Nutmeg Free Vegan Coconut Vegetable Curry (Avial)
This South Indian classic is a celebration of vegetables ā tender chunks of plantain, carrot, potato, green beans, and squash all brought together in a fragrant, creamy coconut paste that coats every piece beautifully. The base gets its warmth from cumin seeds and green chiles rather than any of the heavier spices that can sneak into store-bought curry blends, making it a naturally clean and straightforward dish. Blending fresh or thawed grated coconut with coconut yogurt creates a thick, grainy paste that clings to the vegetables and delivers richness without any dairy or hidden additives to worry about. The finishing move ā a quick tempering of mustard seeds, dried red chiles, and fresh curry leaves sizzled in coconut oil ā is what transforms the whole dish, adding a smoky, aromatic pop that you'll want to pour over everything. Every component here is whole and identifiable, so you know exactly what's going into the pot. Serve it warm with rice or flatbread and watch it disappear fast.
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Learn more āIngredients
4 servings
For the vegetables
- 1 medium drumstick (moringa pods), cut into 2-inch pieces (optional)
- 1 medium raw banana (plantain), peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
- 1 medium carrot, peeled and cut into 2-inch batons
- 1 medium potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 cup winter squash or yam, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
- Ā½ tsp ground turmeric
- Ā¾ tsp salt, plus more to taste
- Ā½ cup water
For the coconut paste
- 1 cup freshly grated coconut or thawed frozen grated coconut
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 2 green chiles, roughly chopped
- 3 tbsp coconut yogurt
For the tempering
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- Ā½ tsp mustard seeds
- 2 dried red chiles
- 10ā12 fresh curry leaves
Instructions
- 1
Combine the raw banana, carrot, potato, green beans, and winter squash in a large wide saucepan or kadai. Add the drumstick pieces if using. Sprinkle in the turmeric and salt, then pour in the water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to medium, cover, and cook for 12ā15 minutes, until the vegetables are just tender when pierced with a knife but still hold their shape.
- 2
While the vegetables cook, combine the grated coconut, cumin seeds, green chiles, and coconut yogurt in a blender or food processor. Blend to a coarse, thick paste ā it should be grainy and cohesive, not completely smooth. Add 1ā2 tbsp of water only if needed to get the blades moving.
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