By special request :o)

Vendekai Puli Kulambu

ingredients appx- I never measure

• few handfuls okra/ladies finger/vendekai
• green chilies(optional)
  
• 1 large/2 medium onions chopped
• 1 small/medium tomato chopped
  
• tamarind -extracted in water... using tamarind concentrate will not give proper consistency
• mustard seeds
• curry leaves
• sambhar podi
• salt
• handful of coconut grinded smooth with little water, or coconut milk(opt.- but really adds to the flavour)
  

Wash and fully dry the okra. Then remove the ends and cut into thirds.
Put oil in pan, heat it, and add the mustard seeds and curry leaves. Then add the green chilies and onions. Fry onions until soft then add the okra. Add salt, fry it well, until its no longer sticky(add more oil if necessary but do NOT add water). Only then add the tomato and cook until tomato is soft. Put sambhar powder. stir. Add the tamarind water and another cup of water(or more). Put the lid on and boil abt 5-10 mins until the okra is fully cooked. Remove lid and add the coconut. Cook until thickened.

if not using coconut, you can add some rice flour or cornstarch mixed with water to thicken.