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    Whisk Affair » Recipes » Dal & Curries » Veg Curries » Dahi Achari Bhindi (Okra Curry In Pickling Spices)

    Published: Jan 6, 2021 | Last Updated On: Jan 7, 2021 by Neha Mathur

    Dahi Achari Bhindi (Okra Curry In Pickling Spices)

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    Jump to Recipe

    Dahi Achari Bhindi is a tangy and spicy Indian okra curry that pairs perfectly with any Indian bread or rice. It has a special achari masala (pickling spices) added to it which gives it a very unique flavor. Here is how to make it.

    If you like bhindi, here are some more recipes that you can make for your everyday meals – Bhindi Do Pyaza, Rajasthani Besan Bhindi, Dahi Bhindi, Bharwa Bhindi, Punjabi Bhindi Masala, and Bhindi Ka Salan.

    Achari Bhindi served in a bowl.
    Jump to:
    • About This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • How To Make Achari Masala
    • How To Make Dahi Achari Bhindi
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Storage Suggestions
    • You Might Also Like
    • Recipe Card

    About This Recipe

    Dahi Achari Bhindi is a delicious and flavorful North Indian style curry recipe where bhindi (okra) is cooked in a tomato yogurt-based gravy along with achari masala spice mix.

    Achari masala (pickling spices) is a tangy spice mix that is used to make Indian pickles and it gives them a very unique taste.

    Achar is the Hindi term for Indian pickles. The Indian pickles are very different from the ones in the US. They are loaded with spices and preserved in oil. This achari bhindi recipe uses some of the spices that are used to make the pickles.

    Along with pickle masala, masala from the already made mango pickle is also added which gives it that extra flavor.

    I always make pickle masala at home. It is super easy to make and nothing beats the flavor of homemade spice mixes. Moreover, they are economical and you can be sure of the ingredients used to make them.

    Make a big batch of this spice mix so that it comes in handy whenever you plan to make this dahi achari bhindi. You can also use this masala to make achari aloo, achari chicken, achari paneer, achari gobi, or achari paneer tikka.

    Ingredients

    Achari bhindi ingredients.
    Achari bhindi ingredients 2

    You will get all the ingredients to make this dish at any Indian grocery store.

    Bhindi – Bhindi or okra is one of those vegetables that is made in every household for their everyday meals. If you are bored with your simple bhindi stir fry, you must give this recipe a try. While buying bhindi, check that they are tender and green in color with fewer seeds.

    I have seen that the okra sold at American grocery stores are thick with large seeds. They will not taste good in the curry. Try to buy them at the Indian grocery stores.

    You can also use frozen okra to make this achari bhindi sabji. Thaw them well and pat dry with a paper towel before using them.

    Achari Masala – I always make this spice mix at home. It hardly takes 20 minutes to make, can be stored for a long time, and comes in handy whenever you want to use it in the recipes.

    Mango Pickle – I also add a little Mango Pickle, which adds to its beautiful achari taste. This is optional, but I would recommend adding it.

    Spices – When it comes to everyday spices, you will need crushed coriander seeds, Kashmiri red chili powder, dry mango powder, and salt.

    While Kashmiri red chili powder adds a nice color without making it too spicy, dry mango powder adds that hint of tanginess.

    Onion, Tomato, and Yogurt – These three ingredients form the base of this curry.

    Green Chili Peppers – Reduce the chili peppers if you don’t like spicy.

    Kasuri Methi – I love the flavor Kasuri methi adds to this dish.

    Mustard Oil – Do make achari bhindi in mustard oil for the best taste. If it is not available, you can use any vegetable oil.

    In the US, mustard oil comes with a warning ‘for external use only’ but we have been using it for centuries in Indian and it has always been safe to cook with.

    How To Make Achari Masala

    Making achari masala at home is very easy and it also stores well in an airtight container in a dry and cool place for about a month. If you want to keep it for longer, then refrigerate it for about 2 months.

    Ingredients

    16-18 Kashmiri Dry Red Chillies
    2 tablespoon Coriander Seeds
    2 teaspoon Nigella Seeds
    6 tablespoon Fennel Seeds
    4 tablespoon Mustard Seeds
    1 teaspoon Fenugreek Seeds
    6 tablespoon Cumin Seeds
    4 tablespoon Salt
    1 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
    1 teaspoon Asafetida
    4 teaspoon Dry Mango Powder

    Add the whole spices to a heavy-bottomed pan and roast on medium heat till they turn slightly browned and fragrant. Once done, switch off the heat and let them come to room temperature. Add them to a grinder with salt, turmeric powder, asafetida, and dry mango powder and grind to make a coarse powder.

