Bhindi, okra, lady finger — call it what you like, is one of those vegetables that shows up in every Indian kitchen.
Some like it kurkuri, others love it in a masala gravy. But let’s be real… cooking bhindi is not always fun. It gets sticky. It turns mushy. And sometimes, no matter what you do, it just doesn’t taste right or doesn't taste as good.
In this blog, we’ll talk about the 5 common bhindi mistakes (we’ve all made them at some point!), and how to fix them easily.
And if you read till the end — we’ll also share some simple but irresistible recipes you can try today.
Mistake 1: Washing Bhindi Just Before Cooking
Bhindi is naturally slimy. And washing it right before cooking just makes it worse.
What you can do: Wash it a couple of hours earlier, let it air dry, or pat it dry with a clean cloth. Dry bhindi means less slime. Simple!
Mistake 2: Cutting Wet Bhindi
Wet bhindi spreads the slime while chopping, and it gets messy real quick.
Fix it: Use a dry knife, dry cutting board, and the bhindi is fully dry. You’ll instantly see the difference.
Mistake 3: Overcrowding the Pan
Too much bhindi in the pan means it steams instead of cooking nicely. That’s why it turns soggy.
Fix it: Give your bhindi some space! Cook in batches if your pan is small.
Mistake 4: Adding Salt or Tomatoes Too Early
Salt and sour things like tomatoes pull out water from the bhindi — which makes it slimier.
Fix it: Let the bhindi cook first. Once it looks halfway done, then add your salt, tomatoes, or lemon juice.
Mistake 5: Cooking on Low Heat
Slow cooking gives slime more time to come out. That’s how it stays sticky.
Fix it: Start on medium to high heat. Stir gently. Let it cook undisturbed for a few minutes.
Bhindi doesn’t have to be slimy or boring.
Now That You Know What Not to Do… Try These Delicious Recipes!
Sudeshna Rajib Das
Swati Sheth
Stuffed Bhindi (Bharwa Bhindi)
Monika Jain ( Homechef)
Bhindi Dahi Sabzi (Yogurt-Based Bhindi Curry)
Madhumita Bishnu
Juhi Prakash Sewani
Kumkum Chatterjee
Rosalyn John
Regional specials
Maria Emmanuel
Madhu Bindra
Head Over Meals by Dipika Ravichandran
Swathi Joshnaa Sathish
Vaishali Suhas
_pjs kitchen_
Dr. Pushpa Dixit
ZMA
Bhorta Bari
💡 Tried any of these bhindi recipes? Share a Cooksnap!
If you gave one of these bhindi recipes a try, we’d love to see how it turned out! Share a recipe and/or Share your Cooksnap 📸 on any recipe you try on Cookpad!
What's a Cooksnap? Its a photo of your finished dish—along with a short message for the recipe creator. It’s a great way to celebrate home cooking, connect with others, and inspire more food lovers to try new dishes. 💚
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