Time to feast on Avarekai

BANGALORE: Come winter and a hot cup of tea or coffee is always welcome. A South Indian side dish that adds flavour to winter is fried flat beans, locally known as avarekai. And the city welcomes the harvest of the bean with the Avarekai Mela to be held on December 30.Organised by Sri Vasavi Condiments, on the lines of the Kadelekai Parishe, the mela will see farmers from Magadi taluk put up stalls at Sajjan Rao Circle, V V Puram. The fair will be on for 11 days.Explaining the significance of the avarekai mela, organiser of the fair, Geeta Shiv Kumar said, “This is a seasonal crop and is available only in the winter season. It is rich in nutrients and proteins. Many carry dry flat beans overseas to feel the taste of home food. Students have also filmed documentaries on this mela.”Though this bean by itself is a variety of avarekai, the name avarekai in Karnataka conjures up images of flat beans cooked in different forms and flavours. Cashew, garlic, mint are popular ingredients added to the boiled and fried forms of the beans.“Dosa-Hithkabele Saru, Hithkabele Holige, Avarebele Chikki, Hithkabele Masala, Pepper Hithkabele are some among the many special products available during this fair. Sweet dishes made out of avarekai are also available,” she added. The highlight dishes however were dosas and vadas made with the flat beans.Last year, the fair registered a footfall of over 15,000 people and the organisers said that the public response was increasing with every year.Public place in the vicinity of the circle will be used for the exhibition.”The vendors, mostly farmers, use the footpaths. Legal permission has been taken to use the space. Everyone supports the venture including the shopkeepers as it for public good,” said another organiser.Member of Sri Annapoorneshwari Hidukida Avarebele Kendra, K V Venugopala Guptha, has participated in this fair for the past decade. Speaking about his experience, he said, “Such fairs encourage farmers to grow more crops  every year. When there are large number of farmers growing the same crop in this season, the stock rates falls. Fairs like these help provide a platform for the farmers to balance their investment on the crop and the income.”Mayor Sharadamma, Police Commissioner Jyoti Prakash Mirji and Actress Tara will inaugurate the event at 10 am on Friday.