Avial

Ingredients (17)

• drumsticks1 cup
• yam1 cup
• carrots1 cup
• green beans1 cup
• tindora1 cup
• ash gourd1 cup
• yellow pumpkin1 cup
• plantain1
• turmeric0.25 tsp
• salt
• curd0.5 cup
• coconut oil2 tsp
• cumin seeds1 tsp
• curry leaves1 sprig
• of freshly coconut0.75 cup
• cumin seeds1 tsp
• green chillies3

Method

1. 1

   Coarsely grind the grated coconut into a paste. While making the paste, add cumin seeds, curry leaves and few chillies.

2. 2

   Cut drumsticks, yam, carrots, green beans, ash gourd and yellow pumpkin into long rectangular pieces. Each piece needs to be about one and half inches long. Make sure all the vegetables are of the same size.

3. 3

   For plantain, peel only the ridges keeping the outer skin. Chop them also into rectangular pieces.

4. 4

   Add some water in a pan along with the chopped vegetables. Cover the pan for some time and cook them till soft.

5. 5

   Now, add a tsp of turmeric, curry leaves, 4 slit chillies and salt as required.

6. 6

   Add the coconut paste into the pan and let it simmer for 15 minutes.

7. 7

   Now add curd, oil, cumin seeds to the mix and simmer it for 2 to 3 minutes. Wait until the mix is semi-dry.

8. 8

   Avial ~ Kerala Mixed Vegetable Curry with Coconut and Yogurt – The Recipe

9. 9

   To grind to a paste:

10. 10

    Green Thai chillies – 2 or 3

11. 11

    Curry leaves – 10

12. 12

    Grind together the coconut, cumin, green chillies and yogurt to a fine paste.

13. 13

    Add this paste to the cooked vegetables.

14. 14

    Garnish/season with the coconut oil and curry leaves.

15. 15

    Notes: You can use other vegetables like the small eggplant, other squashes or melons etc. This is usually the combination I use.

16. 16

    Yogurt is used as the souring agent here. In certain parts of Kerala, tamarind is used as the souring agent instead. If using tamarind, use a lime sized ball, soak in water and take out the pulp. Add this to the vegetables when they are cooking. Skip the yogurt. Grind the coconut with a little water instead.

17. 17

    If using frozen coconut, microwave the frozen grated coconut for 30 secs or so. This way the coconut seems to grind better without having fat solids stuck in the mixer/food processor.