This Instant Pot Olan is a rich, mild & creamy coconut milk stew with the goodness of black-eyed peas/cowpeas and red & white pumpkin.
Today I am going to share my favorite recipe, olan, Kerala Onam Sadya special recipe. This olan is very mild and soothing because of the healing properties of coconut and coconut milk, and of course, it is vegan, nut-free and gluten-free. Check out the video instructions and a detailed recipe below.
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Instant Pot olan
With Instant Pot, you can prepare this stew without soaking the black-eyed peas. Once you have the white and red pumpkin (either one would work too) chopped, then you can whip this dish in a jiffy. We first do the tempering, dump in all the ingredients, and let Instant Pot do its magic. Also, I am using store-bought coconut milk, making this dish easy to prepare. (PS – I prepared this dish live on IG during the 2020 Onam sadya) I have provided the stove-top instructions as well.
Ingredients required
To Temper: We need coconut oil, cumin seeds, green chili, dried red chili, and curry leaves.
Black-eyed peas: You can use either white or brown black-eyed peas for this recipe. In Tamil, we call it karamani/thattai Payaru, and in Malayalam, we call it vanapayar. The black-eyed peas are known for their health benefits and protein content (approx. 11 g per uncooked cup), and when combined with coconut milk, it forms a great combo.
Butternut squash and ash gourd: Traditionally, red pumpkin is used, but I went with butternut squash instead of red pumpkin as I couldn’t source pumpkin on time. You can use a combination of red and white pumpkin, or either one is fine.
Coconut milk: For this olan recipe, I went with store-bought coconut milk.
Apart from these ingredients, we also need salt.
Homemade coconut milk
You can make homemade coconut milk too, for this recipe. And here is how you make it. For one-half of freshly grated coconut ( Break the coconut into two halves and grate the one-half), add 1 cup of lukewarm water and grind it. Squeeze out the milk, and this is the first and thick coconut milk. Grind again by adding 1 cup of water and extract the milk; and this is the second and thin coconut milk. If you love coconut milk like me, check out some exciting recipes with coconut milk.
Watch me make the olan in Instant Pot.
Here is the video recipe of the same. Please subscribe to my youtube channel and stay tuned for new recipes.
How to make olan
Prep-Work
- Wash the black-eyed peas and set them aside. I did not soak the black-eyed peas as the variety/brand that I used became mushy when soaked for a long time. But you can soak black-eyed peas for a minimum of 45 minutes and a maximum of 2 hours. If you want very soft and mushy black-eyed peas, I recommend soaking for 2 hours.
- Peel and chop 1 cup of butternut squash and white pumpkin.
- Take ⅓ cup of thick coconut milk and dilute it with water to get 1.5 cups of thin coconut milk.
- Set aside ½ cup of thick coconut milk.
- Slit the green chilies.
Instant Pot method
- Set the IP to saute mode and add the coconut oil.
- Once it is hot, add the cumin seeds, curry leaves, green chili, and red chili.
- Saute for a minute, and then add the washed black-eyed peas.
- Mix them all and add the chopped vegetables and salt.
- Now add the thin coconut milk and mix them all.
- Set the IP in manual mode for 3 minutes. After it beeps, wait for 5 minutes and release the pressure quickly.
- Then carefully open the lid and mix the ingredients.
- Set the IP back in saute mode and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
- After 5 minutes, add the thick coconut milk and mix again. Let it simmer for 2 minutes, and that’s it. The Olan is ready.
Pressure cooker / Stove-top method
- Pressure cook the black-eyed peas by adding 1 cup of water for just one whistle.
- Heat a heavy bottom pan/vessel and add the coconut oil.
- Once it is hot, add the cumin seeds and curry leaves, green chili, and red chili.
- Saute for a minute, and then add the chopped veggies and cooked olan.
- Add the thin coconut milk and let it cook until the vegetables are soft and tender.
- Once the vegetables are soft and tender, add the thick coconut milk and let it simmer for five more minutes.
Recipe notes
- Traditionally red pumpkin is used, but I went with butternut squash. You use either red or white pumpkin or a combo of both.
- Adjust salt and spice as per your preference.
- Also, you can use either white or brown-eyed peas for this recipe.
Explore other Onam recipes
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📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Olan | Onam Sadya Recipe
Equipment
- Electric Pressure Cooker like Instant Pot
Ingredients
- ½ cup Black-Eyed Peas
- 2 tsps Coconut Oil
- ¼ tsp Cumin Seeds
- 2 Green chili
- 1 Red chili
- 1.5 tsp Salt
- 10 Curry leaves
- 1 cup Butternut Squash Chopped
- 1 cup Ash gourd Chopped
- 1.5 cups Thin coconut milk diluted
- ½ cup Thick/Creamy coconut milk
Instructions
Prep – Work
- Wash the black-eyed peas and set aside. I did not soak the black-eyed peas as the variety/brand that I used was becoming mushy when soaked for a long time. But you can soak black-eyed peas for a minimum of 45 minutes a maximum of 2 hours. If you want very soft and mushy black-eyed peas, I would recommend soaking for 2 hours.
