Anu's Avial
- 1 medium cucumberpeeled, seeded and cut into 3-by-1/3-inch sticks
- 1 baking potato (1/2 pound), peeled and cut into 1-by-1/4-inch matchsticks
- 1 medium carrot, cut into 1-by-1/4-inch matchsticks
- 3 ounces green beans, cut into 1-inch lengths
- 1 medium tomato, coarsely chopped
- 5 long hot green chiles3 halved lengthwise and seeded, 2 seeded and thinly sliced crosswise
- 5 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 1/2 cups (5 1/4 ounces) shredded unsweetened coconut
- 3 medium shallots, very thinly sliced
- 1 garlic clove, very thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 12 fresh curry leaves
- 1 underripe banana, cut into 1-by-1/4-inch sticks
- 1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
- Salt
- In a large saucepan, combine the cucumber, potato, carrot, beans, tomato, the halved chiles and 2 tablespoons of the vegetable oil.
- Add the water and turmeric and bring to a simmer over high heat.
- Reduce the heat to moderate, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.
- In a food processor, combine the sliced chiles, coconut, shallots, garlic and cumin seeds and process to a paste.
- Stir the paste into the vegetables and simmer for 4 minutes.
- In a small skillet, heat the remaining 3 tablespoons of oil until shimmering.
- Add the curry leaves and fry over high heat until sizzling, about 10 seconds.
- Add the oil and fried curry leaves to the stew, along with the banana and simmer for 1 minute.
- Stir in the yogurt.
- Season with salt and serve.
baking potato, carrot, green beans, tomato, vegetable oil, water, turmeric, coconut, shallots, garlic, cumin seeds, curry, underripe banana, milk, salt
Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/anu-s-avial (may not work)