Aviyal | Avial Recipe | Kerala Style Aviyal

Aviyal or Avial, an aromatic stew of mixed vegetables cooked in coconut and green chilli masala, and topped with yogurt. It can be served with rice and makes a delicious combo with adai.

Aviyal Story

According to Wiki, Aviyal is believed to have been invented by Bhima, one of the pandava brothers during their exile. According to the legend, when Bhima's assumed his duties as the cook in the kitchen of Virata, he did not know how to cook. One of the first things he did was to chop up many different vegetables, boil them together and top the dish with grated coconut.

The preparation of aviyal slightly varies from region to region. In Tamil cuisine, curd is either completely avoided or added very less just for tanginess. Instead we use lots of coconut to make it a rich curry. So, Tamilnadu style aviyal can be termed as vegan, if you miss the curd. The final dish would almost be dry, like this one here

There are other variations to aviyal like Puli aviyal, made with tamarind, instead of curd. Likewise Panchamanga aviyal, where raw mango is used instead of curd.

Onam Sadya

Onam is one of the popular festivals celebrated by Malayali's all over the world. Malayalis around the world celebrate the 10-day harvest festival of Kerala and the return of the legendary King Mahabali, by organising a grand feast, also known as Onam Sadhya. A sadhya feast is incomplete without Aviyal.

Kerala Sadya Recipes

I love my aviyal to be saucy unlike the Tamilnadu style avial which is done dry. As a rice lover, I prefer to mix it with rice and enjoy. Adai Aviyal, is a very popular Tiffen combo, available in many south-indian restaurants as a weekend special menu. Hot Adai with all the spices gets balanced well when paired with Aviyal.

Check these Adai Varieties

• Mixed millet adai, made of 4 different millets and lentils.
• Varagu arisi adai, made of kodo millet and lentil
• Multigrain adai, made of 7 different grains and lentils.
• Oats Adai

What kind of vegetables to use for Aviyal

Traditionally root vegetables like Potato, arbi/colocasia, yam, along with raw plantain, carrots, chayote, drumstick/moringa pods, French beans, green peas, ash gourd etc are used.

Here in UAE, we get aviyal mix as pack which sometimes contain even snakegourd, bottle gourd etc. Since, it is a stew of mix vegetables, add all your favorite and some non-favorite veggies too and enjoy.

How to make delicious Kerala Style Aviyal

Please check recipe card below for exact measurements of each ingredient used and also for the detailed instructions

• Wash and prep all the veggies, it is better if you cut them all in equal sizes, easy to cook.
• I have microwave cooked the moringa pods/drumstick. Take the chopped drumstick in a microwave safe container, add enough water, little salt and turmeric powder and cook in high for 8 minutes. Drain and keep aside.
• Take rest of theveggies in a wide pan, add water to immerse the veggies and cook them until fork-tender, alternatively you can also steam cook the veggies. Drain the excess water and keep aside.

• While the veggies are cooking, take the ingredients given under 'grind' in a mixer jar and grind it to a smooth paste with enough water.
• Heat a wide pan with oil, preferably coconut oil. Add all the drained veggies, cooked drumstick, peas and mix well.
• Add the ground masala to this and ½ Cup water, I used the excess drained water from cooking the veggies. Mix well and let this cook for 10-15 minutes for the flavors to infuse well.

• When it Aviyal comes out almost dry, Switch off the flame. Let this cool completely, then add the whisked yogurt to this and mix well
• Heat the oil given under “Tempering” in a kadai, crackle cumin seeds, add broken red chilies, curry leaves and pour the sizzling tempering over the Aviyal and Enjoy

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Kerala Style Aviyal Recipe

A rich and aromatic stew of mixed vegetables, cooked in mildy spiced coconut masala, topped with curd and a delectable tempering in coconut oil.

Enjoy this aromatic and flavorsome vegetable stew with rice or with thick and crispy adai.

As i have mentioned in the recipe card, Aviyal stores well for a day or two in the refrigerator. Take care it might turn a bit sour too and If adding do not reheat it for longer time, it might split, again because of the curd.

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