I don't know if this a common Kerala recipe but ever since I can remember amma has been making this a quick side dish for Chicken Biryani. Her rationale is, biryani is intense and doesn't have coconut and any Malayali should know that we always pair curries with coconut and without coconut together, to balance the flavours.
Amma sent me the recipe through my uncle who typed it out while she listed the things to be done. The picture was taken in Kottayam when I was there this August and amma made it, not me 🙂
Thakkali Muringakka Aviyal Recipe
Source: My mom
Preparation time: 30 mins
What Is Needed:
4 tomatoes, sliced into six long pieces
1 drumstick / muringakka, cut into 3" pieces
½ cup grated coconut
12 peeled shallots / chinna vengaayam / cheriya ulli
2 flakes garlic
¼ teaspoon jeera / cumin seeds / jeerakam
1 teaspoon red chilly powder
A few curry leaves
¼ teaspoon mustard seeds / kaduku
1 tablespoon oil (preferably coconut oil)
How Its Made:
1. Add the chopped drumstick to about 1 cup water with with some salt and the chilly powder. Keep on a medium flame and cook until soft. The mixture shouldn't be too watery, so if it is, boil some more on a low flame.
2. To this, add the cut tomatoes and cook some more until the tomatoes begin to soften.
3. Grind together - coconut + jeera + garlic to a coarse paste.
4. Heat oil in a pan and add the mustard seeds. When they pop, add the shallots and curry leaves. Fry for about 2 mins, until the shallots soften.
5. Next, add the ground coconut paste and fry for another 1 min. To this, add the drumstick and tomatoes. Mix well. Simmer for 2-3 mins until well combined. Adjust salt.
Serve hot with steamed white rice or chicken biryani.
Nags
Bong Mom - no second! we got married April '08
Bong Mom
Happy Diwali Dear Nags, ok it is over but so what 🙂
Is this your first Diwali post marriage ?
Soma
what a visual treat early in the morning. I could so have this for lunch with some rice & spent 2 hours chewing on the drumsticks.
Miri
I love avial and haven't heard of thakkali avial - can't wait to try it!
Wishing you a very Happy Diwali!
Miri
Cynthia
Happy Diwali!
Padhu
Hi Nags Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving your nice comments .
Divya Vikram
This looks easy and comforting! Especially when out of much veggies!
Kalyani
Looks very delicious & Happy Diwali .....
AshKuku
Thank You Nags,
for the love shared. I hope u liked my blog as it was your first time there & my 'first blog' which would complete a year only by "NEXT YEAR - FEB".
And haaaaan!!! If time permits just have a look at my Drumstick Gravy..... It is prepared my hubby's way (Bihari Style). My folks love it a lot.......
Ash....
(http://asha-oceanichope.blogspot.com/)
munchcrunchandsuch
aviyal? u dont knw how much I long for it..I love kerala aviyal.