Baked Stuffed Okra(Okra stuffed with a quinoa flax spice mixture)

This recipe is a combination of two different recipes, 'Okra Stuffed Masala Fry' by Geetha Achal and 'Potato Curry with Flax and Quinoa' by Usha. I took the technique of baking the okra from Geetha and adding flax and Quinoa to the filling from Usha, that led to a very flavorful yet healthy dish.

In a pan over medium heat, add the ingredients under 'To roast and grind' one by one. Dry roast it until fragrant and golden brown. Remove and let cool. Grind it to a fine powder. Set aside.

In the same pan over medium high heat, add 1 tsp oil. Add the finely chopped onions and fry until golden brown. Add the salt and turmeric powder. Saute until incorporated. Add the curry leaves and chilli powder. Saute until the raw smell of chilli powder disappears and the masala is cooked. Add the ground mixture into the onion mixture and mix thoroughly. Switch off stove. Let cool completely.

Meanwhile, slit the okra to make a pocket, but not all the way through. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Spray with non stick cooking spray. Take a tsp of the filling and stuff it into the slit in the okra. Line the stuffed okra on the baking sheet. Drizzle it with 1 tsp oil. Place on the baking sheet and bake for about 15 minutes. Turn the okra over and bake another 10 minutes. Serve hot.

Verdict: Spicy, crunchy and absolutely delicious. This would also make an excellent appetizer as its a perfect finger food..I ended up snacking on it, before the actual meal. It is actually hard to resist. Good thing that it is baked and not fried. Thanks to Geetha and Usha for their ideas.

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1. Blogger Secret Ingredient: Okra

2. Veggie/Fruit of the Month: Okra

3. Only: Low Oil or Low Calorie