Olan - Ash Gourd and Cow Beans Stewed In Coconut Milk

Olan-Ash gourd and cow beans stewed in coconut milk- is an another  memorable delicacy of Kerala sadya. 

Rather than part of sadya (the Keralite vegetarian feast), it is one of the common dishes of my home. It was one of the favourite dish of my grandfather. My grandma and aunt were experts in this. I got this recipe from my aunt.

I used only cucumber and cow beans, but in some area, pumpkins and long beans are also used. The only thing which we should keep in mind is that the amount of cow beans should always be less compared to the vegetable counterparts.

Olan recipe Author: Anju Aneesh Recipe type: Side dish Cuisine: India, South India, Kerala Ingredients 1 cup ash gourd, chopped 1/4 cup red or white cow beans ( Vanpayar) 2 green chilies 1 cup thin coconut milk 1/2 cup thick coconut milk 2 teaspoon coconut oil salt as needed 1 spring curry leaves Direction of preparation of Olan Soak cow beans for one to two hours and pressure cook with 3/4 cups of water. Cook on high flame till the first whistle and then reduce to low-medium and wait for one more whistle and then turn off the stove. The beans should retain its shape. Drain and keep aside. Take a deep pan and cook chopped ash gourd in thin coconut milk. When half done, add green chilly, curry leaves, salt and cooked cow beans. Mix well and cook covered until the ash gourd done well. Let the water to reduce, add the thick coconut milk, mix well and turn off the stove when it starts to boil. Add a few drops of coconut oil and mix well. Keep it covered for five to ten minutes and serve with rice.

 
Let us go to the step by step preparation of olan

1. Soak 1/4 cup cow beans in water for one to two hours. 
   
2. Pressure cook them with 3/4 cups of water. Cook on high flame till the first whistle and then reduce to low-medium and wait for one more whistle and turn off the stove. The beans should retain its shape. Drain and keep aside.
   
3. Peel and remove seeds of cucumber. Chop it into small pieces.
   
4. Take a deep pan and cook chopped ash gourd in thin coconut milk. 
   
5. When  half done, add green chilly, curry leaves, salt and cooked cow beans. Mix well and cook covered until the ash gourd done well.
   
   
6. Add cooked cow beans. 
   

   
7. Let the water to reduce to half, add the thick coconut milk, mix well and immediately turn off the stove when it start to boil.
   
8. Let the water to reduce to half, add the thick coconut milk, mix well and immediately turn off the stove when it start to boil.
   
9. keep it covered for five to ten minutes and serve with rice.

Some tips on Olan

1. The cow beans should remain intact.
2. Pumpkins and longs beans can also used.
3. Add green chilly and curry leaves only when the ash gourd is half done.