Have you ever craved something cool and filling on a hot sunny day, but didn't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen? We know smoothies and shakes are full of sugar and too heavy. You want something refreshing so you can return to work with a clear focus. The answer is Avil Milk!
Kerala's street-style drink is made with rice flakes, ripe bananas, chilled milk, and crunchy nuts. It's wholesome, quick to whip up, and endlessly customizable.
This Malabar classic has been a local favourite for decades, often sold in tall glasses in Kerala's bustling evening streets. It's part energy drink, part dessert, and part comfort food. And the best part? You can recreate this iconic drink in minutes at home. Ready to learn how? Let's make Avil Milk!
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🥣 Aval Milk as a Meal
You read that right! We often have it as a "meal," especially for an early dinner. Why not??? Imagine roasted rice flakes, freshly chopped seasonal fruits (or just a ripe banana), your choice of milk, and a sprinkle of homemade granola for crunch. What you get is a light meal and a refreshing summer drink, all in one tall glass! 😆
🍨 Aval Milk as a Dessert
Want to take it up a notch? Turn this simple drink into a dessert by adding a scoop of ice cream, a drizzle of Rooh Afza, Vimto, or even chocolate syrup, plus plenty of nuts and sweetener. There you go, your aval milk becomes a "falooda"-like indulgence in a fancy tall glass!
📸 My Aval Milk Story
I kind of started my own little trend back in 2018 when I posted a lousy picture of my colorfully "packed" aval milk on Instagram. To my surprise, people loved it, and even today, readers search for this recipe on my blog! Since then, I've been sharing my aval milk experiments on Instagram highlights.
Confession time: I'm terrible at capturing beverages, and this is honestly my best attempt at aval milk! 🤣 But hey, it's the taste and nostalgia that matter, right?
🛒Ingredients
- Avil: You may know it as rice flakes, poha or beaten rice. Preferably use the thick version of aval so it holds texture in milk. Thin, airy flakes tend to dissolve too quickly.
- Ghee or butter: This is optional, but it makes it tastier and filling. Use it to toast the aval and nuts.
- Banana: Any ripe banana will work. Mash it using a fork.
- Chilled Milk: You can use regular dairy milk or plant-based options like coconut milk, almond milk, cashew milk, or even laban.
- Flavouring: a pinch of cardamom powder or cinnamon powder (this is to flavour the milk)
- Roasted nuts: Use what you love: peanuts, cashews, almonds, pistachios.
- Sweetener: Add as per taste. Options include sugar, honey, or stevia, etc.
Refer to the Recipe Card at the bottom of this page for a complete list of ingredients and quantities.
🔪How to make Avil Milk?
- Make sure to chill the milk
- Roast the Aval (Rice Flakes)
- Toast or ghee fry the chopped nuts
- Prep the Fruits
- Assemble the Drink
💡Note: The ingredient measurements are just a guide. Feel free to adjust based on your taste preference or the size of your serving glass.
☝️Recipe FAQS
Aval Milk (also called Avil Milk or Poha Milk) is a refreshing drink from Kerala's Malabar region. It's made with rice flakes (poha), mashed bananas, chilled milk, nuts, and sometimes fruits or syrups.
Aval milk is best enjoyed fresh, as the rice flakes tend to soak up the milk and become mushy if left too long. You can prep the roasted aval, nuts, and fruits ahead, then assemble just before serving.
The classic version uses ripe bananas, but you can add seasonal fruits like mangoes, strawberries, grapes, or even apples for variety. I would also try jackfruit next time!
That depends on your banana and milk. Ripe bananas naturally sweeten the drink, but you can add sugar, honey, jaggery, or stevia if you prefer.
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📝Variations
- Boosted Avil Milk: Add a scoop of protein powder, nut butter, or Greek yoghurt to make it a more filling breakfast.
- Crunchy Granola Aval Milk: Top your drink with homemade granola, roasted seeds, or cereal for a more filling treat.
What's your favourite twist on aval milk? Share in the comments below!
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📖 Recipe Card
Avil Milk Recipe | Kerala's Famous Malabar Drink
Ingredients
- ½ cup thick poha, (aval/rice flakes/flattened or beaten rice)
- 2 teaspoon ghee, optional
- 1 large ripe banana, mashed
- 1 cup milk, chilled (you may use laban, coconut milk, almond milk, cashew milk, etc)
- 1 pinch cardamom powder, this is to flavour the milk
- handful mixed nuts, (see notes)
- sweetener of choice , as per taste (honey, stevia, sugar, etc.)
Instructions
- Heat a shallow pan on low flame and add ghee if using else dry roast the rice flakes for a few minutes or until crispy. Remove and keep aside. You may roast the nuts too.2 teaspoon ghee optional
- Add the mashed banana equally into the serving cups.1 large ripe banana mashed
- Top the mashed bananas with some roasted nuts and any other fruits or dried fruits if used.handful mixed nuts (see notes)
- Next, top that with the roasted rice flakes.½ cup thick poha (aval/rice flakes/flattened or beaten rice)
- Stir in the cardamom powder or cinnamon powder and sweetener to the milk and pour over the flakes.1 cup milk chilled (you may use laban, coconut milk, almond milk, cashew milk, etc)1 pinch cardamom powder this is to flavour the milksweetener of choice as per taste (honey, stevia, sugar, etc.)
- Top with some more nuts or granola and serve immediately. Stir, scoop and eat.
Notes
- protein powder - mix with milk
- seasonal fruits like mango, apple, etc.
- basil seeds (sabja)
- dried fruits like dates, apricots, fig etc.
- homemade granola instead of nuts
- ice cream scoop for a chilled dessert
Famidha Ashraf says
Aval milk is one of those simple joys that instantly takes me back to carefree evenings; a glass brimming with poha, chilled milk, bananas, and a sprinkle of nuts. It’s amazing how such humble ingredients can make a treat so refreshing and filling. I’d love to know — do you like yours with just bananas, or do you add extra goodies like dates or ice cream?