A tangy and flavorful South Indian rice dish made with fluffy rice, a crunchy tempering of lentils and peanuts, and a generous squeeze of fresh lemon juice. A quick and easy meal perfect for lunchboxes or a light dinner.
Prep10 min
Cook15 min
Servings4
Serving size: 1 cup
349cal
8gprotein
52gcarbs
13g
Ingredients
4 cup Cooked Basmati Rice (Preferably cooled or leftover rice)
A traditional Kerala delight, Avial is a thick stew of mixed vegetables cooked in a creamy coconut and tangy yogurt sauce. Finished with a drizzle of coconut oil, it's a star dish in any South Indian feast.
Crispy, golden, and irresistibly crunchy fried lentil wafers. A classic South Indian accompaniment that adds the perfect crunch to any meal, ready in just a few minutes.
Tangy, energy-giving lemon rice with fiber-rich, gut-friendly aviyal and crispy appalam. Perfect for busy mornings!
This tamil dish is perfect for lunch or dinner. With 752.7500000000001 calories and 16.15g of protein per serving, it's a nutritious choice for your meal plan.
fat
0.25 tsp Hing (Asafoetida)
0.5 tsp Turmeric Powder
3 tbsp Lemon Juice (Freshly squeezed, from 1-2 large lemons)
1 tsp Salt (Adjust to taste)
0.25 tsp Sugar (Optional, to balance tanginess)
2 tbsp Fresh Coriander (Finely chopped, for garnish)
Instructions
1
Prepare the Rice
If using freshly cooked rice, spread it on a large plate or tray to cool down completely. This prevents the grains from breaking and becoming mushy.
Gently fluff the cooled rice with a fork to separate the grains. Set aside.
2
Create the Tempering (Tadka)
Heat sesame oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pan or kadai over medium heat.
Once the oil is hot, add the mustard seeds and allow them to splutter completely, which takes about 30 seconds.
Reduce the heat to low, then add the chana dal and urad dal. Sauté for 1-2 minutes, stirring continuously, until they turn a light golden brown and become aromatic.
Add the raw peanuts and continue to sauté for another 2-3 minutes until they are crunchy and lightly browned.
Add the broken dried red chilies, slit green chilies, and curry leaves. Be careful as the curry leaves will splutter. Sauté for 30 seconds until the leaves are crisp.
3
Combine with Rice
Add the hing and turmeric powder to the pan and stir for 10 seconds.
Immediately add the cooled, fluffed rice, salt, and optional sugar to the pan.
Gently mix everything together, ensuring the tempering is evenly distributed throughout the rice. Be careful not to mash the rice grains. Continue to toss on low heat for 2 minutes until the rice is heated through.
4
Finish and Serve
Turn off the heat completely. Pour the fresh lemon juice over the rice.
Add the chopped fresh coriander.
Give it one final gentle mix to combine. The residual heat will incorporate the flavors.
Serve the Lemon Rice warm, either on its own or with accompaniments like papad, raita, or coconut chutney.
214cal
4gprotein
26gcarbs
12gfat
Ingredients
100 g Elephant Foot Yam (Peeled and cut into 2-inch batons)
1 medium Raw Banana (Peeled and cut into 2-inch batons)
1 pc Drumstick (Cut into 2-inch pieces)
1 medium Carrot (Peeled and cut into 2-inch batons)
75 g French Beans (Trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces)
100 g Ash Gourd (Peeled and cut into 2-inch batons)
1 cup Grated Coconut (Freshly grated and tightly packed)
3 pc Green Chili (Adjust to your spice preference)
1 tsp Cumin Seeds
0.5 tsp Turmeric Powder
0.5 cup Curd (Slightly sour, whisked well)
1 sprig Curry Leaves (About 10-12 fresh leaves)
1 tbsp Virgin Coconut Oil (For drizzling at the end)
1 tsp Salt (Adjust to taste)
0.5 cup Water (For cooking vegetables)
Instructions
1
Prepare the Coconut Paste
In a blender or mixie jar, combine the fresh grated coconut, green chilies, and cumin seeds.
Pulse 3-4 times without adding any water to create a coarse, crumbly mixture. Avoid grinding it into a smooth paste. Set this aside.
2
Cook Vegetables in Stages (15-18 minutes)
In a heavy-bottomed pot or kadai, place the harder vegetables: yam and drumstick.
Add 1/2 cup of water, turmeric powder, and salt. Cover and cook on medium heat for about 7-8 minutes until they are partially cooked.
Next, add the semi-hard vegetables: carrot, raw banana, and beans. Stir gently, cover, and continue to cook for another 5-6 minutes.
Finally, add the softest vegetable, ash gourd. Mix gently, cover, and cook for 3-4 minutes until all vegetables are tender but still hold their shape and have a slight bite.
3
Combine with Coconut Paste (2-3 minutes)
Add the prepared coarse coconut paste to the cooked vegetables.
Gently mix until the vegetables are evenly coated. Ensure there is minimal water left in the pot.
Cook on low heat for 2-3 minutes, allowing the raw flavor of the coconut to dissipate and the flavors to meld.
4
Add Yogurt and Finishing Touches (10-15 minutes resting)
Turn off the heat completely. Let the pot cool for 1-2 minutes. This is a crucial step to prevent the yogurt from curdling.
Pour in the well-whisked curd and mix gently until everything is well combined.
Drizzle the virgin coconut oil over the top and scatter the fresh curry leaves.
Immediately cover the pot with a lid and let it rest for at least 10-15 minutes. This allows the final aromas to infuse deeply into the dish. Do not stir after adding oil and leaves until ready to serve.
5
Serve
After the resting period, give the Avial one final gentle stir.
Serve warm as a key component of a Sadya (traditional feast) or as a side dish with steamed rice and sambar.
