Olan

Olan is a mildly spiced yet flavourful and very traditional dish made with ash gourd and lobia or cowpeas in coconut milk. This a very simple dish and most important dish for Onam sadya .Learn how to make this delicious and authentic Kerala olan recipe below.

Ingredients

Ashgourd(white pumpkin) -2 cups cubed

Red lobia (Van payir / thatte payir)-1/2 cup (cooked)

Green chillies -4 nos slit

Thick coconut milk -1 cup

Salt to taste

Curry leaves few

Coconut oil -1 tbsp

Method

👉Wash and soak the lobia overnight.Next day discard the water add fresh water and pressure cook for 2-3 whistles. Drain the water and set the cooked lobia aside.

👉Chop the skin and remove the seeds from the ashgourd and chop into big cubes set aside.

👉Heat oil in a kadai add the ashgourd,green chillies,curry leaves and required water just enough to cover the veggie.

👉Cook until the ashgourd is 3/4 th done and all the water evaporates.Do not add too much water . Ashgourd takes just 5-7 mins to cook so be cautious to retain its shape and not to overcook it.

👉Add salt , cooked lobia and thick coconut milk bring it to a boil.

👉Drizzle coconut oil on top and serve hot.

Preparation Time -20 mins

Serves -4

Note-

✍️I have used brown lobia in this recipe.