MAIN INGREDIENTS
Avial is an Indian dish with origins in the Kerala region, although it is equally popular in Tamil Nadu and Udupi. Its name means to be cooked, and the dish consists of a combination of vegetables, coconut, and curry leaves. Avial is an integral part of the Indian vegetarian feast called Sadhya.
The key to making a great avial is to pay attention to the vegetables, which need to have contrasting colors, such as winter melon, carrots, and beans. There are numerous theories and stories about the origin of avial. One says that a king did not like to see anything wasted, so he ordered his chef to make a dish out of vegetable leftovers, and avial was created as a result.
MOST ICONIC Avial
Mirchi ka salan is a variety of curry hailing from Hyderabad. It's made by simmering fried mild green chilis in a piquant mixture of peanuts, coconut, fried onions, sesame seeds, ginger and garlic paste, and a variety of spices. The curry is usually enhanced with a variety of spices and tamarind or lemon juice for an extra kick of tanginess.
Typical spices used in the preparation include chili powder, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, turmeric, curry leaves, fenugreek seeds, and nigella seeds. Mirchi ka salan is typically consumed warm with fresh coriander leaves on top, and it is an excellent accompaniment to Hyderabadi biryani or plain rice, but it can also be paired with naan, roti, or other types of Indian bread on the side.
Bisi bele bath, translated to hot lentil rice, is an aromatic and spicy dish originating from the Indian state of Karnataka. Moist rice and lentils are combined with ghee butter, tamarind, curry leaves, nutmeg, and vegetables such as carrots, beans, onions, and green peas.
According to K. T. Achaya, a food historian, bisi bele bath is a modern variation of an old dish from the 10th century called kattogara, consisting of rice, ghee, salt, and garlic. However, others disagree and claim that the dish was invented in Mysore Palace, near Bangalore, when it was a typical lunch meal that was additionally flavored with cashews, dried coconut, mustard seeds, and cinnamon.
MOST ICONIC Bisi bele bath
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