Olan

Olan

No sadya in Kerala is complete without  olan.  It is a mild curry with the flavor of coconut milk. It can be prepared with or without red gram(vanpayar).

Basic info about the recipe

Cuisine                                                                - South Indian

Serves                                                                 - 3-4 people

Ingredients:

1.   Ash gourd/pumpkin                      - 1 cup

2.   Red gram(vanpayar)                    - 1 cup

3.   Coconut milk(thick)                       - 1 cup

4.   Salt                                                 - to taste

5.   Green chillies                                - 2-3 nos

6.   Coconut oil                                    - 1 tsp

7.   Curry leaves                                 - 6 nos.

Method: Boil red gram adding green chillies in a pressure cooker. ( no need to soak, it can be boiled as such). After 2 whistles reduce the flame and allow 4-5 whistles in low flame. Turn off the gas.

Cut  the ash gourd/pumpkin into thin cubes.

Put the ash gourd on top of the boiled red gram and wait for a whistle. Open immediately so that the ash gourd is cooked to perfection.

Add coconut milk and salt and stir continuously to a semi- thick consistency.

Add curry leaves and drizzle a spoon of oil on top and serve hot.

Note: while boiling red gram, do not add salt. This helps the red gram to cook faster.