Vegetable fries are what we Konkani’s have along with rice. These are usually prepared during the monsoon season since pappad’s will not be available during this season. These vegetable fries replace the pappad’s then. These are slightly crispy when hot and become soft on cooling. So it is better that you serve it hot. You can also have it as such as well. These fries that I have mentioned have been prepared by first marinating the sliced vegetables with rice flour. I have used raw rice flour for this purpose. The various vegetables that I have used in the preparation of this recipe include Lady’s Finger or Okra (‘Bendaein’ in Konkani), Bitter gourd (‘Karathein’ in Konkani), Brinjal (‘Vainghan’ in Konkani), Ridge gourd (‘Ghosalaein’ in Konkani) and ‘Phagil’ in Konkani. You can prepare this dish with Raw Nendran banana peels also. This recipe I have already posted.
Various vegetables and their quantities
- 8 to 10 numbers lady’s finger
- 1 small size bitter gourd
- 1 medium sized round purple brinjal
- 5 to 8 inch piece of ridge gourd
Rice flour mix preparation (Common for all vegetables)
- 1 to 3 tbspn Rice flour per vegetable
- 1/4th tspn turmeric powder per vegetable
- A pinch of asafoetida per vegetables
- 1 to 2 tspn of chilli powder per vegetable (or as per your spiciness level)
- Salt to taste
The brinjal variety that I have used is purple round one. The green round varieties can also be used but the taste and flavour varies. The long varieties of brinjal are not usually used as you will get small size fries.
The ridge gourd used for the preparation should be a mature one. (But the one shown in the photo is less mature one. Only after bringing from the market I came to know about it).
Lady’s finger should also be mature even the one which is difficult to cut with the knife can also be used.
Phagil and bitter gourd should also be mature enough.
Method
1) PREPARATION OF THE VEGETABLES
For lady’s finger
Wash the lady’s finger thoroughly and wrap it in a clean dry cloth to remove the washed water. Later cut it into 1 cm thick round pieces. Keep the cut pieces in a mixing bowl.
For bitter gourd, phagil and brinjal
Wash the bitter gourd, phagil and brinjal. Cut it into circular slices. You need not have to remove the seeds.
For ridge gourd
Wash the ridge gourd and remove the ridges slightly. Cut it into circular slices.
2) Rice flour mix preparation
Mix rice flour, chilli powder, turmeric powder, asafoetida and salt. You need not have to add any water. Just dry mixing of all the ingredients.
3) Coating the vegetables with the rice flour
For lady’s finger
Take 1 to 2 tbspns of the rice flour mix and sprinkle on top of the lady’s finger cut and kept in the bowl. Mix nicely and leave for 2 to 3 hours for marination.
For bitter gourd, phagil, ridge gourd and brinjal
Smear each slice with the rice flour mix. Spread each piece separately on a clean plastic sheet. See that you do not spread them one above the other.
Leave 2 to 3 hours for marination
4) Frying the veggies
After the marination you will see that the vegetables have got soaked in the water that has come out from the cut vegetables.
Now heat oil in a kadai for deep frying. Once hot drop the marinated veggies in the oil one by one. For lady’s finger alone you can drop 1 tbspn of them.
Flip the slices in between and fry them till golden brown.
Remove from oil. Drain out excess oil by using a strainer or using kitchen towels.
Your vegetable fries are ready to be served.
Serve hot with rice. Finish them on the day of preparation itself.
Tips
Serve the vegetable fries hot.
You can also use vegetables like ivy gourd also for preparation of fries.
