Olan

Olan is part of Kerala cusine usually served in Sadhya. It can be made with white pumpkin(elavan) or yellow pumpkin(Mathan) or both. It also has red moong daal(payaru) cooked and added to it. If you donot have payaru you can uses black beans also for a change.

Ingredients

White pumpkin – ½ pound
Coconut milk – 1 tin
Red Moong/Black beans – ½ cup
Green chillis - 2
Curry leaves – 4-5
Salt to taste
Coconut oil – 2 tsp

Method

1. Soak the Red moong dal/ black beans over night. Pressure cook it adding little salt. Do not over cook it.
2. Cut the pumpkin into thin squares. Cook it in boiling water adding little salt. When it starts to become soft drain the water.
3. In a pan add 1 tsp coconut oil. Cut the green chillies in long pices and add it to the oil. Add curry leaves. Add the cooked pumpkin and beans to it. Add little water and cook it for 3-4 mnts.
   
4. Add coconut milk. Add salt if necessary. Boil it in low flame. When bubbles come, off the gas and drizzle 1 tsp of coconut oil.

Note: You can also use fresh coconut milk. Scrape out the inside of one coconut and pulse 3 or 4 times in the blender/mixie adding one cup water. Pour it in a muslin cloth and squeeze the coconut milk. Use the first milk for the olan.