Olan is yet another inevitable dish of a Kerala sadya. Olan might be the only vegetarian dish prepared without adding any spice powders. Its coconut milk and green chilly that imparts a unique taste, aroma and flavor to an olan. Some other vegetables like pumpkin and little long runner beans/achinga payar can also be used in an olan but winter melon is most commonly used. Here goes the recipe:
Ingredients (Serves 6 – 7)
- Winter melon/ kumbalanga/ ash gourd – 250gm (Around 2 – 2.5 cup), skin and seeds removed and cubed
- Red chori/ van payar/ red gram – 1/4 cup
- Green chilies – 3 – 4 or to taste, slit
- Semi-thick coconut milk – 3/4 – 1 cup
- Thick coconut milk (onnam pal) – 1/4 – 1/2 cup
- Curry leaves – 1 – 2 sprigs
- Salt – to taste
- Coconut oil – 1 tbsp
Method1. Cook the red chori/ van payar in a pressure cooker adding enough water, salt. Drain the water and keep aside. Be sure to add more water since the van payar will double in size. It usually takes around 3-5 whistles depending on the type of pressure cooker that we use. Cut the winter melon into small cubes.
2. Cook the winter melon and green chilies adding enough water (around 1/2 – 3/4 cup), few curry leaves and salt.
3. When the winter melon cubes are cooked completely and moisture is almost 90% evaporated, mash them slightly and add cooked van payar and semi-thick coconut milk. Cook for 5 – 8 minutes over medium-low until it thickens. It should have a medium thick consistency, it will thicken as it sits. Add salt, to taste. Now add the thick coconut milk and cook for a minute over low heat. Switch off. Finally add curry leaves and 1 tbsp coconut oil. Let rest for 15 – 20 minutes. Serve warm with rice.
wow.. looks delicious.
delicious recipe dear…love it
This sounds more like the stew I get in Southindies ( very popular restaurant for Kerala cuisine here in bangalore ) . I am sure this will go well with aapam also.
Awesome click dearies …
Wowww! yet another healthy summer recipe…Looks so cool and divine.
olan adipolli annu keto…vishu agosham ellam neratha thudanjiyuoo…
Wat an authentic kerala dish, looks fabulous..
Wooow,,again traditional keralite recipe…looks superb dear…HAPPY VISHU TO YOU BOTH MAYA N LAKSHMI..
This dish looks yummy and creamy.
Interesting name,sounds so good & with so less ingredients too it looks tasty….
Perfect 4 the Vishu Sadya …Happy Vishu in advance …Excellent Click too !!
Simple comfort dish and love to have those any time. Superb click to go with it.
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Yummies…Vishu pramanichu thakarkunallo…Olan adipoli…
Love
Kairali sisters
Great pics!
Looks delicious, wonderful recipes.
Another inevitable part of sadya..love it
Wow! delicious..
one of us is big fan of olan n the other is not..but cant do without in a sadhya.. happy vishu wishes in advance dearies..
Getting more inclined to know about Sadya…thanks a lot for sharing these new kind of dishes….
New, creative and yummilicious! Love the pics.
Dish looks very creamy and rich in taste..
olan looks fabulous .. nice dish
This looks refreshing and delicious and beautiful flavour from the coconut.
Very different dish . looks so refreshing and inviting.
Wow!!! This looks so delicious…
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Delicious….
looks so delicious..hope u guys are planning for a big feast on vishu.
Olan looks very delicious…awesome clicks 🙂
wow!! kandittu kothiyakunnu…
Tried this out today.. Came out really good.. Thanks for the recipe… I added a tsp of black pepper powder too..I think thats common towards the malabar side..
Dear Maya,thanks for the recipe vanpayar nerathe soak cheyyande?
Venda..nere eduthu pressure cook cheythal mathi until soft
Hi Maya…first of all thanks a lot for making my day…this vishu was the first for me n my husband AL by ourselves post we shifted to the gulf four months ago..me being a tamilian wasn’t aware of much cooking related to vishu sadhya..so came across ur site…found it interesting and decided to follow ur recipes for most of the items on my menu…the result was so yummy and delicious..my guests were awe struck at the no of dishes and it’s taste… This is all thanks to ur recipes…very clear…simple..easy..n definitely fool proof even for a beginner if v just followed ur details…thanks a lot dear..
Made it today and came out yummy. Only thing I found different was the color. It was brown and not white as in your picture. The taste was awesome though. Thanks Maya !!