Okra Stir Fry with Chickpeas - A side Dish - Andhra Style

          Okra as a side dish is very easy to prepare as it hardly takes any time to prepare. I added some boiled chickpeas to make it more wholesome. This delicious and simple stir fry can be enjoyed with chapattis, parathas or curd-rice / sambar-rice / dal-chawal. To add some zing and to make it spicy, I added the flavourful Andhra spice - Nalla Karam Podi (Gun Powder). You can always substitute it with some sambar / rasam powder.

• 1/2 kg. okra, chopped into 1/2" thick roundels
• 1/2 cup kabuli chana (white chickpeas), boiled
• 2-3 tbsp. oil
• 1/2 tsp. mustard seeds
• 1 tsp. urad dal (split back gram)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3-4 garlic, chopped
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tsp. red chili powder
• 1 tsp. Nalla karam powder / sambar powder
• sliced onion to garnish (opt)

          Heat oil in a non-stick pan and temper with the mustard seeds. Allow it to splutter and then add the urad dal. Sauté till it changes colour.

          Now add the okra, onion, garlic, curry leaves, salt, chili powder and turmeric powder. Sauté on a low flame till it turns soft and gets cooked.

          Add the boiled chickpeas and the nalla karam podi and give it a mix. Serve as a side dish with either rice or chapattis.