Bring out the gigantic banana leaves and get cooking some of the best-loved meals of Kerala while you prepare the Onam Sadhya to celebrate the festival Onam. Let the festivities and good food take over as the country celebrates Onam. During this period, people in Kerala commemorate the homecoming of the mythical King Mahabali. Apart from fresh flower decorations and power-packed boat races, the highlight of the festival is an elaborate meal called the Onam Sadhya or Onam Sadya.
Onam Sadhya, which in Malayalam means 'banquet' is a sensational multi-course vegetarian meal that features over 24 dishes on a banana leaf. Onam Sadhya is enjoyed without any cutlery and is usually eaten while sitting on the floor.
(Also Read: Onam Special: 5 Delicious Sabudana (Tapioca) Dishes from South India You Would Love to Devour )
The usual items in an Onam Sadhya include: Kaaya varuthatha (banana chips), chena varuthatha (yam chips), sarkara upperi (Jaggery coated banana chips), mango pickle, lime pickle, puli inji (tamarind & ginger chutney), kichadi (Gourd in mildly spiced yoghurt), pachadi (Pineapple in yoghurt) , olan ( ash gourd with black beans in a coconut milk gravy), stir-fried vegetables with grated coconut, theeyal (mixed vegetable gravy), erissery (mashed beans and pumpkin with coconut gravy), avial, puliserry (yogurt based curry), kootu curry (black chickpeas curry), sambar, rasam, spicy buttermilk, bananas, papad and of course boiled rice.
Now, how can you get your very own Onam Sadhya? We dug into our treasure trove and found 10 easy-peasy recipes you can whip up at home to give your family their very own customized Onam Sadhya.
(Also Read: Onam: 7 Easy Recipes Of Traditional Kerala Delights For Onam Sadhya Feast)
Onam 2024: We dug into our treasure trove and found 10 easy-peasy recipes
Here Are 10 Best Onam Recipes (Onam Sadhya):
1. Erissery
This is a gorgeous and mildly-spiced mix of grated coconut mixed with pumpkin, garlic and green chillis. It's tempered with a beautiful blend of mustard seeds, chillis and crisp curry leaves. A true blue traditional onam dish to prepare during the festivities.
2. Pulissery
A simple and popular side dish made with ash gourd or cucumber along with buttermilk, coconut and a host of spices that are sure tantalise your taste buds. Pair this with rice or roti for a whole meal.
Onam 2024: A simple and popular side dish made with ash gourd.
3. Thenga Choru
Give the usual every-day rice a coconut-y spin with some tasty coconut rice. Thenga choru has the goodness of urad dal and cashews along with spices and chillies and the tang of lemon.
4. Pachadi
A light and smashing blend of coconut, curd and pineapple combined with fiery chillies and spices. Pair this delightful dish with rice or roti for a mouth-watering meal.
Onam 2024: A light and smashing blend of coconut, curd and pineapple combined with fiery chillies
5. Avial
A delicious dish that uses potato, carrots, raw banana, drumstick, beans and a small piece of raw mango. Avial is a traditional Kerala dish that is served on a bed of Kerala rice that you'd want to dig into right away!
6. Paal Payasam
Onam Sadhya isn't complete without a smashing dessert and payasam gives you just that. A typical Onam Sadhya has four different kinds of payasam but why don't we start with just one brilliant one.
Onam 2024: Onam Sadhya isn't complete without a smashing dessert and payasam gives you just that
7. Rasam
With lots of pepper and tomatoes, rasam with its thin consistency is a real hit with any South-Indian meal. With toor dal, lots of pepper and tomatoes, rasam can be eaten eaten as soup or with steamed rice. Try it out and you'll know why it is irresistible.
8. Kadala Curry
An authentic Malabar curru, kadala curry is a curry packed with black chana and an array of spices. A smooth gravy, that is surely a real winner on your dinner table!
Onam 2024: A curry packed with black chana and smooth gravy, this one is a real winner!
9. Kalan Kerala Curry
An easy breezy curry prepared using buttermilk, mustard seeds, coconut and raw bananas along with a host of other subtle spices. Kalan is a traditional onam dish.
10. Ulli Theeyal
A Kerala delicacy made with shallots or tiny onions cooked in a roasted coconut gravy. Tangy, spicy and bursting with flavours, ulli theeyal is a great dish to prepare on the occasion of onam sandhya.
Use these brilliant recipes, to prepare your own Onam Sadhya menu and impress your family and friends.