Kerala Style Avial

Avial is a classic vegetarian dish from the southern Indian state of Kerala, made with a nutritious blend of vegetables cooked in a coconut and yoghurt-based sauce. This dish is a delicious and healthy way to incorporate a variety of veggies into your diet. The vegetables commonly used in the dish are drumsticks, carrots, Madras cucumber, raw plantain, pumpkin, ash gourd, green beans, tendli, suran, and snake gourd, but you can use any vegetables you like based on availability and preference.

Here is the recipe for Kerala Style Avial:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups mixed vegetables, cut into long sticks

• 1 cup fresh grated coconut

• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds

• 2-3 green chilies, chopped

• 1 cup fresh curd (yoghurt)

• Salt, to taste

• ½ teaspoon turmeric powder

• 1 cup water

• 1-2 tablespoons coconut oil

• 12-15 curry leaves

Instructions:

1. Rinse the vegetables with water and chop them into medium to long sticks.

2. Peel and chop the raw plantain and keep them immersed in water to prevent browning.

3. Beat the yoghurt with a whisk and keep aside.

4. Grind the grated coconut, cumin seeds, and green chilies to a fine paste and keep aside.

5. In a large pan, cook the vegetables that take longer to cook, such as elephant foot yam, drumsticks, and green beans, with turmeric powder and salt.

6. Add 1 cup of water and simmer until the vegetables are half-cooked.

7. Add the remaining vegetables, such as plantains, Mangalore cucumber, ash gourd, and pumpkin, and mix well.

8. Cover the pan and continue to cook until the vegetables are almost cooked.

9. Add the ground coconut paste and simmer for 5-7 minutes until the veggies are completely cooked.

10. Reduce the heat and add the whisked yoghurt, mixing gently.

11. Simmer for a minute and switch off the heat.

12. Add coconut oil and curry leaves and mix well.

13. Cover the pan and let it sit for 5 minutes to allow the flavours to infuse.

14. Serve hot or warm with steamed rice, varutharacha sambar, pickle, and papadoms.

This dish is a perfect way to add some authentic Kerala flavours to your meal. The use of coconut oil and curry leaves gives it a unique taste and aroma that cannot be replicated with any other ingredient. This Avial recipe is a must-try for anyone looking to incorporate more vegetables into their diet while enjoying a delicious and healthy meal.