Avial

       Avial is a traditional south Indian dish which is also considered as an important side dish of sadhya. There are some stories which suggest that it was one of the five Pandavas, who created this dish. Let's see how to prepare this deliciously easy recipe.

Ingredients

Grated coconut                        - 1 cup

Cumin seeds                            - 1 tsp

Green Chillies (sliced)            - 2 to 3

Turmeric powder                    - 1/2 tsp

Raw Plantains                          - 1 cup (green unripe bananas)

Sliced elephant foot yam        - 1 cup

Snake gourd (sliced)                - 1/2 cup

Long beans (sliced)                  -  1/4 cup

Drumsticks (Chopped)             - 1/2 cup

Carrots                                      - 1/2 cup

Pumpkin                                   - 1/2 cup

Brinjal                                       - 1/2 cup

Cucumber                                 - 1/2 cup

Tindora (optional)                    - 1/4 cup

Curry leaves                              - 1 spring

Coconut oil                                - 2 tbsp

Salt                                             - as required

Water                                         - 3 cup

Preparation

1. To Prepare Paste:

                   Coarsely grind the grated coconut into a paste. While making the paste, add cumin seeds, two green chillies, turmeric powder and 4 -5 tbsp water (add more water if it is too thick).

2. To Prepare avial:

Avial
(Photo courtesy: Samphotography/
Wikimedia Commons)

                   

• Take 3 cups of water in a pan and add chopped vegetables. Cover the pan for some time and cook them till soft. 

Jaggery Dosa (Sharkara dosa)

       Jaggery dosa or vellai dosa is a sweet dosa made with wheat flour and jaggery. You can serve this as a breakfast or an evening snack for kids.

Ingredients

Wheat flour             - 1 cup

Jaggery (grated)      - 1/2 cup

Water                       - as needed

Ghee                        - as required

Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp

Preparation

• Add 1/2 cup of water to jaggery and melt it over low heat and filter it to remove impurities. 
• Allow it to cool. Then take wheat flour, cardamom powder and melted jaggery in a bowl and mix well. Add more water to get a dosa batter consistency. The batter should neither be thick nor too thin.

Tomato curry with coconut gravy

       Tomato curry with coconut gravy is a simply delicious side dish which can be made up very easily. Let's see how to prepare this side dish.

Ingredients

Tomato                      - 2

Onion                         - 1

Grated coconut         - 1 cup

Garlic (sliced)           - 1 tsp

Green chilly              - 2

Mustard seed            - 1/2 tsp

Oil                             - 2 tsp

Cumin seeds             - 1/2 tsp

Curry leaves             - 6 to 7

Dry red chilly           - 2 to 3

Turmeric powder     - 1/2 tsp

Red chilly powder    - 1/2 tsp

Coriander powder     - 1 tsp

Salt                             - to taste

Water                         - as required

Preparation

• Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds into it and let it splutter. 
• Then add dry red chilly, curry leaves and sliced garlic to it and fry for few seconds.