Chinese-Style Pepper Okra

Ingredients

• Okra (lady's finger) - 6 whole
• Onion - 1 whole
• Green chili - 1 whole
• Garlic - 4 clove
• Pepper powder - 1 1/2 tsp
• Corn flour - 2 tsp
• Maida (all-purpose flour) - 1 tsp
• Egg - 1 whole
• Oil
• Curry leaves
• Salt

Instructions

1. 1Rinse the okra and pat it very dry with kitchen paper to remove the natural stickiness before you cut it; this helps it crisp nicely when fried.
2. 2Trim the stem ends and cut each okra into long pieces so they cook evenly and pick up the batter.
3. 3In a bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 tsp corn flour, 1 tsp maida (all-purpose flour), 1 whole egg, salt and 1 tsp pepper powder to make a light coating batter.
4. 4Toss the okra in the batter to coat each piece, then let the coated okra rest for 30 minutes so the mixture adheres and the flavors develop.
5. 5Lightly dust the marinated okra with the remaining corn flour, then fry in hot oil until both sides are light brown and crisp; drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
6. 6Heat oil in a frying pan, add the chopped onion, chopped garlic, sliced green chili and curry leaves, and sauté until the onion is softened and the mixture is fragrant.
7. 7Add the fried okra back to the pan, sprinkle 1/2 tsp pepper powder over it, and toss gently to combine so every piece is seasoned.
8. 8Serve the okra hot, taking care to enjoy it while it still has a crisp exterior and a tender interior. Optional: serve with steamed rice or flatbreads.