Olan

Olan, a traditional Kerala Sadya dish is a typical Malayalee preparation which is enriched with coconut milk.This is again a simple dish where red grams,ash gourd and pumpkin are cooked together in a thin coconut milk gravy and seasoned with coconut oil and curry leaves. And it has a unique, pleasing and inviting aroma which itself make you crave for the dish.

Here’s my favorite recipe for Olan…

Ingredients:-

Red Gram dal(Vanpayar) – 2- 3 tbsp
Ash gourd (Kumbalanga) diced – 1 cup
Pumpkin (Mathanga/Mathan) diced – 1 cup
Green chillies slit – 3 or 4
Thin coconut milk – 1 cup
Thick coconut milk – 1/4 cup
Curry leaves (Kariveppila)- a sprig
Salt – to taste
Coconut oil – 1 tbsp

Method:-

Pressure cook red gram dal until it is soft ,but not losing its shape.Keep it aside.Into a deep pan add ashgourd dices,pumpkin dices,slit green chillies,salt and 1/4 cup of water.Cover it and cook until the vegetables turn soft.Add more water if needed.When it is done,add in the cooked red gram dal,stir and add thin coconut milk.Allow it to boil,and when the gravy thickens ,add thick coconut milk.Again bring it to a boil,stirring occasionally.Remove it from the stove,season with coconut oil and a sprig of curry leaves.Mix well,cover it with a lid and allow it to stand for 1/2 an hour before serving.This will help the dish to absorb the flavour of curry leaves and coconut oil.Serve with rice.

Check out Olan recipes from fellow bloggers:

Ginger and Mango

Sugar and Spices

ChaiPani

Jugalbandi

Malabar Spices

Indian Potpourri