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Watermelon Olan തണ്ണിമത്തൻ ഓലൻ

Olan, a traditional Kerala side dish, prepared with Watermelon rinds, Red cowpeas and coconut milk.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Soaking Time6 hours
Total Time6 hours 50 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Indian, Kerala, South Indian
Keyword: kerala olan recipe, olan recipe, sadhya recipes, sadhya side dish, watermelon, watermelon rinds olan
Servings: 6 people
Author: Winnie Ann Koshy

Equipment

  • 2 Medium sized bowl
  • 1 Pressure Cooker or Pot

Ingredients

  • ½ cup Red Cowpea/ Red Chori/ വൻപയർ
  • 1 cup Watermelon rind/ തണ്ണിമത്തൻ തൊലി (white flesh)  (cut into small cubes)
  • ½ - 1 cup Green Plantain/ പച്ച ഏത്തക്ക (cut into small cubes)
  • 2 - 3 Green chilies/ പച്ചമുളക്  (split into 2)
  • 2 cups Thin Coconut milk/ നേർത്ത തേങ്ങാപ്പാൽ
  • 1 tsp Salt/ ഉപ്പ് or to taste
  • 1 cup Thick Coconut milk/ തനിപ്പാൽ
  • ½ tbsp Coconut Oil/ വെളിച്ചെണ്ണ
  • 1 - 2 sprigs Curry leaves (to garnish)

Instructions

  • Begin with soaking half cup of red cowpea in water for 6 hours or overnight. 
  • Next day, wash and drain the red cowpeas in running water for 3 to 4 times. Take this in a pressure cooker and set aside. ( Refer Note 2 )
  • Clean the outer skin of the watermelon in running water. Cut open the watermelon into 2 halves. Slice one half into 4 parts and cut up it into wedges. Remove the green skin and separate the red flesh. Take the white rind and dice this into small cubes. ( Refer Note 1 )
  • Take 1 cup of cubed rinds and add this in the pressure cooker along with red cowpeas. ( Refer Note 4 )
  • Take half portion of one green plantain ( Refer Note 3 ). Remove the skin and dice into small cubes.
  • Wash the cubed plantain and add into the cooker.
  • Take 2 to 3 green chilies and split it in to two and add this in the cooker.
  • Pour 2 cups of thin coconut milk into the pressure cooker. Close the cooker lid and put on the weight. Cook it on medium high heat for 2 to 3 whistles.
  • Open the cooker once it is cooled off and the internal pressure has been reduced. Turn on the heat and boil it for 5 minutes stirring in between to get the right consistency. Or add a little water to make it thinner.
  • Add salt according to taste. Pour 1 cup of thick coconut milk. Turn off the heat and stir the olan well. Add 1/2 tablespoon of coconut oil. Close the cooker lid and allow it to sit for few minutes.
  • Garnish the olan with fresh curry leaves and serve hot with steamed rice or Kerala matta rice.

Video

Notes

  1. Please refer the Watermelon Olan Recipe video to see the step-by-step instructions for cutting the watermelon.
  2. Olan can also prepare in a pot. Please read ‘No Pressure Cooker? No worries… Olan is indeed a One Pot Recipe’ section in the blog.
  3. Adding green plantain is optional. Ash gourds, yam, or pumpkin can also be used.
  4. Refrigerate the remaining white rinds in an air tight container and it will stay fresh for up to two weeks. Rinds can use like any other melon vegetables.