    Check out the detailed post to make achari masala here.

    How To Make Dahi Achari Bhindi

    Preparation

    Make the achari masala if you already don’t have it.

    Wash 1 pound (500 g) of bhindi and wipe each piece using a paper towel. Bhindi should be absolutely dry before cooking otherwise it will turn slimy. You can also wash it a day prior to cooking to avoid any moisture. Discard 0.5 inches of the tip and the round top.

    Finely chop the onions and slit the green chillies in half.

    Grate the tomatoes using the large hole of a box grater. You can also roughly crush them in a food processor or a chopper.

    Crush the whole coriander seeds using a mortar and pestle or a food processor.

    Whisk the yogurt with all-purpose flour.

    Gather the remaining ingredients.

    Make The Curry

    Heat ¼ cup mustard oil in a pan over high heat.

    Add the bhindi to the pan and fry on high heat until slightly browned (8-10 minutes). Once the bhindi turns slightly brown in color, remove it on a plate.

    Browned bhindi.

    Add the remaining (approx 2 tbsp) mustard oil to the same pan and heat over high heat.

    When the oil is hot, add 1 cup of finely chopped onions and fry until slightly browned (6-8 minutes). Keep stirring while frying.

    Onion added to the pan with hot oil.

    Now add 2 teaspoon ginger garlic paste and fry until onions turns nicely brown (6-8 minutes).

    Ginger garlic paste added to the pan.

    Add ½ cup grated tomatoes and 2-3 green chili peppers (slit into half) and cook for 3-4 minutes.

    Tomatoes and green chilies added to the pan.

    Now add ½ cup plain yogurt whisked with 1 tablespoon all-purpose and cook for 30-40 seconds. Adding some flour to the yogurt makes sure it doesn’t curdle while cooking. It also makes the gravy creamier.

    Yogurt whisked with flour added to the pan.

    Add 2 tablespoon achari masala, 2 teaspoon crushed coriander seeds, 2 teaspoon Kashmiri red chilli powder, 2 teaspoon dry mango powder, and 1 teaspoon salt and fry until oil starts to separate from the sides of the pan (1-2 minutes).

    Spice powders added to the pan.

    Add 1 cup of water and bring the curry to a boil.

    Water added to the pan.

    Now add the fried bhindi and cook for 4-5 minutes.

    Fried bhindi added to the pan.

    Add 2 tablespoon mango pickle masala with oil, 2 tablespoon Kasuri methi, and 1 teaspoon lime juice (optional) and mix well.

    Check for salt and add more if required.

    Mango pickle and kasuri methi added to the pan.

    Serve hot.

    Ready achari bhindi.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How to crush coriander seeds?

    I add a handful of whole coriander seeds to a grinder and pulse a few times until they are crushed and a coarse powder is made. You can also crush them using a mortar and pestle.

    Can we use any other pickle instead of mango pickle?

    Mango pickle tastes the best when added to these curries because of their spicy tangy taste. You can try using other variations like lime or green chili pickle.

    How to make vegan achari bhindi?

    Replace plain yogurt with any plant-based yogurt to make it vegan.

    How to make gluten-free achari bhindi?

    There is asafetida (hing) added in most pickles. Check the mango pickle masala that you are using for hing or skip adding it. The rest of the ingredients are gluten-free.

    Serving Suggestions

    It is a very versatile dish and tastes great with any kind of Indian bread, be it a Phulka, Tandoori Roti, Tawa Paratha, Lachha Paratha, Missi Roti, or a Thepla.

    You can also serve it along with steamed rice, raita, and a salad of your choice for a simple weekday meal.

    If you are making a festive meal, I would suggest you serve this achari bhindi along with dal makhani/dal tadka, boondi raita, peas pulao, phulka, and kachumber salad.

    Storage Suggestions

    I would recommend you to make achari dahi bhindi fresh, but if you if have leftovers, just store them for about a day or two in an airtight container in the refrigerator. As it has yogurt, it doesn’t last for long.

