Avial is a dish which is believed to have been originated from South India and is common in Kerala and Udupi cuisine. It is a thick mixture of vegetables and coconut, seasoned with coconut oil and curry leaves. Avial is considered an essential part of the Sadya, the Keralite vegetarian feast.
It is supposed to have been invented by Bhima (one of the Pandava brothers) during their exile. According to the legend, when Ballav (Bhima's name during this time) assumed his duties as the cook in the kitchen of Virata, he did not know how to cook. One of the first things he did was to chop up many different vegetables, boil them together and top the dish with grated coconut. There are mythological variations. Bheema is said to have prepared Avial, when there were unexpected guests for King Virata and he needed to serve meals for them. There were no sufficient vegetables to cook any single recipe for a side dish, so Bheema used whatever available vegetables to make a new dish, which came to be known as Avial.
INGREDIENTS:
Raw Banana /Pachakaya - 1
Yam /Chena - 1/2 cup,
Drumstick /Muringakkaya - 1
Long beans/ payer - 5 to 6
Snake gourd /Padavalanga - 1
Carrot - 1
Brinjal - 2
Cucumber - 1 (small)
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Grated Coconut - 1 cup
Green chilly - 5
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Curd - 3 to 4 tbsp
Curry leaves
Coconut oil - 1 tbsp
Salt to taste
METHOD:
1. Peel and cut vegetables lengthwise.
2. Grind coconut, green chilly and cumin seeds into a coarsely paste without adding water.
3. In a heavy bottom pan/uruli heat 2 tbsp of coconut oil.
4. Add all veg and sauté for 10 minutes in medium flame.
5. Add red chili powder, turmeric powder and salt along with some curry leaves.
6. Mix well.
7. Close the pan with banana leaf/plate. Lower the flame and cook until done stir occasionally.
8. Add curd and mix well.
9. Now add coconut mix in our cooked vegetables and slowly mix until the coconut and vegetables saute well.
10. Close it for few minutes in medium flame.
11. Finally add curry leaves and pour coconut oil and turn off the flame.
12. Allow it to sit for few minutes before serving.
13. Enjoy the tasty aviyal…….
