Two easy recipes to add to your Onam celebrations

The arrival of Onam brings with a lot of feasting. Whether you indulge in Onam Sadhya or opt to try the delectable dishes one at a time, the vegetarian fare will leave even omnivores satiated.

Anshuman Bali, Executive Chef at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar, shares his recipes to celebrate this season. The sweet pongal will delight your sweet tooth and the flavours of avial are sure to leave you asking for more.

Sweet Pongal

Ingredients:
Rice: 1 cup
Moong dal: ½ cup
Jaggery: 1 cup
Green cardamom powder: 1 tsp
Ghee: 2 tbsp
Cashew nuts: 10
Raisins: 15
Almonds (without skin): 10
Saffron: 5-6 stigmas
Milk: 3 cups



Method:
- In a pan heat ghee, add nuts, raisins and sauté till golden brown.
- Add rice and moong dal, sauté.
- Add milk, jaggery, saffron and cardamom powder. Mix well.
- Cook till rice and dal are completely cooked.
- Serve hot.

Avial

Ingredients
Carrot: ¼ cup
Potato: ¼ cup
Green Beans: ¼ cup
Eggplant: ¼ cup
Yam: ¼ cup
Pumpkin: ¼ cup
Drum sticks: 2
Raw banana: 1
Tamarind Pulp: 1 tbsp
Fresh grated coconut: ½ cup
Curry leaf: 1 stick
Mustard seeds: 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Coconut oil: 2 tbsp
Turmeric powder to taste
Cumin Seeds: 1 tsp
Green chillies: 2



Method
- Mix grated coconut, green chili, cumin seeds and turmeric powder, blend to smooth paste.
- Boil all the vegetables.
- In a pan heat coconut oil, add mustard seeds. Once they crackle, add curry leaves.
- Add vegetables, sauté and then add coconut paste.
- Add salt to taste and mix well.
- Cover the pan and cook vegetables on slow heat for 9-10 minutes.
- Serve hot.