Olan | Vegetables in Coconut milk | Sadya Menu

Olan is a traditional Kerala dish prepared with coconut milk and is usually served in sadyas.The flavors are very subtle and is perfect as a side dish with other spiced curries.Olan can be prepared using pumpkin or ash gourd or both.Traditionally cow peas(vanpayar) is used for making this dish but here I have used black eyed peas.Try preparing this dish and enjoy the real authentic flavors of kerala with the tinge of coconut oil !!

Ingredients
black eyed peas 1/2 cup soaked overnight
diced pumpkin 2 cups
green chillies 4 vertical slit
thin coconut milk 2 cups
thick coconut milk 3/4 cup
coconut oil 1tbsp
salt to tsate
curry leaves a sprig

Method
-Cook the black eyed peas in a pressure cooker upto 3 whistles with salt or till tender.
-Cook the diced pumpkin with thin coconut milk,green chillies and salt till tender(takes about 5-7 minutes;don't overdo otherwise it will get mashed up).Adjust salt.
-Drain the cooked black eyed peas from the cooked water.Discard the water and add the black eyed peas to the cooked pumpkin cubes.
-Mix the thick coconut milk on low flame and wait till 1 or 2 bubbles appear at the surface.Switch off flame  and pour the coconut oil,sprig of curry leaves.
-Keep covered for 10 mins so that the flavors blend well,Serve warm !!

Servings ~ 6 people as side dish

NOTES
* You can use cow peas /vanpayar instead of black eyed peas.
* You can use ash gourd instead of pumpkin or use both half in quantity.
* Ensure that the vegetables are not overcooked.
* Draining the cooked peas water is to retain the pure white color of olan.