“Bean” there done that!!!!

We decided to head out to check the avrekal spectacle on a Monday afternoon at the Sajjan Rao circle.
If you are a foodie, then this is a must go… The mela started on 3 Jan and would be on until the 14th of Jan and it happens every year at Sri Vasavi Condiments at VV puram near the Sajjan Rao circle
I almost got into a fight with the vendor serving uppitu as I couldn’t wait to attack the food and he would take the longest while to serve. I even offered my help for some self service . J

There was Avrekalu all over the place – there was fresh avrekal, dried Averekalu …There was nippatu, fried averkalu and many varieties of mixtures, avrekalu Dosas, avrekalu Vadas, Uppitu, Holige and Ginnu. What a treat for avrekal lovers!

The aromas from the tava were way too tantalizing and with hundreds of people like us in the tiny shop, it was quite a fight…but worth the wait

So what is Avrakalu?

The English name for avrekalu is Hyacinth beans.
The whole beans (avrekayi) look almost like green peas with shells on. The shells are harder than green peas. When the outer skin is peeled, the beans (avrekalu) can be seen. This vegetable or beans is very popular in Bangalore but is seasonal… My mother says you get the fresh beans only for about 15 days in a year and then it’s available in dried form – no wonder there was such drama around it…but we aint complaining at all!!!!

And here is an interesting trivia about the beans and our city ….After you read the story below – you will know why bengalurians swear by the name!!!!
"The story goes that many centuries ago, a Hoysala king lost his way in a forest while hunting game. Tired and famished, he stumbled upon a little village where a family offered him boiled avarekaalu beans and a place to sleep. Grateful for the hospitality, the king named the village as Bendada Kaalooru -- or the place of boiled beans -- and from then on contributed a lot to its expansion.
The story may sound made up and highly romanticized…. but since then Bendada Kaaluru becomes Benga luru, which was later anglicized to Bangalore by the British and is now back to being called Bengaluru!!!!