Delightful Onam Sadya: 5 Easy Recipes to Try at Home

Onam, the vibrant 10-day harvest festival of Kerala, is right here. Thie festival is not just about celebrating the harvest but also about spending quality time with family and friends, enjoying traditional festivities, and, most importantly, indulging in Onam Sadya – the traditional vegetarian feast. Served on a banana leaf, Sadya comprises a variety of scrumptious dishes that will tantalize your taste buds while immersing you in the cultural richness of the state. Onam Sadya essentially symbolises prosperity, abundance, and togetherness. A fantastic way to embrace the spirit of Onam is to prepare a Sadya at home, and if you have got the right appliances such as a mixer grinder or hand bender, the process gets easy and enjoyable.

Let’s look at some of the easiest, mouth-watering Sadya recipes you can try making at home.

Parippu Curry (Lentil Curry)

Every Malayali out here knows what we are talking about here. Made with ‘Moong’ dal, Parippu curry is a stable in Kerala households. While other parts of India have their lentil dishes usually spiced, Parippu is on the milder side with a good dose of coconut. You need to cook moong dal (yellow lentils) with salt to taste in a pressure cooker until it gets soft and creamy. Simultaneously, you can use a compact mixer grinder like Orient Electric Geenie mixer grinder to grind grated coconut, cumin seeds, green chillies, along with turmeric powder. When done, put the paste into the mashed dal and let it boil for some time. Now, it’s time to heat oil or ghee, whichever you like, and put small onions, some mustard seeds, red chillies, and curry leaves. Temper it until the onions turn brown and then pour the mixture over the Parippu. Your aromatic and delicious Parippu curry is ready to be served with rice. Do not forget to pour some ghee on the curry.

Avial

It’s healthy. It’s tasty. Avial is a classic and flavourful Kerala dish that is basically a mixed vegetable curry made using different vegetables such as beans, carrots, drumsticks, and yams. The recipe is simple, you just have to cook these vegetables in a coconut and yogurt sauce. While the process is simply, the result is a treat for both the eyes and your taste buds. You start by cutting the veggies in small pieces and you have the freedom to choose vegetables of your choice here. So go for more beans if you like them. Now, heat two teaspoons of ghee or oil in a pan, add green chilies, and put in the chopped vegetables. Sprinkle with turmeric powder and salt, and then add desired quantity of water. Cover and let it cook on low heat, but do not forget to stir in between. Now is the time to put your mixer grinder to work and make a thick paste by grinding coconut, green chilies, cumin seeds, red chili powder, and turmeric. Once the vegetables are semi cooked, put in the coconut paste. Add yogurt for that tangy flavour and mix the contents well. Add salt to taste and some fresh curry leaves and coconut oil for the extra aroma and taste. Your Avial is now ready to serve!

Olan

If you like ash gourd (aka winter melon), you are going to love Olan. It is a light Kerala curry that’s made with ash gourd and black-eyed peas. And yes, there is the creamy coconut milk that gives this classic dish a smooth and mild flavour. The recipe is as simple as it can be. Cook the cut ash gourd and black-eyed peas together until they become tender. You can also keep the black-eyed peas soaked in water beforehand to speed up the cooking process. Do add some green chilli, some curry leaves and salt to taste. Once the mix is cooked well, add coconut milk to it. To ensure that the coconut milk is smooth and free of lumps, it’s better to use a hand blender. In case you are looking for one with sleek design and superior performance, you might want to consider Orient Electric’s Fine Blend hand blender. The only thing that you need to do now is to let all ingredients simmer gently so that all flavours blend well. A drizzle of coconut oil and fresh curry leaves should not be missed towards the end. You can have Olan as a side dish or enjoy it with hot rice. Olan is one of the simplest dishes you will come across. Do give it a try at home!

Pachadi

Ready for some Kerala style raita? Make way for Pachadi which can be made with cucumber or fruits like pineapple. I personally love the cucumber Pachadi, and it is quite different from what we have in North India. To start with, use a mixer grinder to make a thick paste out of coconut, green chilies, and mustard seeds. Now cook the chopped cucumber with water on low-medium heat for about five minutes and do keep stirring in between. Now, add the coarse coconut paste to it and let it cook for another 2-3 minutes. Once done, let the mixture cool down for some time and then add beaten curd. There is just one step left now. Heat some coconut oil in a small pan and add some mustard seeds until they crackle, 1-2 dry chillies, and a few curry leaves. Pour this over the Pachadi and you are good to go. Believe me, you will fall in love with its flavourful and refreshing taste. It pairs best with sambhar rice.

Ada Pradhaman

How can we forget the dessert? Usually made during Onam and other special occasions in Kerala, Ada Pradhaman is a traditional Kerala payasam (pudding) made with rice ada (rice flakes), jaggery and coconut milk. For those who do not know it, rice ada is made by steaming thick rice batter spread on banana leaf and then cut into small pieces. You can also buy rice ada from the market itself. While the recipe is not the easiest, it is worth a try. First, cook the rinsed rice ada with water on low to medium heat in a big pan until it is cooked and becomes thick. Drain it and keep it aside. Simultaneously, melt jaggery with water to create a syrup. Strain it and keep it aside. Also, make some creamy coconut milk by blending fresh coconut with water. Now, put cooked rice ada, jaggery syrup and coconut milk together in a pot and cook it on medium heat with stirring at intervals. Do it until the mixture turns rich and creamy. For the aroma, add crushed cardamom. For garnishing and that extra flavour, put in some fried coconut pieces, cashews, and sweet raisins. Trust us, this creamy Ada Pradhaman will take center stage at your Onam Sadya.

A Celebration of Kerala’s Rich Traditions

Preparing an Onam Sadya at home is much more than cooking, it is about celebrating the culture and traditions. While we have listed just five dishes here, there are many simpler and more delicious Sadya recipes that have been passed down through generations. Each recipe brings its own unique flavours and traditions, reflecting the rich culinary heritage of Kerala.

May your Onam be as vibrant and delightful as a Sadya feast. Happy Onam!