Olan
A very simple Keralite dish made with ashgourd and coconut milk
Servings 2
Ingredients
- 1½ cups chopped ash gourd (app ½ of a small ash gourd)
- ½ cup water(or as needed)
- ¼ cup cooked cowpeas
- ¼ cup thick coconut milk
- 2 nos green chillies
- 2 tsps coconut oil
- salt as needed
- few curry leaves
Instructions
- Remove the skin and center part of the ash gourd and chop into flat thin pieces. Grind ¼ cup tightly packed (50g) coconut with warm water and strain to get ¼ cup thick coconut milk. Keep aside.
- Take the chopped ashgourd in a vessel and add the chillies and salt as needed. Add water to immerse the pieces and cook till the vegetable becomes soft.
- Once it cooks and the water almost evaporates add the cooked cowpeas. Mix up gently and let it simmer for a minute.
- Finally, add the thick coconut milk. Stir without breaking the pieces so that the mixture thickens a bit. Turn off stove before it starts boiling.
- Drizzle coconut oil and garnish with fresh curry leaves.