Mumbai: Onam 2024 is a significant rice harvest festival in Kerala, also referred to as Thiru-Onam or Thiruvonam. This year, the festivities began on 6 September 2024 and will conclude on 15 September 2024. The festival is known for its colourful decorations, intricate rangoli designs, new attire, warm greetings, and the iconic grand meal known as Onam Sadhya, or Onasadhya.
Onam Sadhya, the grand feast associated with Kerala’s harvest festival, is a delightful celebration of flavours. Served on a banana leaf, this traditional meal brings together a variety of vegetarian dishes that offer a perfect balance of taste and nutrition. The secret to a memorable Sadhya lies in its key ingredients, each contributing to the vibrancy and richness of the meal.
From the earthy steamed red rice to the flavourful sambar and parippu curry, the Sadhya has something for every palate. The dishes not only reflect Kerala’s love for coconut, spices, and seasonal vegetables but also showcase its culinary diversity. Let’s dive into the must-have ingredients that make an Onam Sadhya so special.
A perfect Onam Sadhya is an elaborate feast that represents the rich culinary heritage of Kerala.
Onam Sadhya
Here’s a closer look at 10 must-have ingredients that complete this grand meal:
Steamed Red Rice: The foundation of the Sadhya, served on a banana leaf. This earthy rice is a Kerala staple, complementing the rich variety of curries.
Sambar: A lentil-based vegetable stew cooked in tamarind broth, bursting with flavours of mustard seeds, curry leaves, and spices. It’s a must-have in any Kerala feast.
Parippu Curry: A creamy and nutritious lentil curry, often made from moong dal. It’s usually the first curry eaten with rice and a drizzle of ghee.
Ghee: Clarified butter, which adds richness to the parippu curry and other dishes. A spoonful of ghee over the rice elevates the meal’s flavour.
Pappadam: Crispy lentil wafers that add a crunchy texture to the Sadhya. They are perfect to munch on between bites of rice and curries.
Avial: A delightful mix of seasonal vegetables, cooked in a coconut and yoghurt base, lightly spiced with curry leaves. It brings a cooling balance to the spicier dishes.
Moru Curry: Kerala-style seasoned buttermilk, often prepared with a hint of green chillies, ginger, and turmeric. This tangy dish helps in digestion after the heavier curries.
Thoran: A vegetable-based side dish typically made with coconut. It’s lightly stir-fried and includes vegetables like cabbage, beans, or carrots, offering a healthy crunch.
Upperi or Sarkara Varatti: Banana chips, either salted (Upperi) or sweetened with jaggery (Sarkara Varatti). They provide a crispy and sweet-salty treat.
Ada Payasam: A Kerala-style payasam (dessert) made with rice ada (flakes), jaggery, and coconut milk. This sweet delicacy is the perfect way to end the meal, leaving a lasting impression of Onam’s sweetness.
These ingredients work together to create a delicious, balanced feast that symbolises Onam’s joy and abundance.
Each of these dishes plays a crucial role in making the Onam Sadhya a wholesome and well-rounded meal. The combination of rice, curries, crispy sides, and sweet payasam offers an unforgettable experience of Kerala’s culinary tradition.
As you savour the intricate flavours of an Onam Sadhya, you’re not just enjoying a meal—you’re taking part in a time-honoured celebration of nature’s bounty and Kerala’s cultural heritage. This delicious tradition is a reminder of the joy and abundance that Onam brings every year.
Onam 2024, one of Kerala’s most significant harvest festivals, features the traditional Onam Sadhya, a grand vegetarian feast served on banana leaves. Learn about the must-have ingredients and festive preparations. Food & Drink Lifestyle News -Fashion Trends, Beauty Tips, Celebrity Party News, Relationship advice, Travel and Food Tips
