Avial

Avial is a yogurt and coconut based curry. It is mainly eaten in coastal South India. Avial is a must-have in all social ceremonies like weddings etc. All kinds of vegetables can be used - Drumstick, White Pumpkin, Potato, Carrot, Beans, Peas, Turnip, Capsicum, Green Tomato etc- some people even add a little Bitter Gourd, Egg Plant, Raw Banana, Yam, Brocolli etc. Some vegetables that are NOT added are Onions, Okra, Cabbage, Radish, Green Leafy vegetables, Beets etc

Ingredients:

Mixed Vegetables, Washed and Cut - 10 Cups

Grated Coconut - 1 Cup

Jeera/Cumin - 2 Tsp

Green Chilli - 3

Rice Flour - 2 Tbsp

Oil - 2 Tbsp

Mustard Seeds - 1 Tsp

Salt - per your Taste

Yogurt/Curds - 2 Cups

Curry Leaves - 1 sprig

Preparation:

In a large cooking vessel, take 2 cups of water and cook all the vegetables - cook harder vegetables first and when they are partly cooked, add other softer vegetables. Brocolli, peas and any other frozen vegetables should be added at the end. Add salt to the vegetables.

In the meanwhile grind the Coconut, Jeera, Chillies, Rice Flour with a little water (you can use the vegetable stock if there is excess left from cooking vegetables). It should become a fine paste.

Add this ground mixture to the cooked vegetables.

Boil everything in medium heat and finally add beaten curds

Once the curds are added, just simmer the mixture for 5 minutes and take it off the heat

For seasoning, heat Oil in a small pan and once hot, add Mustard Seeds

Once the mustard splutters, add the curry leaves

Now add this seasoning to the Avial

Avial is ready to be eaten.

Notes:

Those who like the flavor of Coconut Oil can add 1 Tbsp of fresh Coconut oil to the avial and mix it before serving. Avial is eaten with Steamed Rice, Adai or Chapattis OR it is very tasty even to be eaten just like that - from a bowl!!

This makes 10 servings. Enjoy this tasty and healthy Avial.