Cooks prepare Olan, a traditional Kerala dish, from white ash gourd, cowpeas or black eyed peas, coconut milk and simple seasonings. They prepare it as part of the Onam Sadya. Easy to make, this delicious curry is gluten free, vegan without any onion or garlic. It is a popular dish that is offered as blogs to God during festivals. So what does one use when they don’t get any ash gourd? Bottle gourd or chayote is a popular substitute. However, if you don’t get those then go for pumpkin, watermelon rind or butternut squash. I prepared the popular dish from Kerala using pumpkin and black eyed peas. Unbelievable how easy it is to prepare this dish. With very few spices or seasonings it is absolutely delicious.
What Is Onam Sadya?
Onam Sadya is the traditional vegetarian banquet from the state of Kerala, India. It consists of 24-28 dishes all served on a banana leaf during the Onam Festival. These dishes include curries, rice, pickles, dessert, salad, etc. The food is not arranged randomly on the banana leaf. There is a system that is followed. The food prepared for this festival is all vegetarian and without any onion or garlic.
Sharing Pumpkin Olan Recipe With 2026 Alphabet Challenge Group
This Alphabet Challenge Group initiated by Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm, is in its third year. We’re now on letter O. I decided to share the popular Olan dish from the Kerala Cuisine. It took me longer to peel the pumpkin than to cook the curry! Buying pumpkin off season is not a good idea as the skin gets tougher over time.
O is For Pumpkin Olan
Some Recipes With Letter O You May Like
ORANGE CINNAMON SWIRL BREAD
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Oatmeal Banana Quick Bread is perfect as breakfast on a busy day or as a snack to enjoy in the afternoons. Though the bread appears dense trust me it is soft, moist and hearty. An excellent way to include oats in your diet. The taste of banana is not overpowering. Cinnamon adds a subtle flavour and the walnuts add a bit of bite.
Orange Avocado Salad is a colourful, refreshing, full of flavour kind of summer salad. Enjoy it as side or as a light meal. What I like about this salad is the delicious light orange dressing. And you can add other salad ingredients like radish, beans, quinoa, orzo, rice, etc. Somehow I felt that oranges and tomatoes don't go together well.
Oatmeal Banana Quick Bread is perfect as breakfast on a busy day or as a snack to enjoy in the afternoons. Though the bread appears dense trust me it is soft, moist and hearty. An excellent way to include oats in your diet. The taste of banana is not overpowering. Cinnamon adds a subtle flavour and the walnuts add a bit of bite.
Whole Orange Cake is a light, moist, gluten free cake bursting with flavour of orange. Whole oranges, including the rind are used to make this unique and impressive cake.
Orange Phirni Shots is a fusion dessert between an Indian Rice Pudding with a Middle Eastern flavour. Orange Phirni is served in orange flavoured pistachio fudge and chocolate cups. You have the option of serving it on its own in small glasses, cups or jars.
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Za'atar Swirls are flaky, flavourful, delicious and easy to make snack or appetizer. Basically you need puff pastry and za'atar and you're good to go. Bake them for parties or gatherings .
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ZEYTIN PIYAZI | GREEN OLIVE SALAD
Zeytin Piyazi is a tangy, refreshing, easy to make Turkish green olive salad. It is a traditional dish from the southeastern part of Turkey which is generally enjoyed for breakfast or as part of a mezze. Usually enjoyed with some bread. A simple salad made from green olives, tomato, onion, fresh herbs and seasoning. Sometimes walnuts, bell pepper, green apples, other herbs are added.
Aloo Bhaji & Poori is a classic Indian breakfast dish consisting of a potato curry and fluffy puffed up flatbread. Aloo is potato and bhaji here refers to a curry. It is a simple and yet comforting breakfast dish.
BATETA RINGAD NU SHAAK | GUJARATI STYLE POTATO BRINJAL CURRY
Bateta Ringad Nu Shaak is a basic, popular, easy to make potato and aubergine curry. This Gujarati style curry, sabji or shaak is usually prepared as a side dish to khichdi and kadhi. Or when made with a bit more sauce or gravy it can be easily enjoyed with some rotli or paratha.
Chora Nu Shaak, Gujarati Style is a black eyed bean curry which is usually served on special occasions or at weddings along with some tuvar ni dal and other side dishes. This Gujarati shaak or curry is generally prepared without any onion or garlic.
Dalithoy, Konkani style dal is also known as Dalithoi. It is believed that no Konkani special occasion or wedding is complete without a Dalithoy. A simple dal preparation but packed with flavours. It is unbelievable how tasty this dal is in spite of the very few spices used.
Dim Posto is a traditional, popular Bengali style of egg curry made in a creamy, rich gravy consisting of poppy seeds. Dim In Bengali is Eggs and Posto is poppy seeds. This curry has is mild with an earthy nutty flavour. The main flavour profile of this curry is poppy seeds, mustard oil and green chillis. This egg curry recipe is actually very easy to prepare.
