Aviyal is a healthy and delicious lunch side dish from the cuisines of Kerala to the world. It is a mixed vegetable delicacy served along with Rice .It is a mandatory Onam Sadhya dish
Chop the vegetables lengthwise and soak in water until we start to cook. After slicing the vegetables ,In a non-stick or a heavy bottomed pan add in little water to cook the vegetables and add in the sliced vegetables and let them cook.
Add in the required Salt and mix the vegetable and let it cook till they are 90% done. Make sure not to mash the vegetables it should retain its shape.
Take the ingredients mentioned in the “To Grind” section in a blender and grind it to a course mixture or just pulse it make sure not to grind to a fine paste. Next add in the ground masala to the vegetables.
Give a good mix and cook for another 5 mins in a low flame so that the masala blends well with the vegetables and the vegetables are fully cooked and then switch of the flame.
Next in another pan add in Coconut oil and let it get hot and then add in the Mustard seeds and curry leaves and prepare the seasoning.
Put the seasoning over the cooked vegetables and mix well .Aviyal is now ready to be served.
If serving for Adai prepare the Aviyal little watery by adding more water while cooking the vegetables. As I cooked my aviyal for Rice , I made it as a dry version.so adjust the water consistency according to your preference.
Make sure not to skip Raw Banana and Drum stick as they are the main vegetables used.
You can also use raw mango in preparing the aviyal. In that case you can skip adding tamarind.
You can also add a tbsp. of curd to the aviyal at last.
Never skip Coconut Oil as it the authentic way of preparing aviyal.
You can also use vegetables like potato and yam for preparing aviyal.
If possible try cooking aviyal in a claypot which gives the best taste.