Kerala Olan – Onam Recipe

I was on a mission to try some sadya recipes at home and decided to make Olan. I went through the recipe, made a list of things to buy. That's when I realised I've never bought Ash gourd (kumbalanga) before. So while I was at the shop, just to make sure, I'm getting the right thing, I decided to check with the salesman. I went and asked him (he is a Malayalee) ” chetta, do you make olan with this?” Now the strange thing is, he heard it as “how do you make olan with this?”! Before I could correct him, he started going around the shop, asking other customers for the Olan recipe. I should say, it was a sight to watch.. with kumbalanga on one hand, he kept on asking people for Olan recipe, all the while pointing to me saying  “aa kochinu vendiya” (it's for that girl)! hhmmm… I wish I knew the vanishing act!

After all the drama in the shop, I finally got around to making it and it came out pretty decent too :)

So how's your Onam preparations coming along? Planning to make a full fledged sadya at home?

Click Here For Recipe…

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25 thoughts on “Kerala Olan – Onam Recipe”

  1. Hi Maria, thanks for the wonderful recipe. Do you drain the water, the ashgourd is cooked in or do you add the 1 cup of coconut milk to this? A bit confused here. Mary

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  2. There is another version of this Olan; my mom in law adds some long beans (achinga) and cheru chembe .She cooks them along the ash gourd.

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  3. Thanks Maria, only yday my husband was asking me to add olan to the sadya menu and i realised i never made olan, leave alone buying ash gourd. I will definitely make this during onam and let u know how it came out. Thanks for your other recipies too, the way u xplained things in the menu makes it simple to make.

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    • Hi Reshmi,

      I’m glad I posted it at the correct time :) Wish you a happy onam in advance!

      Thanks a lot for your comment, it’s nice to know that you like the recipes posted here :)

      Cheers
      Maria

      Reply

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