Fansi Dapka Nu Shaak is a version of the traditional Dapka Nu Shaak. Generally guvar or cluster beans are used to make this dumpling like yogurt based shaak or curry. The dapka or dumplings are made of chickpea flour. Instead of guvar or cluster beans I have used French Beans. Dapka Nu Shaak can vary from region to region and home to home. Some make it without yogurt.
Kadai Aloo Gobi is a flavourful, delicious dhaba or restaurant style side dish that is usually served with roti, naan or paratha. Kadai means wok, aloo is potato and gobi is cauliflower.
Veg Hariyali is a medley of vegetables cooked in a creamy green gravy or sauce made from spinach, mint and fresh coriander. This green sauce or gravy is quite different to the palak sauce we commonly associate with palak paneer, palak chicken, etc.
Iru Puli Kuzhambu is a traditional tangy curry or gravy from the state of Tamil Nadu, India whereby both tamarind and yogurt along with a few spices are used. It is unbelievably tasty, comforting and definitely different from any other curries or gravies that I have tasted.
Vegetable Jalfrezi is a popular, spicy, tangy side dish or curry. Mixed vegetables are stir fried and added to a tomato based gravy. The vegetables are cooked on high heat till a bit crispy but not overcooked. They are then added to a tomato based gravy which is thick. In fact this is one curry which is almost dryish in the sense that there is not much gravy.
Kachhe Kele Ke Kofte is an Indian curry dish made from raw banana or plantains and paneer. This no onion or garlic curry dish is ideal for fasting days like Navratri, Ekadashi, Ram Navmi, Janmashtami, etc as it contains no grains or beans.
Lasooni Palak is a Punjabi style spinach gravy that is topped with a generous amount of fried garlic. It is also known as lehsuni palak or Garlic Spinach Curry. It is a popular road side eatery or dhaba dish. Generally, lasooni palak is served as a pureed creamy spinach sauce or gravy.
Mambazha Pulissery is a traditional Kerala style sweet and tangy mango curry made with ripe mangoes, coconut and yogurt. It is prepared as the main dish for the Onam Sadya. It is also enjoyed as a curry with rice during the mango season. Mambazha is the Malayalam (local dialect of Kerala) is ripe mango.
Navratan Korma is a rich, creamy, slightly sweetish Mughlai vegetable curry made using 9 gems or main ingredients. Nav is 9 and Ratan is gems or jewels. Typically, a mixture of vegetables, nuts, fruits and paneer are used to make this delicious korma or curry
Can use any pumpkin of your choice for this recipe. If you get ash gourd, bottle gourd, chayote then use those. Alternately, can use watermelon rind the white part. I used kobocha pumpkin as that is what was available. Peel about 300g pumpkin and cut it into chunks.
Coconut Oil
Best to use coconut oil as adds a delicious flavour and aroma too.
Green Chillis
Add according to your taste. Slit the green chillis lengthwise. I used 2 of them.
Curry Leaves
1 sprig or 8-10 leaves. Use fresh if possible. If not use frozen or dried ones.
Black Eyed Peas
Have to soak and cook them before adding to Olan. I usually cook a big batch and keep them in the freezer in a ziplock. Check out this recipe to know how to cook black eyed peas. Alternately, used canned black eyed peas. Can replace them with red cowpeas.
Salt
Add according to your taste.
Coconut Milk
For this recipe we need thin and thick coconut milk. Traditionally, coconut milk was and is extracted from grated fresh coconut. Coconut is added to a blender with little water and processed. The mixture is strained through a sieve or a muslin cloth. This is the thick milk. The grated coconut is transferred back to the blander jug with some water. Process it again and strain. You get thin milk. I used canned coconut milk which usually is thick. Add about ¾ cup water to ¼ cup thick coconut milk to make the thin one.
PUMPKIN OLAN
mayurisjikoni
Olan is a traditional Kerala dish, from white ash gourd, cowpeas or black eyed peas, coconut milk and simple seasonings.It is prepared asa part of the Onam Sadya. Easy to make, this delicious curry is gluten free, vegan without any onion or garlic. Instead of ash gourd I have used pumpkin.
Just in case we haven’t met before I’m Mayuri Patel from the coastal sunny town of Mombasa. In fact more of a global citizen now as I spend time between Canada and India. I’m the creator and writer of Mayuri’s Jikoni. Jikoni is kitchen in Kiswahili. Love cooking up a storm in my jikoni. When I’m not in the jikoni then you may find me reading fiction books, watching romantic movies, listening to Bollywood songs or enjoying God’s creation, nature. If my recipes can inspire you to cook at home then my job is done here. Cook up a storm in your kitchen with easy to follow vegetarian recipes right from soups to desserts.
I love all the variations available for this recipe. Thank you for sharing this holiday tradition with us. I always learn so much of your culture through your posts.
This is so pretty! I love the story of Onam Sadya although planning 24 to 28 dishes sounds overwhelming! I hope it’s potluck and not one person is making everything!
Thanks Karen. Usually when it is a community affair, there are many cooks. When made at home it usually depends on how much a single person can handle. Generally if it a family affair, everyone helps.
This Pumpkin Olan that you have prepared looks creamy, delicious and light. I like to have coconut milk-based dishes sometimes. Will make this, coming weekend.
