Do goras like Avial?

mazha · Apr 22nd, 2008, 05:56

Hi All,

I would like to start a different type of conversation, where western folks here can help Indians settled abroad to clear up confusions about their host culture.

For starters, here is a problem my wife and I struggle with every time we think of giving a dinner to my Canadian colleagues. What should we cook? Mrs. M thinks we should make north Indian dishes, because people here get mostly north Indian dishes from Indian restaurants. I say we should make south Indian, particularly Kerala, dishes. But Mrs. M. thinks people won't like them. I say goras like avial, she says probably not. And since there is no way of finding out without testing folks, we never serve avial!

I thought this forum would be a good place to settle the question. So do Goras like Avial? What other Kerala dishes do you like?

M

PS: I know, I just broke out of the lurker box, hopefully I can still go back in when I want to, and get some work done!!!

Mod Note

Hi Mazha. I've moved your thread here as there are a number of keen cuisine fans whom I'm sure would like to comment - but might not see the thread in the "introduce yourself" forum.

PeakXV · Apr 22nd, 2008, 06:04

Welcome to IM mazha. Quick question - what is avial?

mazha · Apr 22nd, 2008, 06:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeakXV

Welcome to IM mazha. Quick question - what is avial?

Thanks Peak. Avial is a Kerala side dish, with lots of veggies in a (mostly) coconut base (not gravy). A rough western approximation (in looks) would be a mayonnaise potato salad.

chAos · Apr 22nd, 2008, 06:38

Can only speak for myself, but I like South Indian even better. If it's got coconut in it, it's good with me. Add curry leaves and I won't leave.

Here's a recipe. (Don't know how good it is, just looked it up.)

mazha · Apr 22nd, 2008, 06:42

Yup, that's the recipe. The key term is "sliced thin", exposed surface area makes a lot of difference in cooking.

PeakXV · Apr 22nd, 2008, 06:51

It's alarming how many Canadians cannot handle spicy food. I guess we are just use to and have been brought up with so little seasoning on our meat & tatters that the contrast is a bit too much. With that in mind, I don't think the selection of regional cuisine matters as much as the heat quotient involved in the preparation does.

SitaParityaga · Apr 22nd, 2008, 06:52

I think avial is the perfect dish for folks who are new to Indian cooking...its mild, in terms of chilli heat, not overly spicy, and is a tasty new way to look at serving up a bowl of different veggies.

I looked at the recipe chAos provided a link to, and it sure looks good to me. The recipe may include some hard to find items, but I've had avial here in the states made with local green beans, carrots, pieces of yam and the like, and its been pretty darn good. I love drumsticks...and may-be you can find them frozen in an Indian store in your area. You have to remember to tell people to not eat the whole "stick", but open it up and scrape out the center with your teeth to eat the insides, and leave the stick outer part aside. Tastes like mild asparagus...really, good.

NeeliAankhen · Apr 22nd, 2008, 07:22

A lot of people really don't like/can't tolerate anything they experience as "hot" spice-wise. For anyone who says s/he's notfamiliar with Indian food, leave out all chilis and maybe even ginger.

If anyone says she's had it once or more and liked it, you can make it very slightly hot.

Apart from the "hot"thing, I think people are open to new foods.

(Also there are lots of western people who eat Indian food a lot, but that's not who you're inquiring about!)

luv2go · Apr 22nd, 2008, 08:37

When I give a dinner party that will feature new and interesting foods, I always try to have at least one familiar favorite on the menu. That way if the new dishes do not go over so well, there will be something there everyone loves. I say try it with some more familiar dishes, and see what happens. Good luck!

mazha · Apr 22nd, 2008, 09:27

Okay dokie, now I have some argument points with da better half! :-) Though it won't be easy, she wants people to **love** her dishes, not just like them! :-)

Bigzero · Apr 22nd, 2008, 12:10

Interesting thread!

Avial should be a safe bet, if you dont spice it up too much.

Olan ( if you know the dish ) should be an even better proposition, if you know how to cook it ( fairly simple ), and have the right vegetables ( pumpkin, beans etc ). It is quite mild, and has a good flavour too.

Here is a recipe.
http://www.spiderkerala.com/kerala/r...px?RecipeId=98

Appam and Potato Stew ( or Mutton stew ) could be another killer.

p.s. you can make Olan without coconut milk too, I guess.

