50g/1¾oz rice flour or cornflour - cornstarch, optional
1tspred chilli powder
½tspground turmeric
1tspsalt
1tspdry-roasted cumin seeds
50ml/2 fl oz/scant ¼ cup water
50g/1¾oz okra - washed and dried completely before cutting, top, tailed and cut lengthways into 4 thin strips
250ml/9 fl oz/1 cup vegetable oil - for frying
To garnish
1tspchaat masala
½lemon
Instructions
Mix all the dry ingredients (except the okra) together in a large bowl and add the measured water or enough to make a very thick batter.
Dip all the okra into the batter and turn until it is coated. Heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. When hot, add the okra a piece at a time into the oil and cook until light golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper.
Serve hot with a sprinkling of chaat masala and a gentle squeeze of lemon juice
Notes
Recipe and images extracted from Summers Under The Tamarind Tree by Sumayya Usmani, photography by Joanna Yee. Published by Frances Lincoln (£20).
• Please note that the nutrition information provided below is approximate and meant as a guideline only.
• Unless stated otherwise cup conversions have been made with an online tool. For accuracy please check with your favoured conversion tool. We recommend buying inexpensive digital kitchen scales.