Love olan with steaming hot rice, though we make the regular white rice at home, kids love to enjoy this olan as such like a chunky soup. Coconut milk and the mild spices makes it an aromatic affair in the kitchen. Simple and satisfying recipe.
Pumpkin sounds like such a lovely twist to the traditional Olan!
So simple, comforting and perfect with a Sadya spread.
The creamy coconut milk must make it absolutely delicious!
Since wintermelon is tough to get at times, I always wondered how pumpkin alone will be in an olan, This gives me confidence and i love to have this with warm rice.
Thank you so much. It is a task getting the ash gourd and other pumpkins that are used for Olan. We love this one. It is a good way to enjoy pumpkin when in season.
26 Comments
Wendy Klik
July 22, 2026 at 6:21 am
I love all the variations available for this recipe. Thank you for sharing this holiday tradition with us. I always learn so much of your culture through your posts.
mayurisjikoni
July 23, 2026 at 10:21 pm
Thank you so much Wendy. Happy to share culture through my posts.
BBQ Deviled Eggs with Crispy Fried Onions
July 22, 2026 at 7:01 am
[…] Pumpkin Olan by Mayuri’s Jikoni […]
Stacy
July 22, 2026 at 9:17 am
I am a fan of any dish made with coconut milk. Your pumpkin black-eyed pea olan looks so rich and delicious!
mayurisjikoni
July 23, 2026 at 10:20 pm
Thanks Stacy, looks rich but is very tummy friendly. Try the recipe out.
hobby baker Kelly
July 22, 2026 at 12:00 pm
So simple and comforting! I love the visual of the black eyed peas with the squash.
mayurisjikoni
July 23, 2026 at 10:19 pm
Thank you so much Kelly.
Karen’s Kitchen Stories
July 22, 2026 at 12:46 pm
This is so pretty! I love the story of Onam Sadya although planning 24 to 28 dishes sounds overwhelming! I hope it’s potluck and not one person is making everything!
mayurisjikoni
July 23, 2026 at 10:19 pm
Thanks Karen. Usually when it is a community affair, there are many cooks. When made at home it usually depends on how much a single person can handle. Generally if it a family affair, everyone helps.
Onion Swirls – Magical Ingredients
July 22, 2026 at 12:56 pm
[…] Mayuri's Jikoni: Pumpkin Olan […]
kalyani
July 22, 2026 at 10:47 pm
we love Olan with kerala matta rice and some crispy Pappadum ! the pics look fab, Mayuri. I make it similarly except for a few ingredients.
mayurisjikoni
July 23, 2026 at 10:17 pm
I wish I could get some matta rice. Whenever I have made it in India have always made matta rice.
Colleen – Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck
July 23, 2026 at 8:09 am
HUGE fans of pumpkin here at our house…so this recipe is going on the must-try NOW list!!! Looks fantastic!
mayurisjikoni
July 23, 2026 at 10:16 pm
Thank you so much Colleen, enjoy.
Radha
July 23, 2026 at 5:11 pm
This is one of my favorites! It is so somple and gentle to the stomach. I would love to have it with a bowl of rice rightaway.
mayurisjikoni
July 23, 2026 at 10:16 pm
Thank you so much Radha. I agree with you so simple and yet delicious.
Sneha Datar
July 26, 2026 at 7:02 am
This dish is so soothing and creamy!
mayurisjikoni
July 29, 2026 at 10:24 pm
Thanks Sneha.
Neha (My Culinary Expressions)
August 19, 2026 at 2:31 pm
This Pumpkin Olan that you have prepared looks creamy, delicious and light. I like to have coconut milk-based dishes sometimes. Will make this, coming weekend.
mayurisjikoni
August 22, 2026 at 9:55 pm
Thanks Neha, it is a simple and yet full of flavour Olan. Enjoy.
Priya Srinivasan – I camp in my Kitchen
August 24, 2026 at 1:40 am
Love olan with steaming hot rice, though we make the regular white rice at home, kids love to enjoy this olan as such like a chunky soup. Coconut milk and the mild spices makes it an aromatic affair in the kitchen. Simple and satisfying recipe.
mayurisjikoni
August 24, 2026 at 9:47 pm
Simply love the flavours Priya. I agree with you it is a satisfying meal.
Sasmitaa Sahoo
August 24, 2026 at 5:21 am
Pumpkin sounds like such a lovely twist to the traditional Olan!
So simple, comforting and perfect with a Sadya spread.
The creamy coconut milk must make it absolutely delicious!
mayurisjikoni
August 24, 2026 at 9:45 pm
Thank you so much Sasmitaa. As I don’t get the traditional pumpkins that are used for olan, the yellow is a good choice. Tastes simply delish.
MildlyIndian
August 26, 2026 at 8:06 pm
Since wintermelon is tough to get at times, I always wondered how pumpkin alone will be in an olan, This gives me confidence and i love to have this with warm rice.
mayurisjikoni
August 27, 2026 at 8:38 pm
Thank you so much. It is a task getting the ash gourd and other pumpkins that are used for Olan. We love this one. It is a good way to enjoy pumpkin when in season.