Sunday 8 July 2012

Easy Avial

With no offense to any Keraliites reading this..this is my cheat version of a true family favourite - Avial. Best served hot with steamed rice and poppadum :) You can choose your choice vegetables but my favourites are - beans/carrot/snake gourd/peas/yam/pumpkin (kadoo)/drumstick...no potatoes/cabbage/cauliflower! The unique taste is because of the vegetables used..also the quantity and thickness of the coconut milk depends on how thin/thick you like the curry to be..

Ingredients(serves 4)

3 cups mixed vegetables(sliced/diced)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1-2 tablespoons coconut oil
8-10 curry patta leaves
1 teaspoon rai seeds
pinch heeng
1 green chilli, sliced
2 dry red chillies, halved
Salt to taste
1 cup beaten curd,should be slightly sour
2 cups thick coconut milk (use fresh preferably)

1. Heat the cooking oil in a kadhai. Add the heeng and the chillies. Once fried, add the rai seeds.
2. Add the curry patta leaves and toss for a few seconds
3. Add the vegetables and salt.Cover the lid and leave on slow flame till all the vegetables are cooked through. You can add the vegetables like beans/yam/carrot which take longer to cook first, then add the rest when these are half done. 
4. Add the coconut milk and bring to a boil.
5. Add the curd and turn off gas quickly after one boil.
6. Pour the coconut oil over the avial and serve hot with rice..really lip smacking!