A Dirge for Dahyatli Bhendi (Sun dried Okra in a vegan yoghurt marinade)

A dirge for Dahyatli Bhendi

Slimy to crunchy and crusty

The okra’s ride is laborious

Baked in Sun and difficulty

To render meals sumptuous

Drying for lack, or adversity

Now labours futile, tedious

Who makes in days of plenty

Our lost heirlooms precious?!

And now it's Marathi translation! 

बुळबुळीत ते कुरकुरीत

प्रवास कठीण भेंडीचा

उन्हात टाकुनी वाळीत

मगच पदार्थ बेगमीचा

दुर्मिळ आता हे खाणे

जिभेचे जुने हे चोचले  

दुर्लभ त्याहून बनविणे

पदार्थ जणू हे हरवले!

And in case anyone wants the recipe of this vegan "dahyatli bhendi" AKA Sun dried Okra in a yoghurt marinade:

Ingredients

18-20 pieces Bhindi or Okra

1/2 cup Soy yoghurt

1/2 tsp methi powder

1/2 tsp hing powder

1 tsp jeera powder

1 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder

Pinch of sugar

Salt to taste.

Method

Wash and dry the okra and cut the heads and tails. Slice the okra into halves. Mix the remaining ingredients together and marinate the okra for a few hours.

Arrange the okra halves on a baking sheet/ parchment paper lined tray and dry it out in the sun for two or three days, until fully dry.

Store in an airtight container. Fry these in hot oil and serve with dal and rice.

These can be stored for a few months, provided they are dried thoroughly.