Avial

This is yet another traditional Kerala dish which is part of any Kerala Sadya.

Ingredients:
1. Raw banana - 1 cup
2. Yam/Sooran - 1 cup
3. Drumsticks - 1 cup
4. Carrot - 1/4 cup
5. Potato - 1 small sized
6. Beans/long beans - 1/2 cup
7. Green Chillies - 5 nos.
8. Coconut - 2 cup
9. Yogurt- 1 cup
10. Cumin seeds - 1 tbsp
11. Coconut oil - 1 tbsp
12. Curry leaves - few
13. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
14. Salt to taste

Method:
1. Cut all the vegetables in 2 inch long and 1/2 inch thickness.

2. Boil banana, yam, carrot, potato, beans and drumstick in 2 cups of water, salt and turmeric powder. Make sure all the water is evaporated once the vegetables are cooked.

3. Coarsely grind coconut, green chillies and cumin seeds and add to cooked vegetables. Let it simmer for around 5 minutes.

4. Add curry leaves and coconut oil and turn off the stove.

5. Once this cools down add beaten yogurt.

Kootu Curry

This is one of the dishes of a traditional kerala sadya. Thanks to my Mom for sharing this recipe.

Ingredients:
1. Black chana(soaked in water overnight) – 2 cups
2. Raw banana – 1 cup
3. Yam/Sooran – ½ cup
4. Grated coconut – 1 cup
5. Cumin seeds – 1 tsp
6. Turmeric powder – ½ tsp
7. Pepper powder – coarsely ground – ½ tsp
8. Dry red chillies – 2 nos.
9. Mustard seeds – ½ tsp
10. Curry leaves - few
11. Coconut oil – 1 tsp
12. Salt to taste

Method:
1. Pressure cook black chana, raw banana, yam along with salt, turmeric powder with 1 cup water for 20-25 minutes in medium flame.

2. Keep aside 1 tbsp of grated coconut for garnishing. Make a rough paste of rest of the coconut and cumin seeds.

3. Add this paste to the cooked chana along with pepper powder and cook for 10 minutes under medium flame.

4. Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds. After it splutters, add dry red chillies, curry leaves and 1 tbsp grated coconut. Fry till coconut turns golden brown in color. Add this mixture to chana and serve hot.

Diamond Cuts - Sweet

These diamond cuts are super crispy and they are quite different from the ones that my mom makes. My mom's diamond cuts are sugar coated and contain no eggs.

Ingredients:
1. All-purpose flour/Maida - 2 cups
2. Sugar - 3/4 cup
3. Egg - 1
4. Salt - 1/4 tsp
5. Baking soda - 1/4 tsp
6. Lukewarm water - 1/2 cup
7. Oil for deep frying

Method:
1. Thoroughly mix all-purpose flour, salt, sugar, baking soda and a beaten egg. Add lukewarm water to this and make soft dough.

2. Cover the dough with wet cloth and keep aside for an hour.

3. Take small pieces of dough, flatten it with rolling pin and cut into diamond shapes.

4. Deep fry in oil under medium flame until golden brown.

Enjoy these delicious crispy diamond cuts and share your thoughts with me.