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?
Hello Maria,
Its really mouth watering recipe, I like it. tried without vanpayar.
Thankyou…
Thank you :) Am glad you liked it!
Cheers
Maria
I tried this olan & tomato rasam recipes from ur blog for sadya. It came out well. Thanks :) Please check this link
http://www.chitrasfoodbook.com/2013/09/onam-sadya-menu-2-kerala-recipes.html
Thanks a bunch Chitra! Nice to know that you liked it.
I did check out the link and saw the pics of your sadya. It looks really great!
Best wishes to your blog!
Cheers
Maria
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
Hi Mary,
The water isnt drained, by the time the ashgourd gets cooked, the water level goes down.
Hope it’s clear now :)
Cheers
Maria
Maria, I heard a dish named “Molaka(u)shyam”…(or Moloshyam..?!!)
I couldn’t find this recipe in the web. Could you please share it, if you know this…
Hi Roshn,
I think Molokoshyam is a kind of vegetable preparation which is common is Trichur side. I’m not very familiar with that style of cooking.
Cheers
Maria
Shall we add some yogurt in this…?
I’ve never tried adding yogurt to this, so I’m not sure.
Cheers
Maria
Shall we add some yogurt in this…?
Tried it and loved it! It was a great hit with all my family members too :) Happy Onam to you and Jose :)
Thanks dear for your wishes and comment :) Belated Onam wishes to you guys also.. how’s your lil one doing?
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.
Hi Lakshmi,
Thanks for sharing another version here.. looks like there is a variety of Olan recipes!
Cheers
Maria
My mom makes olan with cherupayar..everything else is same..:)
Olan with cherupayar – that’s new to me :) Hope you had a wonderful Onam..
Cheers
Maria
Tks maria I like Kupalanga I make it very offen but without beans.now tried with beans.very tasty. thanks oncemore.
You are welcome! Nice to know that you liked it. Thanks for the comment :)
Cheers
Maria
How can u go wrong with olan, so simple recipe yet very delicious.. Ur recipe is similar to moms. Gonna miss her … but nt her Olan… Tks Maria …….
Thanks Lijesh :) Wish you a happy onam!
Cheers
Maria
Maria!! All your recipes are cool but why do you blurr the pics? I think the clear pics will help us see the final dish.
Thanks Smitha! This is a technique used in photography called bokeh: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokeh
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.
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