Avial

Avial is a vegetable dish that appears at every Kerala sadya, or feast, a gentle medley of whatever is in the garden cooked in a sauce of coconut and yogurt. It is said to have been created in the royal kitchens of Travancore, and it remains a beloved way to eat vegetables to this day. The beauty of it is that almost any vegetable works, so it changes with the season and never gets boring.

Garden vegetables in a silky coconut sauce

The vegetables keep their shape and a slight bite, while the ground coconut, cumin, and green chilies turn into a thick, creamy sauce that coats each piece. A final swirl of raw coconut oil and fresh curry leaves gives it an unmistakable fragrance that fills the room the moment it is poured. It is mild, wholesome, and quietly luxurious, the kind of side dish you keep going back to for one more spoonful.

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