PUMPKIN OLAN

Olan is a Kerala cuisine which is an important in Onam Sadhya festival.  It is one of the simple recipes that tastes delicious.  I haven't heard of this dish and when my friend Shyamala brought for lunch, the fragrance kindled me to learn the same from her.  Thank you Shyamala :-) The dish can be prepared even without peas.  When I made at home we just loved to the core.  Its yum yum yum... Try and enjoy this excellent and flavorous dish... :-)

INGREDIENTS:

Black eyed peas / Karamani - 1/4 cup
Yellow pumpkin                   - 1 cup cut into pieces
Green chillies                        - 3
Coconut milk (Thin)             - 1 cup
Coconut milk (Thick)           - 1/2 cup
Curry leaves                         - few
Coconut oil                          - 1 tsp
Salt                                       - as needed

HOW TO MAKE:

Soak black eyed peas overnight or 4 to 5 hours.

Make it ready 2 types of milk that is thick and thin.  Pressure cook the peas with 1 cup of water and allow 2 to 3 whistles and it should not get mushy.  Cut pumpkin into pieces and keep aside.

Release the steam from the pressure cooker and in the same cooker add pumpkin pieces and green chillies (Slit the chillies)  Add thin coconut milk, needed salt and curry leaves.  Mix well and allow to cook until the pumpkin get cooked.  Stir ofter to avoid burnt in the bottom of the cooker.

Once the pumpkin cooked add thick coconut milk and blend well.  Allow to boil and at last add the tsp of coconut oil.  Mix well and turn off the stove.

Pumpkin Olan is ready.  Serve with hot rice.

TIPS:

Extract coconut milk from the coconut or use ready made coconut powder for making milk.  Also readymade coconut milk can be used.

If you want thick olan then add 1/4 cup more thick coconut milk and reduce 1/4 cup thin milk from the measurement.