While Onam is a highly celebrated harvest festival of Kerala, Onam Sadya is a traditional meal that is consumed during Onam. The Onam Sadya is a fancy feast that includes a multitude of dishes, all served authentically on fresh banana leaves, a hale, and hearty practice widely prevalent in Southern India. Like most Indian dishes, it tastes heavenly when had with bare hands.Let’s have a look at our finely curated list of dishes for Onam Sadya 2024
Here are eight zestful, mouthwatering dishes for Onam Sadya 2024 that you will absolutely fall in love with and keep preparing long after the eve of Onam.
1. Pachadi: A Sweet and Piquant Delicacy
First on our list of Onam Sadya suggestions, is Pachadi. Pachadi is a Kerala-style raita made with cucumber, and coconut and tempered with spices. Cucumber Pachadi also known as Vellarikka Pachadi is one of the integral side dishes in Onam Sadya Menu. This dish offers a delightful blend of sweet and tangy flavors. Made with fruits or vegetables like pineapple, cucumber, or beetroot, Pachadi is cooked in a yogurt base and garnished with mustard seeds and curry leaves.
2. Thoran: Stir-Fried Wholesomeness
Next in line is Thoran, also referred to as ‘upperi,’ is a dry dish made by stir-frying finely chopped vegetables like cabbage, carrots, or beans with grated coconut, mustard seeds, and curry leaves primarily cooked in coconut oil. This dish is a special from the cuisine of ‘God’s own country,’ Kerala. This dish is light, crunchy, and bursting with the fresh flavors of the vegetables, making it a delightful addition to the Sadya.
3. Avial: An Assortment of Vegetables
Avial is an Indian dish that originates in Kerala. This dish is of essence in the Onam Sadya and is known for its rich flavors. It is a colorful mix of vegetables like carrots, beans, and drumsticks, cooked in a thick coconut and yogurt gravy, flavored with curry leaves and coconut oil. The subtle flavor from the yogurt and the aroma of fresh coconut make it a wonderful preparation for Onam Sadya.
4. Sambar: A Protein Rich Stew
No South Indian feast is complete without Sambar, the King of South Indian cuisine, and Onam Sadya is no exception. Sambar is rich in dietary fiber, thanks to lentils and vegetables. Fiber is crucial for maintaining healthy digestion, preventing constipation, and promoting a feeling of fullness.
5. Erissery: A Satisfying Pumpkin Curry
Mathanga Erissery as it is popularly called in Kerala is a mild curry made with yellow pumpkin, cowpeas in a coconut-based curry, and tempered with spices. Erissery is one of the traditional dishes served in Onam Sadya. The dish is finished with a tempering of fried coconut, giving it a unique texture and flavor.
6. Kalan: The Yam Charm
There’s one dish, without which, Sadya is incomplete. It is the Kalan. A creamy dish made from yam and raw banana, cooked in a spiced yogurt sauce. The lightly spiced Kalan is not just delicious, but very soothing and comforting. What makes Kalan exceptional is the fact that it is gluten-free and has a thick consistency with generous use of black pepper, which gives it a slight kick.
7. Olan: A Subtle and Soothing Curry
Olan is a mild, soothing dish that uses three major ingredients – ash gourd/ pumpkin, coconut milk, and black-eyed peas. It is cooked in coconut milk and flavored with green chilies and curry leaves. Its creamy texture and delicate taste provide a calming effect to the stomach.
8. Palada Payasam: The final touch
Finally, yet importantly, Palada Payasam is a delicious dessert that is made by cooking ada or rice flakes in milk, sugar flavored with cardamom powder, and garnished with nuts. The sweetness and the fragrance of cardamom make Palada Payasam the star of the show.
Onam Sadya is a hallmark of the festival of Kerala. Each dish in the Sadya narrates its own story. Don’t forget to savor these eight dishes as you celebrate Onam Sadya 2024. They’re the true stars of Onam Sadya and will leave you with memories of flavors that will linger forever in your heart.
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