The good thing about both options I mentioned above is that both dont need most of the Indian spices at all - green chillies will do. And if you can go soft on the chillies, you will have two dishes that can be a started to the world of Indian cooking. The hardcore spicy ones can come later..

... on second thoughts, a combo of Avial and Olan should be terrific . Avial with the tangy flavour, and Olan with the neutral flavour giving it a nice balance.

In fact the role of Olan during traditional kerala feasts is supposed to neutralize the tastes while trying out various dishes - somewhat like how you smell coffee beans while choosing a perfume..

Nick-H · Apr 22nd, 2008, 12:23

There are many, many non-Indians that love chilli. Indian food is not the only hot cuisine, I think some Thai food can be pretty spicy, and Westerners consume all kinds of these things. Even the average English diet, once so steadfastly conservative, now includes the diets of many continents.

I'm a meat+two-veg man. Leave out the chilli when cooking for me

!

chAos · Apr 22nd, 2008, 19:48

Are you wondering about chili/spice levels, or just the difference between North/South tastes?

The fact that South Indian food is different than what is typically available in restaurants is the very reason it might appeal to plenty of people. Here's my advice: when you invite someone over, say; "We're Keralan, and you're in for a treat - real homestyle Keralan food!" and go for it. You can ask about and adjust mirchi as needed. It might be that there are people who would rather have korma than avial, but they won't know until they try.

Consider this; it might be their favorite cuisine ever, but if you don't serve it to them, they may go their whole lives bereft of the experience and then never find out. Too sad to contemplate, surely.

MrsC_772 · May 11th, 2008, 23:50

Make Keralan food!

I love Indian food but I've never tried Keralan, I had no idea what avial was, and you don't tend to see Keralan food in Indian restaurants in the UK (don't know about Canada). Give your guests the chance to try something different.

edwardseco · May 12th, 2008, 01:06

Dang, I am getting hungry just reading about it..

Apr 22nd, 2008, 05:56	#1
mazha Homesick Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Waaay North Posts: 150	Do goras like Avial? Hi All, I would like to start a different type of conversation, where western folks here can help Indians settled abroad to clear up confusions about their host culture. For starters, here is a problem my wife and I struggle with every time we think of giving a dinner to my Canadian colleagues. What should we cook? Mrs. M thinks we should make north Indian dishes, because people here get mostly north Indian dishes from Indian restaurants. I say we should make south Indian, particularly Kerala, dishes. But Mrs. M. thinks people won't like them. I say goras like avial, she says probably not. And since there is no way of finding out without testing folks, we never serve avial! I thought this forum would be a good place to settle the question. So do Goras like Avial? What other Kerala dishes do you like? M PS: I know, I just broke out of the lurker box, hopefully I can still go back in when I want to, and get some work done!!! Mod Note Hi Mazha. I've moved your thread here as there are a number of keen cuisine fans whom I'm sure would like to comment - but might not see the thread in the "introduce yourself" forum. Last edited by brownboy66 : Apr 22nd, 2008 at 20:34.

Apr 22nd, 2008, 06:04	#2
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 3,784	Welcome to IM mazha. Quick question - what is avial? __________________ We shall not cease from exploration and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started ...and know the place for the first time. T.S. Eliot Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

Apr 22nd, 2008, 06:38	#4
chAos I have a theory... Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: [SEA] to HYD Posts: 540	Can only speak for myself, but I like South Indian even better. If it's got coconut in it, it's good with me. Add curry leaves and I won't leave. Here's a recipe. (Don't know how good it is, just looked it up.) Last edited by chAos : Apr 22nd, 2008 at 19:24.

Apr 22nd, 2008, 08:37	#9
luv2go Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: usa Posts: 22	Maybe mix it up a bit! When I give a dinner party that will feature new and interesting foods, I always try to have at least one familiar favorite on the menu. That way if the new dishes do not go over so well, there will be something there everyone loves. I say try it with some more familiar dishes, and see what happens. Good luck!

