Olan

Overview
A simple a delicious vegetarian dish made with ash gourd and coconut milk. This is an easy to make staple dish of Kerala. Fresh coconut milk mixed with the ash gourd, ginger, green chilly, onions and spices make a delicious gravy. There are several recipes for Olan through our Kerala, this is the recipe I got from my mother.


. 

Olan

Ingredients
Ash Gourd   - thin sliced square pieces 2 cups
Ginger 2 inch pieces thin sliced
Green chilly - 3 - 5 split at center
Red onion - half of
one medium size thin sliced
Curry l;eaves 2 sprigs
Coriander powder - 1 teaspoon
Chilly powder - 1 teaspoon
Turmeric - 1/4 teaspoon
Thick coconut milk - 1 1/2 cup
Salt to taste

To garnish
Oil 3 - 4 tablespoons
Red Onion  one half thin sliced
Curry leaves one sprig

Steps
1. Mix the ash gourd with half cup water, ginger , green chilly, red onions, chilly powder, coriander powder, turmeric, curry leaves and salt and bring to boil. Simmer heat and cook till the ash gourd is cooked well about 6 - 10 minutes.
2. Add the thick coconut milk to this and bring to boil. Turn off heat
3. In another pan heat the oil. When the oil gets hot add the thin sliced onions for garnish to this. Saute till the onions are golden brown, add the curry leaves and saute  and pout over the prepared curry

Serve hot with plain rice