Avial

The numerous Onam sadya photographs on FB are making me crave all that food.l! I have to scratch that itch.  My meal is but one component of that multi-course feast. Just one subji...avial. I have drumsticks, cucumbers and green beans from the garden, butternut squash. They cook along with chiles and turmeric. A paste of ground coconut and cumin is mixed with yogurt. and poured into cooked veggies. The next part might be sacrilegious to  the traditionalists! I take a few liberties by tempering the avial with crisp, brown shallots and curry leaves. To top that, the avial is sprinkled with a freshly made crumble of red chiles, coriander seeds, methi and chana daal. Not your average avial, but an irreverent but delicious deviation.

AVIAL

Serves 4

1 cup Drumstick pieces

1 cup peeled, seeded and cubes Cucumber

1 cup peeled, cubed Butternut Squash

1 cup Green Beans, cut into 1 inch pieces

2 Green Chiles, slit lengthwise

1/2 teaspoon Turmeric powder

1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt

1/2 cup grated Coconut

1/4 teaspoon Cumin seeds

3/4  cup Yogurt

1-2  Dried Red Chiles

1/2 teaspoon Chana Dal or Split Chickpeas

1 teaspoon Coriander Seeds

1/4 teaspoon  Methi or Fenugreek seeds

2 teaspoons Coconut Oil

2 Shallots, thinly sliced

4-6 fresh Curry Leaves

Place drumsticks, cucumber, squash, green beans, chile and turmeric powder in a saucepan. 

Add 1/2 cup water to the vegetables.

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Put the pan on heat and bring to a simmer. Cover pan and cook for 10-12 minutes till vegetables are cooked.

Grind coconut and cumin seeds till smooth. 

Add yogurt to coconut and whiz for 5 seconds.

Pour the coconut mix into the cooked veggies. Season with salt.

Heat 1 teaspoon of coconut oil in a small saucepan.

Add dried chiles, chana dal, coriander seeds and methi to oil. Saute till their color changes. 

Cool slightly and grind to a powder.

Heat another teaspoon of coconut oil in the same pan and fry the shallot till brown and crisp. Add curry leaves to shallots, then pour the shallots over the cooked veggies. 

Heat avial till warm. 

Sprinkle powder over avial and serve.

The avial pleases immensely, though I apologise for taking liberties....

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