Olan

Olan  is one of the Onam Sadya recipes.  It is simple and fast to make.  It is very difficult to get the red black eyed bean in North India. So I usually us the regular black eyed bean also known as lobia in hindi.  

Ingredient

Ash gourd (Safed Kaddu) – 2 cups

Grated coconut – 1 ½ cups

Red black eyed beans/ Lobia/ Van Payar – ½ cup

Green chilies – 3

Curry leaves – 1 strand

Mustard seed – ½ tsp

Oil – 1tsp 

Method

1.      Soak the beans overnight or for about 2 to 3 hrs. ( you can skip this step if there is a time constrain)

2.      Cook the bean till soft, and keep aside ( don’t overcook it )

3.      Add ½ cup water to the grated coconut, grind and extract thick coconut milk.

4.      Cut ash gourd to small square pieces.

5.      Cook it by adding a little water, salt and green chillie about 10 min ( don’t make it mashy)

6.      To this add the cooked beans, coconut milk, curry leave. Mix well and cook for 5 min.

7.      Pour the oil and take of the flame.

Note : The gravy should be thick, don’t make it watery.