Take out giant banana leaves and cook some of Kerala’s most loved foods when preparing Onam Sadhya to celebrate the Onam festival. Enjoy festivities and good food as Onam is celebrated across the country. During this period, people of Kerala celebrate 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 Onam. Sadhaya or Onam Sadhaya.
Onam Sadhya, which means ‘banquet’ in Malayalam, is a sensational multi-course vegetarian meal with over 24 dishes served on a banana leaf. Onam Sadhya is enjoyed without any cutlery and is usually eaten sitting on the floor.
(Also Read: Onam Special: 5 Delicious Sabudana (Tapioca) Recipes From South India You Will Love To Devour)
Onam Sadhya generally includes the following things: Kaya Varuthatha (banana chips), Chena Varuthatha (Yam Chips), government overhead (jaggery coated banana chips), mango pickle, lemon pickle, Police Engg (tamarind and ginger chutney), A dish in South Asian cuisine made of rice and lentils (gourd in mildly spiced yogurt), Pachadi (pineapple in yogurt), Olan (ash gourd with black beans in coconut milk gravy), fried vegetables with grated coconut, Theeyal (mixed vegetable gravy), Erissery (mashed beans and pumpkin with coconut gravy), Avial, Pulissery (yogurt based curry), Cotu curry (black gram curry), Sambar, RasamSpicy buttermilk, bananas, Papad And yes, boiled rice.
Now, how can you make your own Onam Sadhya? We have picked out 10 easy recipes from our treasure trove that you can make at home and serve your family their very own Onam Sadhya.
(Also read: Onam: 7 easy recipes of traditional Kerala dishes for Onam Sadhya Bhojan)
Onam 2024: We dig out 10 easy recipes from our treasure trove
Here are the 10 best Onam dishes (Onam Sadhya):
1. Erissery
It is a wonderful and mildly spicy mixture of grated coconut with pumpkin, garlic and green chillies. It is served with a beautiful mix of mustard seeds, chillies and crunchy curry leaves. A true traditional Onam dish to prepare during the festivities.
2. Pulissery
A simple and popular side dish made with gourd or cucumber along with buttermilk, coconut and many spices that will surely enhance your taste buds. Serve it with rice or roti for a complete meal.
Onam 2024: A simple and popular side dish made from bottle gourd.
3. Thenga Choru
Give your everyday rice a coconutty flavour with this delicious coconut rice. Thenga choru is made with urad dal and cashews along with spices and flavours of chilli and lemon.
4. Pachadi
A light and wonderful combination of coconut, yogurt and pineapple, seasoned with hot chillies and spices. Serve this delicious dish with rice or roti and enjoy your mouth watering meal.
Onam 2024: A light and flavourful combination of coconut, yoghurt and pineapple with spicy chillies
5. Avial
A delicious dish made using potatoes, carrots, raw banana, drumstick, beans and a small piece of raw mango. Aviyal is a traditional Kerala dish served with Kerala rice and you will want to devour it right away!
6. Pal Payasam
Onam Sadhya is not complete without a delicious sweet and Payasam gives you just that. A typical Onam Sadhya has four different types Payasam But why don’t we start with a great example.
onam 2024Onam Sadhya is not complete without a delicious dessert and Payasam gives you that sweet treat
7. Rasam
with lots of peppers and tomatoes, Rasam Due to its thin consistency, it is a great accompaniment to any South-Indian meal. Made with toor dal, lots of chillies and tomatoes, rasam can be eaten as a soup or with steamed rice. Try it and you will know why it is so irresistible.
8. Kadala Curry
An authentic Malabar Karu, Kadala curry is a dark flavoured curry Gram and an array of spices. A smooth gravy that is sure to be a real winner on your dinner table!
Onam 2024: Loaded with black chickpeas and smooth gravy, this curry is truly delicious!
9. Kalan Kerala Curry
An easy and delicious curry prepared using buttermilk, mustard seeds, coconut and raw bananas along with many other subtle spices. Kallan is a traditional Onam dish.
10. Ulli Theyal
A Kerala dish made by cooking shallots or onions in a roasted coconut gravy. Spicy, spicy and full of flavour, Ulli Theeyal is a great dish to prepare on Onam evening.
Prepare your own Onam Sadhya menu using these fabulous recipes and impress your family and friends.