Vendakka Puli / Okra/Ladies Finger Tamarind Curry - Kerala - Palakkad Style

Ingredients :
Lady`s finger/Okra/Vendakka :15-20nos
Onion :1no (medium,finely chopped)
Tomato :1no (medium finely chopped)
Tamarind/Puli :a lemon sized ball or 1tbsp pulp
Turmeric Powder :1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
Oil for frying

For Grinding:
Grated coconut :1/2 cup
Onion : 3tbsp pieces(optional)
Coriander Powder :1tbsp
Dry Red Chillies/Kollamulaku :5nos

For Seasoning:
Oil - 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds :1tsp
Shallots/Small onions/Kunjulli :3 - 4 nos(finely chopped)
Garlic :2 cloves (finely chopped)
Fenugreek seeds/Uluva :1tsp
Curry leaves :few

Method of Preparation :
1.Chop the ladies finger/okra/vendakka diagonally and keep it aside.
2.Soak tamarind in hot water. Squeeze out the extract or dilute the pulp in 1 cup warm water & keep aside.
3.Grind coconut,onion pieces coriander powder and red chillies to a fine paste.
4.Heat little oil in the pan and add the chopped ladies finger/okra/vendakka pieces into the hot oil and fry for 5 mins or until the stickiness disappears.
5.Add the chopped onion and tomatoes and saute until they turns to translucent.
6.Pour the tamarind extract and 1 glass water and turmeric powder in the pan and let it cook until the vegetable is cooked.
7.Add the ground coconut mixture,salt and let it boil for 5 mins.
8.Heat oil in another small frying pan; Splutter mustard seeds and fenugreek seeds.
9.Fry the onion & garlic pieces till golden brown and saute curry leaves.
10.Pour this seasoned mixture into the ladies finger curry.

Note: Adjust the curry consistency to your needs by adding or reducing water.