With pookalams, payasam, sadhya and kaikotti kali, this is a day of merriment and of course loads of food. And when it comes to food, there has to be a grand sadhya (feast). This sadhya traditionally comprises of 26 or more onam sadya dishes and is served on a banana leaf. The entire gathering is served one dish at a time, starting with salt, upperi and sharkara varatti, followed by all the other dishes, rice and ending with payasam. This is the one day when Keralites gladly denounce their love for meat.
Malayalis around the world are celebrating Onam today. The 10-day harvest festival of Kerala also celebrates the popular legend of King Mahabali who sacrificed his life for his subjects.
So if you’re in the Onam spirit or just want to eat the scrumptious dishes served, here’s a look at the 26 Onam sadhya items:
1. Upperi
The one thing everyone loves the most – banana chips. A good handful is served at the very beginning followed by the other 25 onam sadya dishes. Obviously by the time everything else arrives, you’ll need another handful.
2. Sharkara Varatti
The sweeter version of banana chips. Made of jaggery, this hard to eat sweet will leave you wanting more.
3. Manga Curry
Plain old mango pickle to give your tongue a tangy taste of some amazing spices.
4. Naranga Curry
There will be two types of pickle in any onam sadhya for sure and this is the sour lemon pickle to add some zest to your taste buds.
5. Ellisheri
A yummy dish made with pumpkin, red beans and a generous amount of grated coconut.
6. Pulissery
Made with curd and your choice of vegetable ranging from pumpkin to cucumber and topped with a gracious amount of grated coconut.
7. Kaalan
A signature dish made with yogurt, yam or raw banana or of course our favourite, grated coconut.
8. Olan
Ash gourd and red beans splashed with a generous amount of hand-pressed, authentic coconut milk.
9. Pachadi
A delicious yogurt-based curry made with either pineapple or bitter gourd and, of course, grated coconut.
10. Chenna Mezhkkupuratti
This is my personal favourite! Yam cut into thin slices, boiled with spices and fried in coconut oil. You can’t resist another helping of this.
11. Inji Curry
A must have for Onam, Inji curry is 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.
12. Parripu Curry
Plain old moong dal topped with red chillies, black sesame seeds. Top it with ghee and you’ll be having a gastronomical heaven in your mouth.
13. Chor
Well, this is just rice. But on Onam, most Malayalis serve red rice. If you haven’t tasted this version of rice, well, you’re missing out in life.
14. Sambhar
An essential dish of the Onam Sadhya, Sambhar is cooked with every vegetable there is from beans to potatoes to yam. Everything goes in to making this wonderful dish!
15. Morru Kachiyatha
Yogurt boiled to perfection with black sesame seeds, shallots, ginger and garlic. If you’re a Malayali, then you know it’s one of those healthy, comfort food you so love.
16. Pappadam
Good old pappads made with rice flour. You’ll need many of these to wholly enjoy your meal.
17. Avial
Mixed vegetables with grated coconut and made in coconut oil and milk. With so many dishes, this dish usually gets overlooked. But man, this is one tasty mixed vegetable dish you’ll ever have.
18. Kichadi
Spicy yogurt with your choice of vegetable. It can be okra, cucumber or even bitter gourd. Add it to your rice and parippu, and see how you lick your fingers in the end.
19. Rasam
Spicy tamarind soup, sprinkled with a generous amount of curry leaves, mustard and tomatoes. Drink it up in the end for digestion or just add it with your sambhar and rice.
20. Kootu Curry
Raw bananas and black chana with grated coconut made into a dry curry. You’ll never even know it’s raw banana, that’s how well it is cooked.
21. Neyy
Popularly known as ghee in hindi, it serves a very important purpose. A spoonful of it on top of the rice and parippu, and you’ll be licking your fingers.
22. Inji Thayir
Loads of thinly-sliced ginger, mixed with yogurt, black sesame seeds and spices. This one is absolutely lip-smacking!
23. Thoran
A staple in every malayali household, thoran can be made from any vegetable. Usually, it’s cabbage and carrots or just beans with grated coconut. Minimal cooking time and the perfect healthy dish to go with your Morru Kachiyatha.
24. Poovan Pazham
The smaller version of a banana, it adds taste to your payasam when mashed with hands and mixed well together. Don’t forget to add a pappadam or two for that extra crunch.
25. Palada Pradhaman
The last dish that is served- a sweet dish made with milk, dry fruits and rice ada. The sweetness is just perfect to balance all the spices.
26. Pazham Pradhaman
Rice ada, cashew nuts, thinly sliced coconut pieces and jaggery. If you want to eat it the right way, refer to Poovan Pazham. You’ll enjoy this delicacy much better.
