Avial

                        Small joys have their own pains.You cannot reach the top of a hill and luxuriate in the picturesque scenery around, without a little bit of sweat perspired on your hike. So when you are expecting your baby with a lot of woven dreams, you cannot help but face a bit of pesky troubles b'fore you receive your bundle of joy in your hands.

                      When the so called morning sickness became more like a whole day sickness, and making daily dishes or even entering the kitchen with out the nagging nausea became impossible, I was quite up the creek. It's needless to say I couldn't satisfy the greedy guts of my son or his father nor could I keep my good humour up.What's more.. the jack fruits and mangoes which grew in India (plucked fresh from the trees and not exported) tempted me like never before. And I longed for the luxury of not having to prepare everything by myself and just eat the yummy dishes mom prepared, when she calls, “grub’s up”. You would have guessed by now the reason for my quite sudden disappearance from the blogosphere as if into thin air. Well, I am happy to be back, though I cannot promise a post in every alternate days.

             So well, I had no other choice but to catch the next plane possible and fly to fulfill my dream, though it cost my hubby a fortune. (May Almighty Allah bless him ) So yes! I am now in India, with almost all those wishes fulfilled (thanks Allah) and feeling quite well perhaps and planning to fly back next month.

             I was also lucky enough to witness the summer showers which came as a cool comfort in the scorching heat. It was jus’ fantastic and I candidly enjoyed it like my excited son who was witnessing his first sight of real rain. Rain always lifts my mood up. I have always found it kinda euphoriogenic. That must be why I got an enthusiasm to post something after the long break.

             I thought of posting something my mom prepares and I have always been the greatest fan of her Avial, the yummy vegetarian Kerala delight. More than often I have ended up licking the earthen pot in which she prepares it with much ardour. I also used to prepare it when ever we come to the end of a purchase and we have a little bit of different vegetables leftover. I usually prepare it adding yogurt.You can also prepare Avial adding tamarind or raw mango for the sourness. Here is the recipe..

Avial

Things you need:

Elephant yam         - 100g
Ash guard              - 150g
Cucumber              - 150g
Snake guard           - 100g
Carrot                    - 1 small
Brinjal                    - 1 medium
Drum stick             - 1
Raw plantain          - 1
Spring beans          - 5
Green chillies         - 6
Turmeric powder   - 3/4 tsp
Chilli powder         - 1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds          - 1 1/2 tsp
Grated fresh coconut  -  1
Yogurt , beaten          -   2 cups
Coconut oil                -   50 g
Salt  to taste

Method:

1. Coarsely grind the coconut, green chillies and cumin seeds and keep aside.
2. Wash and cut all the vegetables into equal sized pieces of two inches.
3. Heat an earthen vessel and add a little coconut oil into it. Add the elephant yam  and saute for a few minutes.Pour a little water and cook it in low flame for a few minutes. When it is half done, add the rest of the vegetables, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, salt and adequate water and cook in low flame, covering the vessel.
4. When the vegetables are well cooked , add the ground coconut mixture, flatten it over the cooked vegetables with a spatula and keep the vessel covered until vapour passes through the coconut mixture. Then open the lid and mix the vegetables and coconut mixture evenly and switch off the flame.
5. Add the beaten yogurt and mix well. Garnish with curry leaves and coconut oil and mix well.
6. Serve hot with rice.