Political economy of development has always felt to me like avial. As I understand its origin, avial was an afterthought. The dish came together from leftover vegetables that did not fit into the week’s menu. No single ingredient warranted a preparation of its own. Each, taken individually, was ordinary. But when combined—and held together by coconut, yoghurt, curry leaves, and seasoning—the result could be unexpectedly coherent. The ingredients could change depending on what one preferred or what happened to be left in the kitchen. The logic of the dish stayed the same.