Olan_Kerala Dish

Olan is a dish that is part of the Kerala cuisine of the state of Kerala in South India. It is prepared from white/ash gourd,coconut milk and ginger seasoned with coconut oil. However, commonly at my home, my mom does it with pumpkin. I love olan with pumpkin because  the dish would be sweet. If using pumpkin , add more sugar to have a rich taste. 
As pumpkin cooks fast, be careful not to overcook it , then the pumpkin will turn mushy.
Check out this recipe with ash gourd.



100gm ash gourd
2 tbsp cow peas (thatta payaru)
10gm ginger, julienne
10gm medium pink onion, sliced thinly
1/2 of a green chilli, sliced thinly
1 cup thin coconut milk
1/2 cup thick coconut milk
salt to taste
a bit of sugar
2 sprigs curry leaves
1 tbsp cooking oil




Soak cow peas with water for 15mins, Drain and replace it with hot water. Leave for another 15mins, drain keep aside.

De-skin the ash gourd, discard the middle part and slice about 1 cm thickness. In a wok , place the ash gourd, onions, green chillies, ginger and cow peas. Pour the light coconut milk. Add a bit of salt. Mix all the ingredients. Close lid, and cook in low heat so that the coconut milk do not break. Stir occasionally. 

Once, cooked, add a bit of sugar and salt(if need)  and the thick coconut milk. Add the curry leaves. Pour 1 tbsp coconut oil or any cooking oil. Cover and leave for 5 to 10 mins. Then dish out. 

Olan is ready to be served. 

Note: You can add turmeric powder if u like. But in my household, we leave it white.

Made with pumpkin