- Peel and chop 1 cup of butternut squash and white pumpkin.
- Take ⅓ cup of thick coconut milk and dilute it with water to get 1.5 cups of thin coconut milk.
- Set aside ½ cup of the thick coconut milk.
- Slit the green chilies.
Instant Pot Method
- Set the IP to saute mode and add the coconut oil.
- Once it is hot, add the cumin seeds, curry leaves, green chili and red chili.
- Saute for a minute and then add the washed black-eyed peas.
- Mix them all and add the chopped vegetables and salt.
- Now add the thin coconut milk and mix them all.
- Set the IP in manual mode for 3 minutes. After it beeps, wait for 5 minutes and release the pressure quickly.
- Then carefully open the lid and mix the ingredients.
- Set the IP back in saute mode and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
- After 5 minutes, add the thick coconut milk and mix again. Let it simmer for 2 minutes, and that’s it. The Olan is ready.
Pressure Cooker / Stove Top Method
- Pressure cook the black eyed peas by adding 1 cup of water for just one whistle.
- Heat a heavy bottom pan/vessel and add the coconut oil.
- Once it is hot, add the cumin seeds, and curry leaves, green chili, and red chili.
- Saute for a minute and then add the chopped veggies and cooked olan.
- Add the thin coconut milk and let it cook until the vegetables are soft and tender.
- Once the vegetables are cooked, add the thick coconut milk and let it simmer for five more minutes.
Video
Notes
- Traditionally red pumpkin is used, but I went with butternut squash. You use either red or white pumpkin or a combo of both.
- Adjust salt and spice as per your preference.
- Also, you can use either white or brown eyed peas for this recipe.
Nutrition
I am not a nutritionist. The nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It varies depending upon the product types or brands.
Yes all time favorite. Kerala special onam recipe. The olan looks delicious.
Thanks much Ruchi.
Olan looks creamy and delicious.BTW I am eyeing on your rustic brown board.Where did you get it?
Thanks, Nalini. That’s actually our wooden floor. :-) When we installed it, I took one big rectangular piece for myself. ;-)
Olan is a favorite of mine as well and with canned coconut milk it’s pretty easy to prepare. The best part of IP is the no soak cooking which I use a lot if I haven’t planned ahead. Love your clicks too. When I make olan I skip the jeera and red chillies and the coconut oil and curry leaves go in at the end. Like how we add for Avial, there is no tadka and the oil and curry leaves go in at last.
Oh ok… Thanks for the suggestion. Will try that way too Rajani. Oh yeah, IP rocks. :-)
Wow, such a creamy and irresistible olan, very nutritious dish packed with proteins. Am yet to make Olan at home, feel like having some with rice and potato fries.
Olan with rice and potato fries is scrumptious. :-) Thanks Priya
Your Olan looks so creamy and inviting Srividhya!..I love Olan and though we don’t make it that often, I enjoy it whenever we make it..
Thanks a lot Valli.
Plan looks so so tempting, creamy and delicious. We bloggers tend to forget the to post some of the most basic recipes till someone will ask for it.
he he very true. Thanks Mayuri
Olan is one dish am always in luv with. My little girl eats without any complaints
:-) That’s great.
Such a simple and Yummy Onam Sadhya Recipe.. Me and my lo love it so much just for the awesome coconut milk :)
Yup… the flavor of coconut milk is soooo good.
Yum. I am yet to try Olan on my family. I think I can guess the reactions. Thanks for the recipe.
:-) Thanks
Am a huge fan of the sadhya. This plan looks so tempting and drool worthy. Lovely pics too!
Thank you Sowmya.
I had olan only couple of times and loved it – this IP thing is a great boon,I must say ! perfectly done with minimum fuss:)
Yup… IP makes it very easy. Thanks Kalyani.
Coconut milk adds an amazing richness to gravies, rices and desserts. This olan looks so inviting. A perfect choice for the protein packed dish.
Thanks Gayathri.
Hi! So how much canned coconut milk do I need fir this recipe? Also, can low-fat canned coconut milk be used?
Sorry for the delayed reply. I used 3/4 of full-fat canned coconut milk, the 14 oz can. If you are using low-fat canned milk, you can use 1 can, 14 oz.
Great! And when do I add the contents of the can, at step 5 or step 9 (in the instant pot method)?
You can add the contents of the can and 1/4 cup water at step 5 and at step 9 just let it simmer for two minutes. But that’s optional. Hope this helps. Thanks
I am yet to cook Sadya recipes but I wish to make the whole spread one day. The black eyed peas olan looks delicious.
I have all these sadya recipes separately but not as a whole spread. Need to give it a try.
Olan is a very flavourful dish , I remember we all liked this mild dish when I made Sadya . The South Indian cooking requires a lot of coconut , so naturally you guys have to stock it ! I have really enjoyed this tradition Protein Rich journey this week .
Thanks a lot Vaishali.