I don’t know if this a common Kerala recipe but ever since I can remember amma has been making this a quick side dish for Chicken Biryani. Her rationale is, biryani is intense and doesn’t have coconut and any Malayali should know that we always pair curries with coconut and without coconut together, to balance the flavours.
Amma sent me the recipe through my uncle who typed it out while she listed the things to be done. The picture was taken in Kottayam when I was there this August and amma made it, not me 🙂

Thakkali Muringakka Aviyal Recipe
Source: My mom
Preparation time: 30 mins
What Is Needed:
4 tomatoes, sliced into six long pieces
1 drumstick / muringakka, cut into 3″ pieces
1/2 cup grated coconut
12 peeled shallots / chinna vengaayam / cheriya ulli
2 flakes garlic
1/4 tsp jeera / cumin seeds / jeerakam
1 tsp red chilly powder
A few curry leaves
1/4 tsp mustard seeds / kaduku
1 tbsp oil (preferably coconut oil)
How Its Made:
1. Add the chopped drumstick to about 1 cup water with with some salt and the chilly powder. Keep on a medium flame and cook until soft. The mixture shouldn’t be too watery, so if it is, boil some more on a low flame.
2. To this, add the cut tomatoes and cook some more until the tomatoes begin to soften.
3. Grind together – coconut + jeera + garlic to a coarse paste.
4. Heat oil in a pan and add the mustard seeds. When they pop, add the shallots and curry leaves. Fry for about 2 mins, until the shallots soften.
5. Next, add the ground coconut paste and fry for another 1 min. To this, add the drumstick and tomatoes. Mix well. Simmer for 2-3 mins until well combined. Adjust salt.
Serve hot with steamed white rice or chicken biryani.
dear nags,
me too i am of telugu origin and settled in kerala for..my granny was a great cook ,but my mom and me not so much ,we didnt get the chance to learn from her because of her untimely death and mostly because my mom was superbusy in her younger days..still we try and recreate the tastes ,which still linger on from the good old days….thanks for ur recipes nags….
HB u nut!! hehe.. what sounds motherly, the thakaali aviyal recipe? hmpff! i can make it too!!
Nice one dear…Perfect side dish for rice.
Curry looks yummy!!
yummy recipe..please do participate in my first cooked food event…check my blog for details
love all aviyal recipes… coconut oil takes the dish to the next level, doesn't it?
good one… looks wonderful too…
its obvious where your wonderful cooking talent come from…very very nice..
aviyal? u dont knw how much I long for it..I love kerala aviyal.
wow ! lovely !! once again you rock !!
Bong Mom – no second! we got married April '08
Sound easy to prepare. Love the addition of coconut. 🙂
wow ! lovely !! once again you rock !!
Bong Mom – no second! we got married April '08
Happy Diwali Dear Nags, ok it is over but so what 🙂
Is this your first Diwali post marriage ?
what a visual treat early in the morning. I could so have this for lunch with some rice & spent 2 hours chewing on the drumsticks.
I love avial and haven't heard of thakkali avial – can't wait to try it!
Wishing you a very Happy Diwali!
Miri
Happy Diwali!
Hi Nags Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving your nice comments .
This looks easy and comforting! Especially when out of much veggies!
Looks very delicious & Happy Diwali …..
Thank You Nags,
for the love shared. I hope u liked my blog as it was your first time there & my 'first blog' which would complete a year only by "NEXT YEAR – FEB".
And haaaaan!!! If time permits just have a look at my Drumstick Gravy….. It is prepared my hubby's way (Bihari Style). My folks love it a lot…….
Ash….
(http://asha-oceanichope.blogspot.com/)
aviyal? u dont knw how much I long for it..I love kerala aviyal.
I've never seen this veg combo (or heard of tomatoes in aviyal) for aviyal so don't know if its common in Kerala. It sounds good though.
Happy Diwali wishes to you both.
your pics are getting better and better girl! the curry looks delicious:)
btw, I'm back to blogging after my motherhood break, and hope you can find some time to make some goodies for my Sweet celebration event
its obvious where your wonderful cooking talent come from…very very nice..
Aviyal looks so yummy! I love aviyal and would eat it with everything – adai, rice, dosa 🙂
Aviyal looks marvellous..
Such wonderful flavors in this delicious dish, excellent!
Very new to me,with awesome combination of ingredients,sure i wud love this,will try when I buy drumstick!
good one… looks wonderful too…
love all aviyal recipes… coconut oil takes the dish to the next level, doesn't it?
A perfect yummy click and dish 🙂
yummy recipe..please do participate in my first cooked food event…check my blog for details
Now here's a combo not to be missed.
Curry looks yummy!!
I was searching for Aviyal recipe all over the internet for a potluck and here you are…It looks so delicious!
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aviyal looks yummy..:)
First again first again!Sounds mother-ly, really 🙂 I would have got a doubt if you said you made it 😛
Sound easy to prepare. Love the addition of coconut. 🙂
Nice one dear…Perfect side dish for rice.
HB u nut!! hehe.. what sounds motherly, the thakaali aviyal recipe? hmpff! i can make it too!!