How to Make Avial

Avial is a Kerala delicacy and is normally a regular on a Sunday lunch in a Kerala household. It has caught on to the imagination of many and is a regular feature in some restaurants too. It is a culinary pleasure not only to make but also to share the recipe  

Preparation time 40 minutes 

cooking time      30 minutes

Serves 4 

Ingredients

Vegetables 

2 drumsticks

1/2 kilo white pumpkin

1/4 kilo yellow pumpkin

1/4 kilo yam ( suran)

1/4 kilo snake gourd

2 raw bananas

curry leaves

2 tbsp coconut oil 

salt

turmeric powder ( optional)

The Masala

3/4 coconut grated 

2 green chillies

1/2 cup curd / one lemon size tamarind ball

Cut all the vegetables into long strips . Keep the yam and the banana separately cut and soak in water. Take a wide bottomed vessel and boil 3 cups of water and add salt and turmeric. Add the cut yam and let it cook for 4 minutes. Then add the bananas. Let it cook for two minutes. Now add the remaining vegetables and boil till the vegetables are well cooked. 

Meantime, grind the coconut and chilli and keep aside. Beat the curd. Now strain the water from the vegetables and let them cool in a colander. After five  minutes add the vegetables, the ground coconut and the curd. Let it simmer for five minutes. If necessary add the strained water . You can use this water for other gravies so don't throw it. 

Add curry leaves and the coconut oil and serve hot with rice and sambar.