Avial – Vegetables cooked with coconut

Avial is a mixed vegetable side dish prepared using coconut.  It is a dish popularly served in Kerala and Tamil Nadu during a feast.

Time Required: 30 Minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients:
750 gms of mixed vegetables like Drumsticks, Ash Pumpkin, Brinjals/Eggplant, Yam, String Beans, Raw Banana, Ridge gourd
1tbsp Tamarind Paste
2tbsp Coconut Oil/Refined Oil
2 Sprigs Curry Leaves
2 Big Onions (Optional)
½ tsp Turmeric Powder
1 Cup Curds/Yoghurt
2tbsp Coconut Oil
1tsp Mustard Seeds
Salt to taste

For the paste:
1 Cup Fresh Coconut, Grated
1½ tsp Cumin Seeds
7 Green Chilies

Method:
Clean and chop the vegetables.

Steam or boil all the vegetables except for Onions.  Grind Coconut, Green Chilies and Cumin Seeds to a fine paste.

Heat Coconut Oil in a kadai and add Mustard seeds and when they splutter add Turmeric Powder, Curry Leaves and Onions.  Saute for 2 minutes. 

Now add the boiled vegetables, Tamarind Paste, Coconut paste, Salt and mix well and cook for 2 minutes stirring gently.  

Now add curds and simmer for a minute.

Remove to a serving dish. 

Serve hot with steamed rice, dosa or phulka.

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