Aviyal

I had previously posted the recipe for making adai. I had also mentioned that aviyal is a very good side dish for adai. It is also one of the easiest dishes to prepare and it goes well with rice as well.

Aviyal is essentially a mixture of various steamed vegetables along with a little coconut. The vegetables can be chosen as per their availability. Generally the following vegetables can be used - Potato, french beans, carrots, peas, drumstick, pumpkin, avaraikka, raw plantain, snake gourd and chow chow. The more the variety of vegetables, the better the taste.

Ingredients:

• Mixed vegetables from the list specified above - 5 - 6 cups
• Curd (lightly sour) - 1/2 cup
• Grated coconut - 1 1/2 cups
• Green chillies - 4
• Curry leaves
• Oil
• Salt

Preparation:

• Cut all the vegetables to small cubes and steam them with some salt. Care should be taken to not overcook the vegetables.
  
• Grind the chillies and coconut with some curd.
• Heat some oil in a pan and add mustard seeds. Once they sputter add the steamed vegetables, coconut mixture and the curd. Heat for about 4 - 5 minutes.
• Turn off the flame and add curry leaves.
• Serve with hot rice or adai.