A Taste of Kerala: 20 Must-Try Onam Sadhya Dishes

It is that time of year again when we celebrate the festive celebration of Onam. A festival that runs for 10 days and celebrates the return of King Mahabali, Onam is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the people of Kerala. Usually, Onam’s first and last days are considered very important. We cannot discuss Onam without discussing this essential element—Onam Sadhya, a cumulative feast of Kerala cuisine consisting of the traditional food widely prepared in Kerala. 

Onam Sadhya is one thing that unites everyone, whether or not you celebrate Onam. So what is in this Onam Sadhya that makes it so unique? Dive in as we discover 20 Onam Sadhya Dishes that you must try.

20 Must-Try Onam Sadhya Dishes 

Onam Sadhya is primarily a vegetarian feast usually prepared with seasonal vegetables. It is always served in a banana leaf with 12 to 30 food items. We will discuss 20 dishes from Kerala cuisine that you absolutely cannot miss out on for your Onam Sadhya. 

1. Rice (Choru) 

If there is a single item that is a must-have for any Sadhya, it is rice. More than just a popular traditional food in Kerala, rice is a part of their lives. The ideal rice for Sadya is Kerala Matta, red parboiled rice with a slightly earthy taste and somewhat chewy texture. It absorbs all kinds of curries and sides. 

2. Parippu (Lentil Curry) 

One of the most popular dishes in Kerala cuisine is Parippu, a classic Indian gravy. Guests simply pour one ladle of this tasty, seasoned dal over rice and add a spoon of ghee and papadum. It is an aromatic mung bean dish with split mung beans called ‘moong dal’ and tempered with coconut, cumin seeds, and green chillies. One of the South Indian curries, Parippu, is a must-have. 

3. Sambar 

One of the most common dishes in South Indian curries, Sambar in an Onam Sadhya, is a bit thicker and contains several vegetables, including drumsticks, pumpkin, and okra, cooked with tamarind and coconut gravy. With its dense and rich spicy taste, it is best eaten with rice. 

4. Rasam 

Rasam is a sour, spicy, and warm soup-like preparation usually served as an end-dish thin soup that helps digestion. This tangy soup packed with tamarind juice and tomatoes and dominated by spices is a great way to cleanse and stimulate your palate so that you can  to enjoy Sadhya better. 

5. Avial 

Avial is a delicious, unique food and a colourful preparation of Vegetables in coconut oil buried under a thick coconut, cumin, and green chilli paste. It is rich, zesty, and low on spices to even up the Sadhya. Frequently tagged as the most sought-after travellers’ dish, it represents the quintessence of Keralan food, which is essentially all about coconut. 

6. Thoran (Vegetable Stir-Fry) 

Thoran prepares chopped vegetables such as cabbage, beans, or carrots fried with grated coconut, mustard seeds, and curry leaves. Its characteristic is a crispy texture and subtle taste that doesn’t overpower the palate. It is a perfect foil to the comparatively heavier curries that form part of Sadhya.

7. Kootu Curry

You can’t talk about South Indian curries without talking about Kootu Curry is a delicious black chickpea recipe cooked with yam and plantain and spiced with coconut and black pepper paste. It has a relatively strong taste, which is a little sweet and has some form of spiciness that enriches the meal. 

8. Olan 

A unique food of South India, Olan is a light curry with ash gourd or winter melon and cowpeas in coconut milk infused with coconut oil and curry leaves. It is not overpowering and has a slight sweetness that occasionally gives a breath of fresh air to the tongue amidst all the spicy foods. 

9. Erissery 

One of Kerala’s most popular and unique food preparations, Erissery is a Pumpkin and Black-Eyed Bean Curry simmered with coconut and finished off with toasted coconut. It has a sweet and savoury taste, added a little pepper, and that’s why it is part of the Sadhya spread. 

10. Pachadi (Yogurt-Based Dish) 

Pachadi, generally prepared with pineapple or cucumber, is a side dish that combines fruit flavour with yoghurt and green chilly and has a tangy taste. Finally, it is seasoned with mustard seeds and topped with curry leaves, which gives it a nice crunch and fantastic flavour. 

11. Kichadi

A classic traditional food much like Pachadi, but a little hotter, Kichadi may include ingredients such as bitter gourd or cucumber in yoghurt gravy. It is crunchy with the coolness of yoghurt and gentle heat from tempering spices and can cleanse the palate very effectively after fatty meats or decadent desserts. 

