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Creamy okra, butter nut squash curry- vegan

A warm, comforting gravy with butternut squash with the crunch of okra.
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Prep Time 8 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 15 okras ,trim the stalk
  • 1/2 medium butter nut squash cubed
  • 1/2 sliced red onion
  • 1 medium tomato roughly chopped
  • 3 medium green chilies slit length wise
  • 2 cloves
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1 Tbsp cashews
  • 1 Tbsp tamarind or tamarind paste
  • 1.5 Tbsp oil
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1/2 tsp red chili powder
  • 1 tsp cumin powder
  • salt to taste
  • 2 cups water
  • cilantro for garnish
Tempering
  • 1 tsp mustard seeds
  • 3 dry red chilies
  • 1 sprig curry leaves
  • 1 tsp oil
  • 1/4 tsp hing/asafoetida optional

Equipment

  • Air fryer
  • Blender

Method
 

  1. Cut the squash, onions, tomatoes, chilies. Cut the stalks of okra.
  2. Take 1 Tbsp oil in a bowl, add red chili powder, cumin powder, turmeric powders, a pinch of salt. Mix well. Add okras into this mixture and gently coat them with the mixture.
    Air fry the okras at 385 F for 8 minutes. Keep them aside
  3. Take a pan, add 1/2 tbsp oil. And once hot, add the onions, garlic, green chilies, cashew pieces. Saute them for 2 min. Then add tomatoes, butter nut squash pieces. Add salt , mix well. Add the tamarind paste as well. Cover with lid and cook for 6-8 min until the squash is soft. Take all these cooked contents into a blender and blend into smooth paste. You can add 1 cup water if needed for a sauce like consistency.
  4. Add the blended sauce back into the pan. Add the airfried okras into the sauce. Let it simmer for 10 min. Adjust spice and salt levels as needed. Garnish with cilantro
  5. Serve hot with roti/ rice.
Tempering.
  1. In a skillet, add 1/2 tbsp oil. Once hot, add mustard seeds, dry red chilies, curry leaves, hing. It will add aromatic flavor. Pour it on the cooked curry before serving.

Notes

Fresh okras work very well. If they have been in the fridge for few day, they become little limpy by the end you turn off the stove.
Add dry mango powder instead of tamarind paste, if preferred.
You can try the same recipe with pumpkin instead of squash.