular in India, but there have been many cases of it being adulterated with harmful chemicals.
One of the most common chemicals that is used to adulterate bhindi is formalin. Formalin is a chemical that is used to preserve dead bodies, and it is extremely harmful to our health. It can cause cancer, respiratory problems, and many other health issues.
Another chemical that is often used to adulterate bhindi is methanol. Methanol is a poisonous chemical that can cause blindness and even death. It is never used to preserve vegetables, but often bhindi is preserved with methanol.
How to store Bhindi / Lady fingers?
Bhindi / lady fingers has a long shelf life and can be stored for about two weeks at room temperature. It needs to be stored in perforated containers or plastic bags to allow the air to circulate around it. We should make sure not to store Bhindi near potatoes as this will cause them both go bad sooner.
The vegetable can also be wrapped in newspaper before storing it; however, this is only recommended for short-term storage (2-3 days) as newspaper tends to draw out moisture.
How to cook with Bhindi / Okra ?
There are many ways you can use bhindis in cooking like making bhindi masala (bhindi cooked with spices), stir frying bhindi or mixing bhindi with potatoes to make bhindi aloo .
You should know that while eating bhindis, the juice can cause your fingers to become sticky. This is why you should always wash your hands thoroughly after handling it. Another way of avoiding this stickiness is by using rubber gloves when peeling or slicing the vegetable.
What is Organic Bhindi?
Organic bhindi is a type of bhindi that is grown without the use of any harmful chemicals. It is grown using organic farming methods, which means that no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides are used.
Organic bhindi is healthier than regular bhindi as it does not contain any harmful chemicals. It is also more nutritious as it contains more vitamins and minerals. Organic bhindi also tastes better than regular bhindi as it has a fresher flavor.
Organic bhindi is available in many different stores these days. You can also buy it online from various websites. If you want to try organic bhindi, you’ve come to the right place! At The Farmers’ Store we stock fresh organic Bhindi thrice a week. Check out our online store or Download our IOS and Android App and get only the purest, most wholesome produce from across the country delivered your doorstep in Mumbai!
Here are two recipe’s you can use to make Bhindi (lady fingers);
Bhindi Masala Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1/4 teaspoon asafoetida powder
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3-4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 inch ginger, chopped
- 500 grams bhindi (ladies finger), washed and dried well
- Salt to taste
Method:
- 1. Heat the oil in a pan. Add the cumin seeds and fry until they crackle. Add the asafoetidapowder, turmeric powder, red chili powder and garam masala powder and fry for a few seconds.
- 2. Add the onions, garlic and ginger. Saute until the onions turn translucent.
- 3. Add the bhindi and salt to taste. Mix well so that the spices cover the bhindi evenly.
- 4. Cover with a lid and cook on medium heat for 5 minutes or until done, stirring occasionally to keep it from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Serve hot with roti or rice .
Bhindi Recipe – Bhindi Aloo
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes
- 500 grams bhindi (ladies finger), washed thoroughly and dried well
- 1 onion, chopped finely
- Salt to taste
- Turmeric powder to taste
- Chili powder to taste
Method:
- 1. Heat the oil in a pan. Add the cumin seeds and fry until they crackle.
- 2. Add the onions, garlic and ginger. Saute until the onions turn translucent.
- 3. Add the bhindi , salt, turmeric powder and chili powder . Mix well