12. Inji Puli (Ginger-Tamarind Chutney) 

Inji Puli is a sour, hot, and slightly sweet chutney prepared with ginger pieces, green chillies, and tamarind. Some spices, especially those used in the Sadhya, are sharp and give the food an appropriate amount of heat and tang.

13. Pulissery (Buttermilk Curry) 

Kada pachakam, pulinji parippu, and pulissery: Pulissery is a bright yellow curry prepared with ripened mango or ash gourd and a slightly tangy liquid made of buttermilk and coconut. It is extremely tasty, sweet, sour, well-spiced, and has that unique fruity taste that compliments the meal. 

14. Kaalan 

Kaalan is a ‘thick curry’ made with yoghurt, coconut, yam, or raw plantain. It also include the taste of ground black pepper and sour curd. As a side dish, it goes perfectly well with the Sadhya. 

15. Payasam 

It is also worth knowing that Payasam, the dessert, is inevitable at any Onam Sadhya. Created from rice, jaggery, and coconut milk, this dish is sweet, and creamy texture, and is the ideal dessert for the festive season. Some common types include Ada Pradhaman, which is made using rice flakes, and Palada, which is made using milk and rice flakes; the two have this very rich  vibrant in flavour. 

16. Upperi (Banana Chips) 

Upperi, or banana chips, is the preparation of a slice of raw banana along with the skin, which is dusted with salt only after frying. This gives crispiness to the Sadhya, which complements the entire Sadhya. It is one of the most mouth-watering eateries in Sadhya. 

17. Sarkara Varatti 

Sarkara Varatti is another version of Upperi, where instead of salt, the chips are coated with jaggery dry ginger and cumin seeds. It is a sweet dish with some spice, and we also get the dry feel of crunchy food items; thus, everyone loves this dish in Sadhya. 

18. Pappadam (Papadum) 

Another staple of the Sadhya is a rice cracker known as Pappadam. It is made from deep-fried black gram flour to create a crispy wafer. It’s soft and fluffy, so you can have it with rice or even on its own as a good snack. 

19. Pickles (Achar) 

Every Onam Sadhya is incomplete without different types of pickles, such as mango, chilli, Raw banana, and lime pickles. These tangy, spicy relishes complement the meal by infusing the experience with small shots of highly penetrating flavours that reduce the thickness of curries. 

20. Payar Thoran 

Payar Thoran is a simple yet delightful dish made from sauteed green grams, grated coconut, green chillies, and curry leaves. This protein-rich stir-fry adds a light, fresh element to the Sadhya, rounding out the meal. 

Onam Sadhya in Chennai 

 

On September 15th, enjoy a specially curated Onam brunch from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. with family and friends at Waterside  Feathers Hotel, Chennai. 

We are offering a specially curated Onam Sadhya  from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. 

Book your table now. 

Contact: 7823977813/ 7823952688

Conclusion 

The Onam Sadhya is more than just a meal—it is an experience that captures the essence of Kerala’s Culinary heritage and history. Each dish has its story, ingredients, and purpose, creating a symphony of tastes that celebrates the season and Onam. May this Onam be filled with prosperity and joy for everyone celebrating it. Onam Ashamakkal!

Frequently asked questions

1. When is Onam celebrated this year?

Onam is celebrated from 6 September to 15 September 2024. It is usually celebrated for 9-10 days. The last day falls on the day of Thiruvonam, which is typically the day majorly celebrated as Onam. 

2. Why is Onam celebrated? 

It is believed that the ancient King Mahabali, who was given the boon to visit his citizens once a year, returns during this period every year.  Onam is celebrated to welcome him. 

3. Where can I have Onam Sadhya in Chennai? 

You can enjoy a feast of Onam Sadhya in Waterside at Feather Hotel Chennai on September 15, 2024 

4. How many dishes are there in an Onam Sadhya? 

While the number of dishes varies from family to family and region to region, ideally, there are 12 to 30 dishes in an Onam Sadhya.  

5. Does the Onam Sadhya consist of Vegetarian food alone? 

Yes, the entire Sadhya is purely vegetarian, and adding non-veg to a sadhya is generally avoided. However, due to its rich and varied flavours, even non-vegetarians thoroughly enjoy Onam Sadhya. 

6. How is an Onam Sadhya traditionally eaten? 

It is Traditionally eaten in a banana leaf, and the food is also served in a particular order.  Most people wear traditional clothes during Onam.