Apr 22nd, 2008, 12:10	#11
Bigzero back to my old ways Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,433	Interesting thread! Avial should be a safe bet, if you dont spice it up too much. Olan ( if you know the dish ) should be an even better proposition, if you know how to cook it ( fairly simple ), and have the right vegetables ( pumpkin, beans etc ). It is quite mild, and has a good flavour too. Here is a recipe. http://www.spiderkerala.com/kerala/r...px?RecipeId=98 Appam and Potato Stew ( or Mutton stew ) could be another killer. p.s. you can make Olan without coconut milk too, I guess. The good thing about both options I mentioned above is that both dont need most of the Indian spices at all - green chillies will do. And if you can go soft on the chillies, you will have two dishes that can be a started to the world of Indian cooking. The hardcore spicy ones can come later.. ... on second thoughts, a combo of Avial and Olan should be terrific . Avial with the tangy flavour, and Olan with the neutral flavour giving it a nice balance. In fact the role of Olan during traditional kerala feasts is supposed to neutralize the tastes while trying out various dishes - somewhat like how you smell coffee beans while choosing a perfume.. __________________ miles to go.... Bigzero's Photo Gallery

Apr 22nd, 2008, 06:42	#5
mazha Homesick Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Waaay North Posts: 150	Yup, that's the recipe. The key term is "sliced thin", exposed surface area makes a lot of difference in cooking.

Apr 22nd, 2008, 06:51	#6
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 3,784	It's alarming how many Canadians cannot handle spicy food. I guess we are just use to and have been brought up with so little seasoning on our meat & tatters that the contrast is a bit too much. With that in mind, I don't think the selection of regional cuisine matters as much as the heat quotient involved in the preparation does.

Apr 22nd, 2008, 06:52	#7
SitaParityaga member in the forest Join Date: May 2003 Location: California Posts: 852	I think avial is the perfect dish for folks who are new to Indian cooking...its mild, in terms of chilli heat, not overly spicy, and is a tasty new way to look at serving up a bowl of different veggies. I looked at the recipe chAos provided a link to, and it sure looks good to me. The recipe may include some hard to find items, but I've had avial here in the states made with local green beans, carrots, pieces of yam and the like, and its been pretty darn good. I love drumsticks...and may-be you can find them frozen in an Indian store in your area. You have to remember to tell people to not eat the whole "stick", but open it up and scrape out the center with your teeth to eat the insides, and leave the stick outer part aside. Tastes like mild asparagus...really, good.

Apr 22nd, 2008, 07:22	#8
NeeliAankhen Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New York, NY USA Posts: 268	A lot of people really don't like/can't tolerate anything they experience as "hot" spice-wise. For anyone who says s/he's notfamiliar with Indian food, leave out all chilis and maybe even ginger. If anyone says she's had it once or more and liked it, you can make it very slightly hot. Apart from the "hot"thing, I think people are open to new foods. (Also there are lots of western people who eat Indian food a lot, but that's not who you're inquiring about!)

Apr 22nd, 2008, 09:27	#10
mazha Homesick Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Waaay North Posts: 150	Okay dokie, now I have some argument points with da better half! :-) Though it won't be easy, she wants people to love her dishes, not just like them! :-)

Apr 22nd, 2008, 12:23	#12
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,648	There are many, many non-Indians that love chilli. Indian food is not the only hot cuisine, I think some Thai food can be pretty spicy, and Westerners consume all kinds of these things. Even the average English diet, once so steadfastly conservative, now includes the diets of many continents. I'm a meat+two-veg man. Leave out the chilli when cooking for me ! __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Apr 22nd, 2008, 19:48	#13
chAos I have a theory... Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: [SEA] to HYD Posts: 540	Are you wondering about chili/spice levels, or just the difference between North/South tastes? The fact that South Indian food is different than what is typically available in restaurants is the very reason it might appeal to plenty of people. Here's my advice: when you invite someone over, say; "We're Keralan, and you're in for a treat - real homestyle Keralan food!" and go for it. You can ask about and adjust mirchi as needed. It might be that there are people who would rather have korma than avial, but they won't know until they try. Consider this; it might be their favorite cuisine ever, but if you don't serve it to them, they may go their whole lives bereft of the experience and then never find out. Too sad to contemplate, surely.

May 11th, 2008, 23:50	#14
MrsC_772 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 95	Make Keralan food! I love Indian food but I've never tried Keralan, I had no idea what avial was, and you don't tend to see Keralan food in Indian restaurants in the UK (don't know about Canada). Give your guests the chance to try something different.

May 12th, 2008, 01:06	#15
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,588	Dang, I am getting hungry just reading about it..

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