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    Home » Recipes » Bengali Cuisine

    Cheena Badam Bhendi

    April 10, 2023 by Kankana Saxena

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Cheena Badam Bhendi / Okra with Peanuts is a unique, Bengali dish, my Grandma used to prepare a lot. Cheena Badam is Peanut and Bhendi is Okra. It's one of those one ingredient dish where you don't need any complimentary vegetables to go along. It is quick and a great for weeknight meal.

    Cheena Badam Bhendi - Okra with peanuts

    Okra with Peanuts

    This Bengali style okra with peanuts has two key ingredients, okra and peanuts. It’s a very mildly spiced dish, and you don’t want any other flavors to overpower the taste of peanuts. Also, toss around the okra gently, so you don’t mush it up. The idea is to create a golden peanut crust on the sliced okras.

    What is Cheena Badam?

    While badam in Hindi refers to only almond, Bengalis classify every variety of nuts as badam. Kaju Badam is cashew, Kaath Badam is almond, Cheena badam is peanut and hence the name of the dish. Cheena Badam Bhendi (Bengali Style Okra with Peanuts) is an easy to prepare side with very minimal ingredients, and it tastes delicious.

    Okra

    Ingredients you need to prepare Okra with Peanuts

    Okra - Look for tender, bright green okra. The end of the okra should trim easily when you try to bend with your hand.

    Peanuts - I like to roast the peanuts and remove the skin, as the skin sometimes can taste a little bitter. If you find skinless roasted peanuts, you can save time and use that straight away in the dish.

    Nigela Seeds - Nigela seeds known as Kalojeera in Bengali is a very common spice used in Bengali cuisine. In this dish, this is the only spice that is used.

    It is often used to prepare stir fried dish, like korola bhaja, Aloo Peyajkoli Bhaja, Begun Bhaja  and many more dishes.

    Mustard oil - Bengali dishes are often prepared with mustard oil and this dish I will highly recommend using mustard oil as it adds a lovely pungent flavor that goes so well with peanut.

    Peanut Substitute

    If you are allergic to peanut, you can use any other variety of nuts too. If you are allergic to nuts, try the same dish using chickpea flour instead of peanuts.

    It will taste a little different if you use chickpea flour, but will be still delicious.

    Steps to prepare

    The steps to prepare this okra with peanuts dish is utterly easy and very simple. You can however make your own version by adding onion, and few other spices too.

    Steps to prepare
    1. Wash and pat dry the okra. To avoid the slimy texture, wash the okra and leave it overnight, to dry out completely. Then slice in half or quarter.
    2. Dry roast peanuts in medium low heat by tossing and turning eventually.
    Steps to prepare

    3. Place the roasted peanuts on a clean fabric and rub the peanuts to remove the skin. This step takes a little time.

    4. Then coarsely ground the roasted peanuts.

    Steps to prepare

    5. In a heavy bottom pan, heat mustard oil and nigella seeds. Let the nigella seeds sizzle for a while.

    6. Scatter the sliced okra and season with salt and turmeric and stir it around for a while to soften the okra.

    Steps to prepare

    7. Scatter the ground peanuts, and stir it around gently to coat the okra. Let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes.

    8. Make sure to cook in medium low heat, so the peanuts doesn't get burnt and cooks evenly all around. Enjoy it warm.

    A few keynotes to keep in mind! 

    • You want to get the best quality okras that you can find. How to buy the best quality okra? Look for bright green ones that will easily snap off at the tip, like fresh green beans!
    • It’s important to peel the peanuts else, it will give a bitter taste. Even if you buy peeled peanuts, you want to roast it before making the crumbs, as it enhances the taste.
    • If you are allergic to peanuts, you can swap it with any other variety of nuts.
    • Allergic to nuts? Try using chickpea flour instead. Just follow the same recipe and instead of adding nuts, add chickpea flour.

    Paired with Aam Daal or Peyaj Mushuri Dal and rice, it’s a delicious healthy meal.

    Cheena Badam Bhendi - Okra with peanuts

    Cheena Badam Bhendi (Bengali Style Okra with Peanuts)

    Kankana Saxena
    Cheena Badam Bhendi / Okra with Peanuts is a unique, Bengali dish, my Grandma used to prepare a lot often. Cheena Badam is Peanut and Bhendi is Okra. It's one of those one ingredient dish where you don't need any complimentary vegetables to go along. It is quick and a great for weeknight meal.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Servings 3 people
    Calories 219 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 12 oz okra
    • ½ cup peanuts
    • 1 tablespoon mustard oil
    • 1 teaspoon nigella seeds
    • ½ teaspoon turmeric
    • ½ teaspoon salt

    Instructions
     

    • Dry roast the peanuts at medium low heat for 7 minutes. Then, rub the hot peanuts between a kitchen towel and the peel will come off easily.
    • Grind the peeled peanuts into coarse crumbs and keep it aside.
    • Wash the okra and pat dry it using a clean towel. This step is important to avoid the sliminess. Then, slice it in half lengthwise.
    • Place a heavy bottom pan on medium heat and pour the oil. Once the oil heats up, drop the nigella seeds and let it sizzle for a few seconds. Then, layer the sliced okra. Sprinkle salt and turmeric. Give it a toss, cover the pan and cook for 5 minutes, tossing once in between.
    • The okra should soften after 5 minutes. Take the lid off the pan and let it sizzle for 5 more minutes. Gently toss once in between.
    • Scatter the peanut crumbs and toss it around to coat the slices. Cook for 4 minutes. The peanut crumbs will coat the okra and create a lovely brown crust. Taste for salt and add any, if required.
    • Serve it immediately. It pairs best with daal and rice.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1ServingsCalories: 219kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 9gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gSodium: 401mgPotassium: 529mgFiber: 6gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 812IUVitamin C: 26mgCalcium: 120mgIron: 2mg

    More Bengali Cuisine

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      Lau Chingri
    • Doi Ghol
      Doi Ghol
    • Air Fried Cauliflower with five spice
      Air Fried Cauliflower in Five Spice
    • Shoshar Shukto

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Chitz

      July 28, 2018 at 3:37 am

      I made this and it turned out really yum ☺️ Thanks for sharing 👍

    2. Chitz

      May 15, 2018 at 2:12 am

      Bookmarked !

    3. aparna somani

      May 15, 2018 at 12:22 am

      love the look and as usual the photography is mind blowing. Want to pull it out of the computer and have a go at it . 🙂

    4. angiesrecipes

      May 14, 2018 at 9:54 pm

      Very yummy with peanuts! Are those peanuts roasted?

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