Oolan

Oolan/Olan is perhaps the simplest of the traditional Kerala Sadya dishes. It is traditionally made with mathan (pumpkin), elavan or kumbalanga (winter melon or ash gourd), and black-eyed peas or cow peas. Enriched with coconut milk the unique combination of the ingredients produces a delicious dish with a unique, pleasing and inviting aroma which itself make you crave for more.

Ingredients:

2-3 tbsp Black eyed peas or Cow peas (Vanpayar)

1 cup diced Pumpkin (Mathanga/Mathan) or Ash gourd (Kumbalanga)

3- 4 Green chillies slit

1/2 cup Coconut milk

Salt to taste

1 tbsp Coconut oil

Curry leaves for garnish

Method:

- Pressure cook the pre soaked Black eyed peas/Cow peas until and keep it aside.

- Cook ashgourd /pumpkin and slit green chillies with salt and water until the vegetables turn soft.

- Now add in the cooked Black eyed peas/Cow peas and stir

- Then add the coconut milk and allow it to boil and remove it from the heat (the gravy should be thick)

- Season with coconut oil and a sprig of curry leaves. Mix well, cover it with a lid and allow it to stand for around 1/2 an hour before serving. This will help the dish to absorb the flavour of curry leaves and coconut oil.

- Serve with rice.