Onam, the grand harvest festival of Kerala, is celebrated with much joy and traditional rituals. At the heart of this festival is the grand feast known as Onam Sadhya, a multi-course vegetarian meal that showcases the best of Kerala’s cuisine. This year the prestigious Onam festival will be celebrated from September 6, 2024, to September 15, 2024. It is served on a banana leaf and consists of 26 to 28 dishes. The Sadhya consists of an array of dishes that offer a balance of sweet, sour, spicy, and tangy flavours. If you’re looking to recreate this experience at home, here are the key dishes you must include in your Onam Sadhya:
Traditional Onam Sadhya Dishes 2024
Here are some of the traditional Onam dishes you must include in your Onam Sadhya:
1. Rice (Choru)
The main ingredient of any Sadhya is rice. Traditionally, Kerala red rice is used for its hearty texture and unique flavour. It serves as the base for the various side dishes, gravies, and curries that follow. “In a Sadya rice is served only after all the side dishes and savouries have been served”, as stated by the Kerala Tourism portal.
2. Parippu (Lentil Curry)
The first course after the rice is Parippu, a simple yet flavorful lentil curry. The Kerala Tourism portal states, “Once the rice and side dishes have been served, the serving of Parippu, a liquid curry made of small gram and ghee marks the beginning of the feast.” It is often served with a dollop of ghee (clarified butter) on top, adding richness to the dish. The combination of rice, parippu, and ghee is a comforting start to the meal.
3. Sambar
A must-have in any South Indian meal, Sambar is a thick lentil-based vegetable stew cooked with tamarind and spices. “The second course starts with Sambar, the famous south Indian vegetable stew in which any available combination of vegetables are boiled in a gravy of crushed lentils, onions, chillies, coriander, turmeric, and with a pinch of asafoetida”, as per the Kerala Tourism. It is a hearty and flavorful dish that is loved all over India.
4. Avial
Avial is a delicious mixed vegetable dish that stands out for its simplicity. Its subtle flavour makes it a popular dish in the Sadya. “Avial is a blend of vegetables, coconut paste, and green chillies. It is seasoned with a spoonful of fresh coconut oil and some raw curry leaves”, as defined by Kerala Tourism.
5. Kootu Curry
Kootu Curry is a traditional side dish that is served in the Onam Sadya feast. Kootu Curry is a spicy and semi-thick curry made with black chickpeas and vegetables like raw banana and yam. The dish is tempered with grated coconut and curry leaves, giving it a distinct Kerala flavour.
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6. Thoran
Thoran is a stir-fried vegetable dish that’s cooked with grated coconut. “Thoran can be minced string beans, cabbage, radish or grams, mixed with grated coconut and sauteed with a dash of red chillies and turmeric powder”, according to Kerala Tourism.
7. Olan
“Olan, a bland dish of pumpkin and red gram cooked in a thin gravy of coconut milk”, as per Kerala Tourism is another popular item in the Onam Sadhya. Its mild, light, and creamy texture provides a refreshing contrast to the spicier dishes in the Sadya.
8. Pachadi and Kichadi
Both Pachadi and Kichadi are yoghurt-based dishes, but they differ in their key ingredients. Pachadi is often served with vegetable thali rice or sadhya, especially Kerala sadhya. It has a lot of varieties like the Vellarikka pachadi, Beerapottu pachadi, and sweet pachadi. Kichadi, on the other hand, is made with cucumber or beetroot, lending a tangy, refreshing note to the Sadya.
9. Inji Puli
Inji Puli is a thick, tangy, and slightly sweet relish that provides a burst of flavour to balance the other dishes. This traditional Kerala condiment often served as part of an Onam Sadhya, combines tangy and sweet flavours with ingredients like ginger, jaggery, green chilli, and tamarind.
10. Pappadam
Crispy pappadams are an essential part of the Sadhya. It is one of the most beloved parts of the Sadhya because of its crunchy light taste. These deep-fried lentil crackers add a crunchy contrast to the soft textures of the other dishes.
11. Payasam
No Sadya is complete without dessert, so there are a lot of desserts that can be made but Payasam is the traditional choice. “Payasam is a thick fluid dish of sweet brown molasses, coconut milk, and spices, garnished with cashew nuts and raisins”, as stated by the Kerala Tourism portal. Popular varieties include Parippu Payasam, Ada Pradhaman, and Pal Payasam.
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