Gardening Woes
If you are a gardener, you will know the boon and bane of gardening: plenty of one thing, and not enough of another. This year, my bell peppers failed me miserably. I did the same thing that I do every single year. Starting with bed preparation, to adding nutrients, to sowing seeds, to planting saplings. The plants were healthy, tall and had plenty of flowers. However, the end result did not happen. I did not see a single flower come to fruit. I fertilized, I tended them with loving care. Nothing. Finally, in frustration, I declared that I was done with peppers. Well, let’s wait until the next season to see if I suffer from gardening amnesia.
Okra Galore
Single day Okra harvest!
You win some and you lose some. One of this year’s winners was certain okra. We just planted about 6 plants and the bounty was plentiful. In the past, I used to clean, cut and freeze my okra for use in the winter.
This year, a new “guest” entered my kitchen. It was an Air Fryer. A gift from a dear friends Anita and Prabhakar in CA, it had been lying dormant in my pantry during the winter months. When the okras started inundating my kitchen, and when Covid-cravings hit our bellies, out came the air fryer. And from it, came this deliciously crispy okra snack.
There’s a lot more you can do than just make these Air Fryer Okra. I’ve been using my air fryer for a ton of things. From warming up home-made sourdough bread, to heating up a veggie patties, this little device, surprisingly, has been quite handy to have around. No more deep frying. No more guilt or messy clean ups either.
Masala Okra
Okra & Air Fryer Recipes
If you love okra as much as we do, try out our favorites:
We’ve slowly started experimenting with our air fryer. Here are a few recipes you will love (hope to add more soon!):
- Crispy, Delicious, Banana Nuggets
- Cabbage Wada: Savory Cabbage Lentil Bites
- Crispy Air Fryer Tofu & Tofu Pakoda
- Air Fryer Masala Wada
Okra (lady’s finger or bhindi) is filled with folic acid, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin K, calcium, fiber, potassium, antioxidants, and vital phytonutrients. Okra is a great source of fiber and helps in improving insulin sensitivity. Did you know that okra has a protein called lectin which is linked with fighting breast cancer? Now, any reason why you choose not to include this lil green veggie into your diet?!
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Crispy Air-Fried Masala Okra
Ingredients
- 4 Cups Okra - Cut into 1/4" circles
- 1 Tablespoon Avocado Oil - Or use a spray bottle
- 1/2 Teaspoon Garam Masala - Make your own!
- 1/2 Teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt - Vary to taste
- 1/4 Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
Instructions
- Clean okra and pat dry with a dry towel. Remove the top crown and cut into 1/4 inch round slices. Add to bowl.
- Add avocado oil and turmeric powder, Mix well so the okra pieces are lightly coated.
- Place the okra in the air fryer. Set air fryer to 320F for 15 mins. Every 5 mins, open the air fryer and toss the okra.
- After 15 mins, add salt, turmeric powder and garam masala and mix well. Turn the air fryer back on at 320F for another 15 mins. Open every 5 mins and toss the contents. Air fryers vary, so keep a close eye to make sure the okra does not burn.
- Serve hot!
