Considered as one of the most essentials in Kerala Sadya, Avial is loved by one and all (except me)! Yeah, as a kid I was picky and I still continue to be so. I remember the first time preparing this. It was on our first Onam after the wedding and P had invited few friends home. Thank God that they hailed from Northern parts of India, they didn’t know that the dish was a disaster. The sadya-lover that P is, he pointed out for the first time that my dish hasn’t turned out good. The next time I prepared, that is on our second Onam, I made sure that I call up Mom atleast ten times to make notes. Yes, it turned out goooooooooood. 😀
Before I introduce you to the recipe, I want to share a small story with you. Avial is supposed to be invented by Bhima, one of the Pandavas. While they were in exile, Bhime assumed the role of a cook of King Virata. Sadly though, he didn’t know how to cook. So, he grabbed some random vegetables, chopped and boiled them together, made a dish and topped it with grated cocunut. Oh, yeah, the dish has the roots from there.
There are few variations to this dish. But, here’s Mom’s recipe.
Ingredients:
Indian yellow cucumber, raw banana, drum sticks, carrot, green beans, yam, snake gourd, 1/2 raw mango, 2 green chillies slit
10 Shallots mashed, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 1/2 tsp chilli powder, 1tsp cumin seeds, 1 cup grated coconut, 2 sprigs curry leaves
3tbsp coconut oil, salt
Method: ‘
In a pan, add 2 tbsp of coconut oil. Add mashed shallots and saute well.
Add the vegetables (except raw mango) and saute. Add 1/2 cup of water just enough for the vegetable to cook through. Add chilli powder, salt and turmeric powder. Add raw mango pieces and mix well.
Meanwhile, mash grated coconut, cumin seeds and two shallots.
Make a well in the middle of the cooked vegetables and add the coconut mixture. Close and cook for a couple of minutes. Mix together.
Remove from flame, add a tbsp of oil and mix well again.
Serve hot with rice and accompaniments.
Chef says:
Boil and cook yam separate if you find it is particularly raw and needs more time to cook than other veggies.
Leave little skin on the raw banana as it adds taste to the dish.
If you do not have raw mango, add 2 tbsp of yogurt to the dish once removed from flame. You can also add 2 tbsp of tamarind water also to obtain the little sourness the dish require.
‘Written for the A-Z challenge 2015’
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I read this post after finishing off the remaining Avial from yesterday. I think the taste gets better the longer you keep it 🙂
One of my favourites! Yay. Great start to A-Z, Shalini. An interesting tale about Bhima being the inventor of Avial. 🙂
It sounds good 🙂
I don’t think I can get all the ingredients though, but I may try it anyway, I’m really too curious 🙂
Good recipe and the dish looks tempting but i am waiting for the non veg stuff! 😉
A yummy start to the challenge, Shalzzz
What a yummy start, Shalzz. A random recipe can work wonders to the heart:)
http://vishal-newkidontheblock.blogspot.com/2015/04/a-for-amour-parisian-love-story.html#gpluscomments
I think he had the right idea, throw some ingredients together and call it good! I love trying new food especially from other cultures and I love cooking with all things coconut! Thanks for sharing!
Happy A to Z’ing!
Morgan,
A Poet’s Kitchen
Playing with Words
StoryDam
I almost could smell the aroma as I read through your post Shalini. Yummy! The Tamil version is a bit different but equally good. I must try it your way some time. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to reading more recipes from you 🙂
I am literally drooling at the picture and recipe, I am looking for some great vegetarian recipes because my new partner is vegetarian and I no longer am, this looks and sounds delish! Thanks for sharing as part of the challenge. You can catch my posts for the challenge here: http://www.kellymartinspeaks.co.uk/ my theme is on a ‘Feelings’ I am an inspirational and self help blogger and author.
I have tasted avial once during my visit to Cochin for a workshop. And I have stayed away from it since then 😛 Liked the story you shared about Bhima!
This looks DELICIOUS. Can’t wait for more of your recipes!
I will have to try this at some point. I love the story of Bhima trying to cook! 🙂
Happy A to Z!
@TarkabarkaHolgy from
Multicolored Diary – Epics from A to Z
MopDog – 26 Ways to Die in Medieval Hungary
I’ll be honest…avial was never one of my favourites. I used to dread it when mum made it. You do make it sound quite tasty though! 🙂
And, I’ve always seen a watery avial. Your recipe is interesting too, Shalini.
I learnt cooking this dish in Kochi, and I love it. I used to look forward to Onam, learnt a lot of new things related to Onam.
Goodness! This looks delicious. Bookmarking it because I might be called on to make something interesting that’s diet friendly. 😀
Avial is among my favourites but I have never made it. This seems a good place to start. The story about Bhim is very interesting!
I tried Avial few years back when I went for lunch to a friend who hails from Kerala. I loved it, but I guess she prepared the dish in her style because it was more of gravy. The pics look wonderful 🙂
Avial’s one of my fave dishes. Its the best way to get the kiddies eat all veggies.
Haha! Typical Mom! My mamma tried and I was a naughty kid who just wouldn’t even bother to taste Avial! 😛
I loved the story behind Avial and yes, the recipe is simple and the dish looks yum. Great start! 🙂
Thank you 🙂
I totally love Avial. I make it with raw mango, with curd and tamarind..all three types 🙂 My mother sometimes adds raw papaya and tender stems of spinach.
Papaya and spinach version is new to me! I will let Mom know about it! Thanks Vidya 🙂
That looks so delicious. Loved it, and will try. A for Awesome start Shalini:-)
That’s so sweet of you to say that! Thanks, Eli! Keep visiting! 🙂
I have never been fond of Avial. But as years have passed, I seem to have developed a taste for it and now need to have something extra on my sadya leaf other than sambar 🙂 And didn’t know about the roots of this recipe. Very interesting.
Thank you 🙂 I seem to have developed taste for few more dishes other than sambar as well. But definitely not avial 😛
Ooh..I love avial. I’ve tried making a variation and it didn’t turn out so well. Bookmarking this, Shalini.
I’m glad to know that you love this dish! Please try my variation and let me know how it turns out! 🙂
I do like avail but of course it depends on who’s making it. My mum’s is the best ( but then I would say that!)
I still wouldn’t eat it! 😛 Yeah, I’m that picky! Thanks for dropping by. Keep visiting!
The origin story sounds similar to the way I cook. In fact I just finished making an improvised potato salad that we will have for dinner. I did do a taste test and it was delicious.
I do like curry. This one sounds very healthful.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
Thank you for dropping by my space! 🙂 Keep visiting!
That is a good start. I liked how you introduced the story of where it originated from, Shalini. Will come back for more.
*Shantala @ ShanayaTales*
Thank you 🙂 keep visiting!
Wow, this sounds amazing! Love the contrast in colours in this dish! Looking forward to more of your A-Z posts!
Not one of my favorites 😀 I usually eat the drumsticks and not the rest 😛
🙂 I don’t even eat that! 😛