AVIYAL

Aviyal is a traditional Kerala curry made from mix vegetables,coconut paste , yogurt and finally seasoned with coconut oil & curry leaves .  Aviyal is considered an essential part of the Main meal / Oonu in Malayalam.Vegetables commonly used in aviyal are elephant yam, plantain, pumpkin, carrots, beans, cucumber, drum sticks, snake gourd , avarai, etc while in the north Kerala Aviyal includes bitter gourd also. Aviyal can be made into a gravy or be made into a semi-solid side dish. It is generally eaten with rice. 

INGREDIENTS                

• I have used ash gourd, pumpkin, Mangalore cucumber, plantain, green beans, & carrot
• Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp   
  
• Water to boil the vegetables 1 cup
• Salt as per taste
• Coconut oil 2 tsp
• Curry leaves handful

TO GRIND

•  Grind 1 cup grated coconut, 1 teaspoon cumin seeds , 2 green chilies , 2 pods of garlic & 1/2 cup beaten curd 
• Make it into a coarse paste 

METHOD:

• Firstly wash and peal the vegetables, cut it into medium to long pieces, it need to be slightly thick as well
• Cook the vegetables by adding turmeric, salt and 1 cup water
• Cook on low to medium flame, do check in between if water has dried up
• Once the vegetables are  almost cooked add the ground coconut paste 
• Let the mixture simmer for  5 to 7 minutes or till the veggies are completely cooked. they should hold shape. So do not  over cook them 
• Finally add 1 to 2 tablespoons coconut oil and curry leaves and turn of the stove
• Then cover and let the flavors infuse for 5 minutes.

Serve it with steamed rice or boiled rice