12 Must-Haves for Your Onam Sadya Menu

6. Olan (Ash Gourd and Black-Eyed Peas in Coconut)

Olan brings a gentle, coconut-forward note to the sadya. The dish typically combines ash gourd (called chena or winter melon) with black-eyed peas in a thin coconut milk spiced lightly with green chilies and curry leaves. Olan is deliberately mild; its role is to soothe the palate amidst bolder flavors. In North America, winter melon can be harder to find but winter melon or winter squash varieties can be used, and canned or cooked black-eyed peas are fine substitutes for dried ones. Use fresh coconut milk if you can for sweetness and texture; canned coconut milk is an excellent shortcut when fresh isn't available. Difficulty: Easy. Time: 30–35 minutes. Serving tip: Serve slightly warm; Olan's mildness makes it a good match for spicy sambar or pachadi.