Simple and Sumptuous
Kerala Olan
Recipe

Name: Simple and Sumptuous ~Kerala Olan~ Recipe
Total time: 14 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: Kerala
Ingredients: 1/2 cup Red cowpeas (karamani); 2 cups Ash gourd (kumbalanga); 4 Green chillies; 1 cup Thin coconut milk; 1/4 cup Thick coconut milk; 2 sprigs Curry leaves; to taste Salt; 1 tbsp Coconut oil

14 mins

Cooking Time

Easy

Difficulty

Ingredients

Vegan

Diet

Kerala Olan is a light and mildly flavoured curry made with tender ash gourd and red cowpeas, gently cooked in coconut milk. It has a delicate, slightly sweet taste with hints of green chilli and curry leaves, making it soothing and comforting. Olan is an essential part of Kerala Sadya meals, often served during festivals like Onam. Its simple flavours and creamy texture balance out the spicier dishes on the plate, bringing a calming touch to the meal.

Ingredients

UNITSIngredients

1/2 cupRed cowpeas (karamani)

2 cupsAsh gourd (kumbalanga)

4Green chillies

1 cupThin coconut milk

1/4 cupThick coconut milk

2 sprigsCurry leaves

to tasteSalt

1 tbspCoconut oil

Follow
Directions

Description - Step 1

Cook The Cowpeas

Drain and rinse the soaked cowpeas. In a pressure cooker, combine the cowpeas with 1 cup water and 1/2 tsp salt. Pressure cook for 1 whistle on medium heat. Let the pressure release naturally before opening the lid. The cowpeas should be just cooked but not mushy. Drain any excess water and set aside.