OLAN – KERALA SADHYA RECIPE – BLACK EYED BEANS WITH WHITE PUMPKIN AND COCONUT MILK

Olan is a traditional Kerala Sadhya Recipe. Olan is prepared during Onam, Vishu and other important functions.

Olan is a simple and easy to prepare dish with less ingredients. Olan is prepared with Black eyed beans (Vanpayar) and Ash gourd (kumbalanga) and green chilies and 1^st (thick) Coconut milk. It is less spicy but it tastes different as it has a good flavor of coconut milk in it. Let’s go through the process of preparing Olan.

Ingredients:

Black eyed beans (Vanpayar)                   1 cup

Ash gourd (Kumbalanga)                           1 ½ cup

Green chilies                                                    10 (spilt into 2 lengthwise)

Salt to taste

Thick coconut milk                                     1 cup (extracted from ½ coconut piece)

Coconut oil                                                    1 tbsp

Curry leaves                                                  1 strand

Procedure for preparing Olan:

1. Pressures cook Vanpayar with enough water and salt. Do not overcook the vanpayar it has to retain its shape.          
2. Peel, wash and cut the ash gourd into 1”pieces.
3. In a kadhai put the ash gourd pieces, slit green chilies, salt and enough water and cook till the pieces become tender and soft.                                                                                                                                                                                                          
4. Add the cooked payar to cooked ash gourd pieces and stir.                                                                                                                   
5. Add to it 1^st (thick) coconut milk mix well and cook till the curry boils on medium flame. Put off the flame.                                                                                                                                                                                
   
6. Transfer the curry into serving dish and garnish with coconut oil and curry leaves.

Serve Olan with steaming rice and other Kerala Sadhya recipes.

Note:

• Do not overcook the payar and white pumpkin.
• For thick coconut milk, grate ½ coconut piece and add ¼ cup water and grind it and then squeeze the mixture in a strainer. U will get 1 cup of thick coconut milk.