Went to the Asian grocery, found okra and tomatoes on sale. Then went to another stall; eggs and bitter gourd are on sale. Glad to have some vegetables and eggs. Craving a spicy dish, I decided to make okra and tomatoes in spicy sauce again. To go with it, I am making fried bitter gourd with eggs.
Google: “Okra is a fruit, though it is eaten as a vegetable. The light green seed pods are cooked whole or sliced, so preparation is extremely easy, and it can be cooked in so many ways. However, choosing the right cooking method, such as frying, grilling, sautéeing, and pan-roasting, can reduce or prevent it from becoming slimy. Okra is a good source of essential nutrients, including folate, vitamins C and K, magnesium, and fiber. Okra’s antioxidants, like vitamin C, can help boost the immune system and protect against infections. Okra is low in calories and high in fiber, making it a good option for weight management. Okra’s antioxidants and fiber can contribute to heart health by reducing inflammation and improving cholesterol levels. Okra contains vitamin A, which is important for skin health and can help prevent acne and reduce the appearance of blemishes.”
Google: “Tomato, (Solanum lycopersicum), flowering plant of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), cultivated extensively for its edible fruits. Labelled as a vegetable for nutritional purposes, tomatoes are a good source of vitamin C and the phytochemical lycopene. The fruits are commonly eaten raw in salads, served as a cooked vegetable, used as an ingredient of various prepared dishes, and pickled. Tomatoes are juicy and sweet, full of antioxidants, and may help fight several diseases. They are especially high in lycopene, a plant compound linked to improved heart health, cancer prevention, and protection against sunburns. Tomatoes can be a valuable part of a healthy diet.”
“Bitter gourd is a rich source of vitamins and minerals. It contains iron, magnesium, potassium and vitamins like A and C. It contains twice the calcium of spinach and beta-carotene of broccoli. Various anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds are present in bitter gourd.”
Got my spicy dish and I’m glad that my meal is healthy and delicious. Let’s cook!!
Ingredients
Bitter gourd egg
1 bitter gourd, cut lengthwise, remove seeds with spoon
3 eggs
1 Tbs garlic minced
salt
pepper
oil
Okra, tomato in spicy sauce
15-20 okra or lady’s fingers
1-2 plum tomatoes
1 Tbs minced garlic
1 Tbs lemon juice
2 Tsp chili powder
1-2 Tsp cayenne powder
1/2-3/4 c vegetables stock or water
oil
salt
pepper
garlic onion chili sauce
Method
Bitter gourd egg
Slice bitter gourd at a diagonal slice. Put in a bowl and scatter about 1 Tsp salt over it. Mix well and let’s sit for about 20 minutes. After that rinse, squeeze out water and run under the tap to wash the bitterness. Drain well on paper towel. Crack eggs into a bowl and beat the eggs. Set aside. Heat oil in pan over medium heat. Add bitter gourd and fry for about 4 minutes until lightly brown.
Pour the beaten egg over it. Season with salt and pepper. When the eggs start to cook, break them up and stir. Now stir and flip until the bitter gourd and eggs are cooked for about 4-6 minutes. Remove from the pan and plate up. Set aside.
Okra, tomato in spicy sauce
Trim off and discard the stem ends from the okra and cut diagonally into 1/4- to 1/2-inch slices. Set the prepared okra aside. Cut the tomatoes into bite-size pieces, set aside.
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over high heat. Once the oil is hot, add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add chili powder, and cayenne, if using, and cook, stirring as the spices sizzle, another 30 seconds.
Add okra and stir to coat the pieces with the garlic spice mixture. Then tomatoes, and any juices they’ve released, salt, 3 Tbs garlic onion chili sauce and 1/2 c vegetables stock; I needed more sauce so I added another 1/4 c. Stir to combine everything and then cover. Reduce the heat to maintain a steady simmer. Cook until the okra is tender and the flavours are well blended, 5 to 10 minutes.
Stir in lemon juice and check seasoning; if needed a bit more salt and pepper. Removed from hob. Serve the okra, tomato in spicy sauce, and bitter gourd egg with rice. Enjoy with a glass of red wine!!!
Note: You can add more okra if you wanted to. You can omit cayenne powder and chili powder. You can add cumin powder or onion: sliced thinly. You can add 2-3 lemongrass stalks, the green parts only: pound slightly to bruise it. They are expensive I didn’t get them.
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