Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Cheera Avial / Amaranth leaves in coconut gravy


One fresh vegetable which I enjoy throughout the year are the fresh amaranth leaves. These are used in different ways in almost all the kitchens. Each and every one has their own way of preparing this amaranth.



These leaves are highly nutritious and extremely rich in anti-oxidants. They are in different colours like the red, green and purple. All have the more or less same nutritional values and turns into a tasty dish. These are similar to beets, Swiss chard and spinach. Amaranth leaves are available in the market through out the year.

Usually this avial is made with red amaranth leaves but I tried with green and the result was very inspiring. When I was newly married, I didn’t know much about cooking. You all might know from my previous posts that for each and every bit of cooking I would call my mom or my MIL for help. This dish I learnt from my friend, whom I met here and who cooks perfect Kerala dishes.

I didn’t know that a wonderful tangy and tasty curry can be made out of amaranth leaves. I believed that only thoran can be made with leaves. But my friend has introduced me to so many new Kerala dishes that I never tasted before (since I stayed in Andhra, I loved Andhra food a lot).

Here is the result.


Ingredients:
  1. Green Amaranth Leaves- 1 bunch
  2. Coconut- ½ cup
  3. Cumin seeds- ½ tsp
  4. Shallots- 2nos
  5. Green Chillies- 2nos
  6. Raw Mango (sliced)- ½ no
  7. Turmeric powder- ½ tsp
  8. Chilli powder- ½ tsp
  9. Coconut oil- 1tbsp
  10. Mustard seeds- 1tsp
  11. Curry Leaves- few

Method:
  1. Wash, drain and cut the amaranth leaves into small pieces.
  2. Cook this along with slitted green chillies, salt, raw mango pieces and turmeric powder till it becomes soft.
  3. Grind coconut, cumin seeds and shallots to coarse paste.
  4. Add this ground paste and red chilli powder to the above cooked leaves and cover the vessel with a lid and cook for few minutes.
  5. Remove the lid and mix well and cook for about 2-3 minutes and switch off the flame.
  6. In a small vessel heat oil and splutter mustard seeds and curry leaves and pour this over the above curry. Serve hot with steaming rice.

I am sending this to Kerala Kitchen, hosted by Khushi.

Ambreen of Simply Sweet and Savory has tagged me for 7 links challenge. Thank you Ambreen for giving me this opportunity, where I can share my thoughts with all my fellow bloggers.

The most beautiful post: Chocos Cookie Biscuits
I love the shape of these cookies and I think this is the most beautiful post in my blog.

The most popular post: Mixed Vegetable Cutlets
This is the most viewed post in my blog.

The post that was surprisingly successful: Black Forest Cake
Though it did not get the popularity which I expected,  those who tasted it wanted to have more and asked for the recipe. This is the most prepared dessert at home. 

The most controversial post:
I don't think I have any.

The post that did not get the attention it deserves: Rara Chicken Curry.
This was one of my favorite curry recipes, but it did not get the attention which I thought it deserves.

The most helpful post: Easy Microwave Milk Sweet- Palkova
This post is the most helpful post as this is so easy and simple to make sweet.

The post I am so proud of: Chatti pathiri / Layered Pancakes
I am so proud of this post, as I cannot believe that I made this on my own, as I thought that this is the most toughest dish and it came out perfect.


I am tagging the following fellow bloggers too.

Pratima Rao of Prats Corner
Pavitra of Dishes from my Kitchen
Nits of 4th sense cooking
Nags of Edible Garden
Sangeetha of Kothiyavunnu
Sarah of Vazhayila
Rose of Magpie Recipes

20 comments:

  1. Thats a mouthwatering gravy!!!Love the tang from raw mango..:)
    Prathima Rao
    Prats Corner

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  2. This one is my favorite and I like all the beautiful array of dishes.

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  3. Wow!,yumm Cheera Avial followed by delish 7 links divinely dishes.Luv it

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  4. Wat a comforting and healthy avial..beautiful array of marvellous dishes..

    ReplyDelete
  5. Tats quite an innovative avial .....

    Do feel free to drop by when time permits..

    Cheers
    Sandhya
    (Sandhya's Kitchen)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you so much dear friends for all your sweet notes.
    Wel come to my blog Sandhya. Sure will visit your site ASAP.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Never tried cheera avial before..Looks tempting..

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  8. Comfort curry n looks delicious!! all your tagged recipes are equally good..
    Am your happy follower:-)
    Do drop in my space and I would love if you follow me too:-)

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is new to me !!! looks so perfect and delicious with rice.

    Njoyed reading the 7 links..
    and now thats a real challenge for me ! thanks much!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Looks delicious! All the 7 dishes look superb

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  11. Avial and all the dishes looks delicious and mouth watering. Very beautiful presentation.

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  12. New to me but looks so yum! Other dishes look fantastic too..


    http://treatntrick.blogspot.com

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  13. Heyyyy...Thx for the link sweets!!! Im posting it this weekend!!!! Sowie for the delay in posting..Was busy with some other tasts & moreover I dont have a proper net connection since last week :( Using my dad`s right now...

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  14. hi zareena, wish you have a photo of amaranth leaves, never seen or heard of this before..
    looks yummy, may be i would like to try..
    could be available here, but called by a different name. thanks and have a nice day

    ReplyDelete
  15. that avial is so new and very creative - I never cease to be amazed at the number of different variations people creatively come up with - looks Delicious! and all your dishes look gorgeous :)
    cheers, priya''

    http://priyasnowserving.blogspot.com/search/label/Blog%20Anniversary%20Giveaways%20on%20going

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hey Zari, this looks yummy-- I usually prepare cheera with dal or just stir-fry it. It was fun to read your 7 link challenge. I'm sure gonna try your black forest cake--bookmarked. Just hope I get around to it soon, I have an overwhelming list of to-do recipes :)

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  17. absolutely lipsmacking gravy...
    love d recap of your delicious recipes..;)
    Tasty Appetite

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  18. nice recipe...interesting recipe to use cheera other than the usual stir fry...thanks for sharing

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  19. This sounds tangy ... mouth watering here. Looks delicious and all your other recipes look fantastic too, specially the black forest cake :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. 3 Studies SHOW Why Coconut Oil Kills Belly Fat.

    This means that you actually burn fat by consuming coconut fat (also coconut milk, coconut cream and coconut oil).

    These 3 researches from major medicinal journals are sure to turn the traditional nutrition world around!

    ReplyDelete

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