Onam Sadhya recipes

Onam Sadhya recipes | Onam virundhu | Kerala traditional feast. 26 dishes in the Onam Sadhya feast.

Onam Sadhya: Over two dozen dishes are prepared for this grand feast, and preparations usually start a few days in advance.
Onam, also referred to as Thiru-Onam or Thiruvonam, falls in the first month of the Malayalam calendar, Chingam. It is one of the most popular festivals celebrated in Kerala. Onam preparations and celebrations go on for a period of ten days and this year the festival will be started on Thursday, 12 August and ends on Monday, 23 August.

Malayalis around the world celebrate the 10-day harvest festival of Kerala and the return of the legendary King Mahabali, by organising a grand feast, also known as Onam Sadhya. Traditionally, over two dozen vegetarian dishes are prepared for this grand feast and served on banana leaves. Preparations for this auspicious occasion usually start a few days in advance.

Indian festivals are incomplete without food and one such festival is Onam. The harvest festival is celebrated with a colourful feast served on a banana leaf called ‘Sadhya’. Sadhya is basically the term coined for the feast that is a part of the 10th day of the annual harvest festival Onam, which is also called ‘Onam Sadhya’. The feast is known for its flavours and varieties of dishes. Here’s everything you need to know about it.

The 26 dishes meal served on plantain leaves include dishes like Kaaya Varuthatha (banana chips), Chenna Varuthathu (yam cut into slices and fried with spices), Choru (Boiled Rice), Sarkara Upperi (jaggery coated banana chips), Pulinji (tamarind-based chutney), Ada Pradhaman, Paal Payasam, Kichadi (gourd in a yoghurt curry), Pachadi (pineapple or bitter gourd in yoghurt), Olan (ash gourd with beans in a thick coconut milk gravy), Theeyal (mixed vegetable gravy), Avial (vegetables made with coconut and milk), Kalan, Sambar, Rasam, Thoran, Mor Curry, buttermilk and papad.

Kerala Onam Sadhya recipe full preparation

1. Pappadam

No Onam Sadhya is complete without these pappads made from rice flour.

2. Upperi

Perhaps the most beloved item on this list, banana chips are served by the handful before the other 25 dishes.

Nendran Banana chips

3. Sharkara Varatti

This sweeter version of banana chips is made out of jaggery and though the sweet made be hard to eat, it will certainly leave you wanting more.

4. Inji Curry

Inji curry is made from ginger, tamarind and jaggery. In most Malayali households, this is the first thing that is prepared in the days leading to the 10th day of Onam.

5. Mango Curry

This mango pickle will add a spicy kick to your meal.

6. Naranga Curry Or Amla Pickle

Of the two types of pickles served at Onam Sadhya, this sour lemon pickle will certainly add some zest to your meal.

Here is the video of Amla pickle without cooking.

7. Pachadi

Another yogurt-based dish for the feast, this is a curry made with either pineapple or bitter gourd, and grated coconut.

Pineapple pachadi

8. Olan

This is made with ash gourd and red beans splashed with a generous amount of hand-pressed, authentic coconut milk.

9. Ellisheri

This dish includes pumpkin, red beans, and a generous amount of grated coconut.

10. Avial

An often-ignored dish on this occasion, Avial is one of the best mixed vegetable dishes. It is made by mixing vegetable with grated coconut and is cooked in coconut oil and milk.

சுவையான கேரளா ஸ்டைல் அவியல் – Authentic Kerala dish – Aviyal recipe – Mixed veg Avial

11. Thoran

Thoran can be made from any vegetable and is a staple in every Malayali household. Usually, it is made with cabbage and carrots or just beans with grated coconut.

12. Chor, Kerala Matta rice

Rice is an essential part of Onam Sadhya but on this occasion, most Malayalis serve red rice.

13. Parripu Curry

For this dish, plain moong dal is topped with ghee, red chillies, and black sesame seeds.

14. Chenna Mezhkkupuratti | Payaru Mezhkkupuratti

For this dish Chenna Mezhkkupuratti, yam is cut into thin slices, boiled with spices and fried in coconut oil. For Payaru mezhukkupuratti long beans is used.

15. Arachuvitta Sambhar

An essential dish for the feast, each family has their own recipe for Sambhar. It is cooked with every vegetable there is, from beans to potatoes to yam. We have included drumsticks and brinjal with fresh home made sambhar masala.

Drumsticks and Brinjal Varutharaicha Sambhar Kerala style

16. Pulissery | Ashgourd Pulissery

Made with curd and a vegetable of your choice ranging from pumpkin to cucumber and topped with a gracious amount of grated coconut.

17. Kaalan | Kurukku kaalan

This signature Onam Sadhya dish is made with yogurt, yam or raw banana and grated coconut.

18. Morru Kachiyathu

If you are a Malayali, this is definitely a part of your comfort food. It is made by boiling yogurt to perfection with black sesame seeds, shallots, ginger, and garlic.

19. Kichadi

Another delicious dish is this one made using spicy yogurt and your choice of vegetable. It can be okra, cucumber, or even bitter gourd.

20. Kerala Rasam

Eaten as a rice accompaniment, this can also be drunk to aid in digestion. It is made with spicy tamarind soup, sprinkled with a generous amount of curry leaves, mustard and tomatoes.

21. Kootu Curry

The ingredients in this might surprise you, it is made with raw bananas, chopped yam or any one of then with black chana and grated coconut made into a dry curry.

22. Neyy | Ghee

Usually known as ghee in Hindi, a spoonful of this is poured over the rice and parripu to give it an extra flavour.

23. Inji Thayir | Thalicha mor

This delicious dish is made using loads of thinly sliced ginger mixed with yogurt, black sesame seeds and spices.

24. Poovan Pazham

This includes the smaller version of bananas. When mashed together, it goes exceptionally well with Payasam, and pappadam can be thrown into the mix for that extra crunch.

25. Palada Pradhaman | Ada Pradhaman

A sweet dish made with milk, dry fruits, and rice ada is the last thing to be served as it helps in counteracting the spices.

Ada Pradhaman | Ada payasam with home made rice ada

26. Pazham Pradhaman

This delicacy includes Rice ada, cashew nuts, thinly sliced coconut pieces and jaggery. And for the right way to enjoy this refer to Poovan Pazham.

27. Thengai Chammanthi Recipe | Kerala Coconut Chammanthi Recipe | Onam Sadhya side dish recipe

#coconutchammanthi #cookingmypassion #onamsadhyarecipes #onamsadya Thengai chammandhi : Thenga Chammanthi is a tasty, spiced side dish made by blending coconut, tamarind, ginger, small onion & Red chilly into a thick, coarse chutney form. Thenga Chammanthi is popular in Kerala – relished with rice meal and could be made in minutes.

Kerala Onam Sadhya recipe full preparation