Olan is an important dish in our home town for feast, the sadya as we call it. Whether it is for a marriage or festival feast it is a must, just like cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving dinner. By the way Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Hope those who celebrate have already bought the bird. Only brining, cooking and serving are left. I don’t eat meat so our Thanksgiving will be without turkey.
Last week it was really mess in our house as our gas range was giving lots of trouble and we ended up calling the service guys, got frustrated with them and finally ended up buying a new stove. It was really sad for me to get rid of the stove as I loved that stove very much. As pregnancy hormones are in high swing, it was really difficult to take this frustration. I don’t know if any of you have an army of maids to take care of everything, then I guess, one won’t be frustrated so much. Any way after lot phone calls and visit to local Lowe’s store from where we had bought the stove, and they agreed to give back some money. We had bought the stove for $1650 dollars and they agreed to pay $1270 dollars, rest is gone in drain. Okay I will stop my rambling and come back to Olan.
Olan is a mild stew usually cooked with winter melon/ash gourd, yard long beans and red kidney beans. Some time pumpkin is also used to make this stew. It gets a slight hint of spice from green chilies used. Even though it is coming from the spice land Kerala, it is devoid of any spice, and is dredged in coconut milk and flavored with coconut oil and curry leaves.
Winter melon/Ash gourd is widely used in Asian cooking; in southern India, they make curries with them, where as in the northern part of India and Pakistan they make candy called Petha with Winter melon. In china they make soup with it. Furthermore, it has several health benefits such as help in reducing obesity by increasing the metabolism and thus reducing conversion of fat to sugar. It prevent acidity, ease constipation, relives cough common cold and bronchitis. It also cures urinary dysfunction and infection. It also enhances health of oral cavity and hair. If you want read more from here.
As I always mention, our feast has myriad of tastes, it has salty, spicy, sweet, bitter and with variety of dishes. This olan is a mild curry without any seasoning, and is usually served with rice and other dishes. I made it, just like my mom always did. Here goes the recipe.
Olan: Winter melon/Ash Gourd, Yard long beans and Red kidney beans cooked in a mildly spiced Coconut milk
Delicious mildly spiced winter melon curry with coconut milk and touch of coconut oil
Ingredients
- 2 cup Winter melon/Ash gourd/ Kumbalanga (chopped into cubes)
- 3 or 2 tablespoon Yard long beans/ Achingaa payaru
- ¼ cup Kidney beans/ Van payaru
- 1 cup Water
- ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon Coconut milk
- 1 teaspoon Coconut oil
- 1 sprig Curry leaves
- 1 green chili( increase amount if you want more spicy)
- ½ teaspoon or to taste Salt
Instructions
- In a pressure cooker, wash and cook the kidney beans for about 2 whistles or 15 minutes and set aside.
- In a medium sauce pot add chopped vegetables, green chili, salt and 2 tablespoon of coconut milk and water and cook for about 20 minutes or until the vegetables get cooked but not mushy. Once the vegetables are done add rest of coconut milk and cooked beans. Finally garnish with coconut oil and curry leaves.
- Enjoy with rice and curries.
Notes
Copyright ©2014 Zesty South Indian Kitchen by Swathi(Ambujom Saraswathy) All Rights Reserved.
Copyright ©2013 Zesty South Indian Kitchen by Swathi( Ambujom Saraswathy) All Rights Reserved
This is Swathi ( Dr. Ambujom Saraswathy Ph.D) from Zesty South Indian Kitchen who loves to explore cuisines from all over the world. Whenever possible I try to to give an Indian touch to several of the world cuisine, and has weakness for freshly baked bread. All the recipes you see here are created by me and approved after taste-test by my family.
JishasKitchen says
looks so tasty....gReat with some hot rice..
Elisabeth says
Looks so delicious...love the pretty presentation, as well!
I meant to tell you in my latest comment that I like the new look of your Template on your blog, and the crisp clean look!
tadkapasta says
That sounds like a great combination, Swathi. Looks like perfect comfort food.
Dulce Dough says
Looks delicious Swathi!
Shanthi says
Interesting and inviting
Kristy Lynn says
coconut milk is always a good thing.
Panchamrutham says
incredible part of Kerala sadya...love this combination
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Quay Po Cooks says
Swathi, I love winter melon and most of the time, my mum will double boil it with lots of condiments inside the melon. I would love to try this way of preparation. It sounds so good.
Reeni says
Looks delicious Swathi! Love all the different flavors together!
Miriam says
Looks delicious! Have a great holiday weekend :), Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters
Chitra says
My neigbor used to tell me abt this. looks yummy.
G.Pavani says
delicious curry..
The Café Sucré Farine says
Wow, what an interesting dish!
srikars kitchen says
Olan looks perfect & thxs for sharing...
Sobha Shyam says
delicious Olan, my fav..
Sowmya says
Wow...super delicious and healthy too!
Vegetarian Cultural Creatives
Peggy says
This sounds like such a comforting stew Swathi!
Babli says
Interesting and innovative dish. Looks yummuy, flavourful and healthy too.
lata raja says
Classic Kerala dishes are always appetizing. i am a kooyu lover that i can gobble up all of that. I loved your very first picture in this post. Very inviting!
♥peachkins♥ says
very interesting. We don't cook wintermelon with coconut milk......
Jay says
wow..you never fail me to amaze with your healthy n tasty dishes..;)
Tasty Appetite
Sensible Vegetarian says
Superb one, looks so creamy and delicious.
Mary says
This looks delicious and it really sounds interesting. I've never had this dish and am now curious. I'll have to give it a try. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary
Uma says
beautiful pictures and recipe. I liked it.
Rachana says
Olan looks so delicious.I love it.
Suja says
My favorite..delicious and tempting..
Hamaree Rasoi says
Olan looks simply delicious and awesome.
Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi
ANU says
wow awesome curry....my hubby will love this!
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Rebecca from Chow and Chatter says
this looks tasty and J would like it as no spice so sorry about the cooker thats a shame
Joanne says
I've never heard of winter melon before but with all of these other awesome components, I know I'd love this dish!
Premalatha Aravindhan says
wow delicious recipe,luks yummy...
Shanavi says
Delicious olan..simple yet inviting
Ramya says
Olan looks great! One of my fav Onam dishes:-)
Padhu says
Love this simple and comforting dish
Sushma Mallya says
Thts a yummy bowl of goodness..yummy!
Shanthi says
Looks perfect and awesome. Would love to have it
Kaveri says
Olan is an all time favorite...love it any day.
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Nandini says
Olan is so delicious and yummy!
Priya says
Olan looks fabulous and inviting.
Prathibha says
nice bowl...olan looks tempting n yumm
Hari Chandana says
Authentic and delicious recipe.. looks inviting !!
Indian Cuisine
Chitra says
love it...nice clicks 🙂
Tina says
Yummy olan..
Kavi says
beautiful pics! love the presentation! If you can, please go through the rules of my Ongoing event: Healthy Lunch Challenge & link yuor post there.
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