Olan | Ash Gourd & Pumpkin in Coconut Milk
Olan is a traditional dish from Kerala and is essentially pumpkin, ash gourd and cowpeas simmered in coconut milk. This mellow dish is a part of the traditional Onam Sadya (feast).
Ingredients
- 100 gms Pumpkin (~ 1 Cup x 1" pieces)
- 100 gms Ash Gourd (~ 1 Cup x 1" pieces)
- 3 tbsp Cowpeas
- 1/2 Cup Thick Coconut Milk
- 3/4 Cup Water
- 2 Green Chillies
- 1 tsp Coconut Oil/Cooking Oil
- A Few Curry Leaves
- Salt to Taste
Instructions
Cooking the Cowpeas
- Soak the cowpeas in 1/2 cup water for at least 8 hours.
- Drain the water from the soaked cowpeas.
- Add 1/4 cup water and pressure cook the cowpeas till they are cooked and have softened.
Other Preparations
- Peel and chop the red and white pumpkin into 1" pieces.
- Slit the green chillies.
Making the Olan
- To a heavy bottomed vessel, add the pumpkin, ash gourd, green chillies, 1/4 cup coconut milk and 3/4 cup water.
- Over medium heat, cover and cook till the pumpkin and ash gourd pieces are tender.
- Turn down the heat.
- Add the cooked cowpeas, 1/4 cup coconut milk, curry leaves, and salt. Mix well. Add a little more water or coconut milk, if needed.
- Over low heat, let the Olan simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Turn off the heat.
- Drizzle coconut oil over the Olan and mix well.
- Cover and set aside for 5 minutes.
- Serve Olan with rice or even roti!