Olan Recipe Kerala Style
What is Olan
Olan Recipe | Kerala Sadya Recipe is one of the basic traditional dishes from Kerala. Sadhya is a traditional feast in Kerala, India, and Olan is one of the main dishes served during this celebration.
Ash gourds and cowpeas that have been flavored with coconut milk, green chilies, fresh curry leaves, and coconut oil. Since it is not spicy everyone can enjoy this dish. In this post, we’ll be sharing a recipe for making Sadhya Style Olan.
It’s a delicious and wholesome dish that is easy to make and packed with flavor. The black-eyed beans and coconut milk provide a creamy and satisfying texture, while the spices add a burst of flavor. This dish is also healthy and filling, making it a great choice for any day of the week.
Ingredients in Kerala Olan Recipe
- Red Cowpeas
- Ash gourd is also known as a white gourd, winter melon, winter gourd etc.
Olan Recipe Kerala Style | ഓലൻ | Kerala Sadya Recipe
Ingredients
For cooking cowpeas
- ½ cup Red Cowpeas / Red eyed Beans / Vanpayar വൻപയർ
- 1¼ cups Water വെള്ളം
- ½ tsp Salt ഉപ്പ്
For the Olan
- 500 gram Ash Gourd / Elavan / Kumbalanga കുമ്പളങ്ങ
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 Nos Green Chilli പച്ചമുളക്
- 2 sprig Curry Leaves കറിവേപ്പില
- ½ cup Thick Coconut Milk / കട്ടി കൂടിയ തേങ്ങാപ്പാൽ ഒന്നാം പാൽ
- 1 Cup Thin Coconut Milk / കട്ടി കുറഞ്ഞ തേങ്ങാപ്പാൽ രണ്ടാം പാൽ
- 1 tbsp Coconut Oil വെളിച്ചെണ്ണ
Instructions
Prepare Ash Gourd
- Remove the skin a little deep, the green color should not be seen. Remove seeds from the inside. We only use the flesh part of the Ash gourd. Slice into small pieces.
Cook cowpeas
- Wash and rinse 1/2 cup cowpeas/black-eyed beans
- Soak cowpeas for 5-6 hours and cook until it is soft. You can cook this in a pan over a stovetop or in a pressure cooker. Note-1 & 2
Cook with Thin Coconut milk
- In the cooked cowpeas, add sliced ash gourd, 3 green chilies, curry leaves, 1 tsp salt, and 1 cup of thin coconut milk. Mix all together and then let it comes to a boil. When it starts to boil, reduce the heat to medium and cover it with a lid for 4-5 minutes.
- Remove the lid and stir all together. Cook for another 3 minutes uncovered. When the ash gourd is cooked it will be transparent.
Add Thick Coconut Milk
- Add 1/2 cup thick coconut milk. Turn off the heat. Mix them all together. Add 1 tbsp coconut oil, and curry leaves. Cover with a lid and let it sit for 10-15 minutes.
- Serve with boiled rice and other curries
Notes
- To Cook in a pressure cooker (soaked cowpeas): In a pressure cooker, combine 1/2 cup black-eyed beans, 1 1/4 cup water, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook until the first whistle comes. Turn off the heat and wait 20 minutes before releasing the pressure.
- To Cook in a pressure cooker (unsoaked cowpeas): In a pressure cooker, combine 1/2 cup black-eyed beans, 1 1/4 cup water, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook until the first whistle comes, then reduce heat to low and cook for another 2 whistles. Turn off the heat and wait 20 minutes before releasing the pressure.
- If you’re buying canned coconut milk, then to make thin coconut milk: mix 1/2 cup canned coconut milk + 1/2 cup water.
- If you’re using fresh coconut, then you will need about
Frequently Asked Questions
How To Extract Coconut milk?
In this recipe, we need thin coconut milk and thick coconut milk. If it is frozen grated coconut then transfer this to a microwave-safe bowl and then heat it in the microwave for 2 minutes. Make sure to bring the coconut to room temperature before extracting milk. If the grated coconut is cold then coconut milk will be churned.
For the Thick Coconut Milk:
Add the grated coconut to a blender, and add 1/2 cup water. Blend it all together. Strain the grated coconut and take the coconut milk. This is the thick coconut milk and set aside.
For the Thin Coconut Milk:
Add 1 cup of water to the same grated coconut, and blend it again. Strain and take the coconut milk. This will make the thin coconut milk.
How To Check Ash Gourd?
If you can cut the seeds with your finger then it is young ash gourd and that is the best for Olan.
How To Prepare Ash Gourd for Olan?
Take about 1 Kg of fresh Ash gourd. In some types of Ash Gourd, there may be tiny thorns on top of the skin. Just scrub it off with a tissue or towel so it is easy to hold it. Remove the skin a little deep, the green color should not be seen. Remove seeds from the inside. We only use the flesh part of the Ash gourd. Slice into small pieces. When you take about 1 Kg of Ash gourd, after removing the skin and seeds you will get about 500 grams of flesh.