    You Might Also Like

    • Palak Paneer Bhurji (Scrambled Cottage Cheese With Spinach)
    • Aloo Matar
    • Bhindi Bhaji
    • Malai Kofta

    Do check out my other vegetarian curries recipes that are super easy to make as well.

    Recipe Card

    Loved this recipe?Click here to leave a review and give us a five star rating ★★★★★
    Achari bhindi is a tangy and spicy Indian okra curry that pairs perfectly with any Indian bread or rice. It has a special achari masala (pickle masala) added to it which gives it a very unique flavor. Here is how to make it.

    Dahi Achari Bhindi Recipe (Okra Curry In Pickling Spices)

    Dahi Achari bhindi is a tangy and spicy Indian okra curry that pairs perfectly with any Indian bread or rice. It has a special achari masala (picklling spices) added to it which gives it a very unique flavor. Here is how to make it.
    4.67 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 6 people
    Calories: 194kcal
    Author: Neha Mathur

    Ingredients 

    • ⅔ cup mustard oil (divided, or any other oil)
    • 1 pound okra (bhindi) (500 g)
    • 1 cup finely chopped onions
    • 2 teaspoons ginger garlic paste
    • ½ cup grated fresh tomatoes
    • 2-3 green chili peppers (slit into half)
    • ½ cup plain yogurt (whisked with 1 tablespoon all purpose flour)
    • 2 tablespoons achari masala (the recipe is in the notes)
    • 2 teaspoons crushed coriander seeds
    • 2 teaspoons Kashmiri red chili powder
    • 2 teaspoons dry mango powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
    • 2 tablespoons mango pickle masala
    • 2 tablespoons Kasuri methi
    • 1 teaspoon lime juice (optional)
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    Instructions

    • Wash the okra well with water and wipe each of them using a kitchen cloth. Cut the top and ½ inch of the tip. Set aside.
    • Heat ¼ cup mustard oil in a pan over high heat.
    • Add the bhindi to the pan and fry on high heat until slightly browned (8-10 minutes). Remove it on a plate.
    • Add the remaining mustard oil to the same pan and heat it over medium-high heat.
    • When the oil is hot, add onions to the pan and fry until slightly browned (6-8 minutes). Keep stirring while frying.
    • Now add ginger garlic paste and fry until onions turn nicely brown (6-8 minutes).
    • Add tomatoes and green chili peppers and cook for 3-4 minutes.
    • Now add yogurt whisked with all-purpose and cook for 30-40 seconds. Adding some flour to the yogurt makes sure it doesn’t curdle while cooking. It also makes the gravy creamier.
    • Add achari masala, crushed coriander seeds, Kashmiri red chili powder, dry mango powder, and salt and fry until oil starts to separate from the sides of the pan (1-2 minutes).
    • Add 1 cup of water and bring the curry to a boil.
    • Now add the fried bhindi and cook for 4-5 minutes.
    • Add mango pickle masala with oil, Kasuri methi, and lime juice (optional) and mix well.
    • Check for salt and add more if required.
    • Serve hot.

    Video

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csJ5onk2JAk

    Notes

    Always wash the okra and wipe them well before chopping.
    You can skip adding lime juice if the curry is already too tangy for you.
    Do make this recipe in mustard oil for the best taste. If it is not available, you can use any vegetable oil.
    Achari Masala Recipe
    Making achari masala at home is very easy and it also stores well in an airtight container in a dry and cool place for about a month. If you want to keep it for longer, then refrigerate it for about 2 months.
    Ingredients
    16-18 Kashmiri Dry Red Chillies
    2 tablespoon Coriander Seeds
    2 teaspoon Onion Seeds
    6 tablespoon Fennel Seeds
    4 tablespoon Mustard Seeds
    1 teaspoon Fenugreek Seeds
    6 tablespoon Cumin Seeds
    4 tablespoon Salt
    1 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
    1 teaspoon Asafoetida
    4 teaspoon Dry Mango Powder
    Add the whole spices to a heavy-bottomed pan and roast on medium heat till they turn slightly browned and fragrant. Once done, switch off the heat and let them come to room temperature. Add them to a grinder with salt, turmeric powder, asafetida, and dry mango powder and grind to make a coarse powder.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 194kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 80mg | Potassium: 392mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 929IU | Vitamin C: 26mg | Calcium: 119mg | Iron: 1mg
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