Aviyal – Kerala style

Aviyal is a tasty Kerala preparation. The name ‘Aviyal’ means a ‘mixture’. Aviyal is a mixture of many vegetables in grinded coconut.

Avial is a dish that has a unique place in typical Kerala as well as Tamil cuisine and Udupi cuisine. It is a thick mixture of vegetables, curd and coconut, seasoned with coconut oil and curry leaves. Avial is considered an essential part of the Sadhya.

Vegetables commonly used in avial are yam, plantain, pumpkin, carrots, beans, brinjal and avarai. Some people prefer to substitute raw mango or tamarind pulp for the curd. This dish can be made into a gravy and eaten with rice or be made into a semi-solid side dish. The word “avial” is also used to denote an assortment or a mixture—this sense being derived from the way the dish is made.

Ingredients:

• Elephant yam (Chena) – 1 cup
• Raw banana – 2 nos
• Carrots (big) – 1 no
• Snake Gourd (Padavalanga) – 1/2 cup
• Drumstick (Muringakka) – 2 nos
• White Pumpkin (Kumbalanga) – 1/2 cup
• Cucumber (Vellarikka) – 1/2 cup
• Beans (Achilnga Payar) – 3-4 nos
• Raw Mango – 1 full slice
• Green chillies – 2 nos
• Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
• Coconut Oil – 1 tbsp
• Salt and Water
• Curry leaves – 1 spring

For grinding:

• Grated coconut – 2 cups
• Cumin Seeds (Jeerakam) – 1/2 tsp
• Small Onions(Kunjulli) – 5 nos
• Green chillies – 1 no

Method:

• Cut the vegetables into length-wise pieces (finger slices) and cook the vegetables with water, salt and sliced green chillies. (Aviyal should not be watery, so add only enough water for cooking the vegetables)
• Add the turmeric poweder when the water starts boiling.
• Grind together grated coconut, cumin seeds, small onions and green chilly.
• When the vegetables are cooked, add the ground paste to it. (If raw mango is not available, you can add 2 tsps of tamarind pulp to the vegetables before adding the ground paste).
• Add the curry leaves and mix them well. Do not overcook since the mixture will become dry.
• Add coconut oil to the prepared Aviyal and mix them well.
• Serve hot with steamed rice.

Aviyal – 2

Aviyal is a very tasty Kerala style preparation. The name ‘Aviyal’ means a ‘mixture’. Aviyal is a mixture of many vegetables in grinded coconut paste.

Ingredients:

• Elephant Yam(Chena), Raw Banana, Snake Gourd (Padavalanga), Drumstick(Muringakka), Kathirikka, Carrot (Same quantity) – 3 cups
• Cucumber (Vellarikka) – 1/4 cup
• Raw Mango – 1/4 cup
• Coconut – 1 cup
• Green chillies – 2 nos
• Dry Red Chillies – 2 nos
• Jeera (cumin) – 1/2 tsp
• Coconut Oil – 1 tbsp
• Curry leaves – 1 spring
• Turmeric powder, Salt – as required

Method:

• Cut the vegetables into 2 inch pieces length-wise pieces (finger slices) and 1/2 inch breadth.
• Cook the vegetables with water, salt and Turmeric powder.
• Grind together the fourth set of ingredients.
• When the vegetables are cooked, add the ground paste to it and mix well.
• Add the and mix them well again.
• Add curry leaves and coconut oil to the prepared Aviyal and mix them well.
• Serve hot with steamed rice.