Onam Sadya Recipes!
Pookkalavum, pooviliyum, onakkodiyum, onasadhyayumayi oru onam koodi. Ellavarkum Ente Hridayam Niranja Onam Aasamsakal! May this year brings each one of you lots and lots of happiness in life and fulfill all your dreams. Happy Onam!
Do you know the reason behind Onam celebrations?
Onam, the state festival of Kerala in India, is celebrated with great fanfare by the Malayalees all over the world. Onam is an occasion for Keralities to celebrate plenitude and togetherness. This festival falls in the month of August to September according to the Gregorian calendar.
The celebrations of Onam go ten-day long-span. All the activities during this season are centered around elaborate rituals, music, dances, sports, boat races and of course scrumptious foods. This celebrations has two most important significances in context of the Malayalee culture. First of all, its celebrated as the harvest festival of the state. The second and the most popularly quoted legend with the festival is related to the mythological king Mahabali. There are many stories associated with the celebration of this festival.
The celebrations of Onam start on Atham day, 10 days before Thiruvonam.Thiruvonam, the tenth day, is the most auspicious. On this day earthen mounds, which look somewhat like square pyramids, representing Mahabali and Vamana are placed and children prepare floral decoration called Onapookkalam (also known as floral carpet) in front of their houses to welcome Onathappan /King Mahabali, as he visits Kerala every year on Onam, to enquire about their well-being.
The other most important things about Onam are the onakkodi, the new clothes worn on this day and lavish ‘Onam sadya’, the tradition that is followed by people, irrespective of their cast and religion. All members of the family gather together, usually at the ancestral home for Onasadya – the traditional lunch served on plantain leaves. There is an old saying in Malayalam ‘Kanam Vittu Onam Unnanam’, which literally means that go to the extend of selling their possessions to eat Onasadya /Traditional Kerala Feast.
How to make and serve Onam Sadya Recipes :
Breakfast
Ottada
Ela Ada
Vishu Kanji
Vishu Katta
Aval Varattiyathu-
Aval Nanchathu
Sadya serving begins from the bottom left half of the leaf. In some areas a pinch of salt is kept on the leaf but some people avoid it.
On the bottom left half of the leaf a small banana is placed, next pappadam
Banana
Pappadam
Unniyappam-Neyiappam
Mango Unniyappam
Then sarkara varatti /jaggery coated banana chips and upperi/banana chips
Sarkara Varatti
Nurukku Upperi
Banana Chips
Next from the top left half of the banana leaf
Naranga-Lemon Achar
Nellika-Gooseberry Achar
Kannimanga Achar
Kadumanga-Mango Achar
Inji Thayir
Puli Inji-Inji Puli
Thoran /Mezhupuratti (vegetable stir fry with coconut) (I have posted many different kinds of thoran but usually we prepare and serve these thorans for sadya.)
Jackfruit Thoran
Cabbage Thoran
Kaya-Payar Mezhu
Beetroot Thoran
Carrot-Beans Thoran
Beans Thoran
Red Cabbage Thoran
Next Pachadi’s and Khichadi’s
Manga Pachadi
Vendakka Kichadi
Beetroot Pachadi
Madhura Pachadi
Vellarikka Pachadi
Pacha Manga Khichadi
Carrot Pachadi
Pineapple Pachadi
Next comes Different kinds of Side Dishes
Aviyal
Olan
Mathanga Erissery
Papaya Erissery
Jackfruit Erissery
Kootu Curry
Now banana leaf is filled with all the side dishes and most people will have dipped their fingers in some of the delicacies to have a taste.
The rice is served at the bottom center of the banana leaf.
Kerala Rice
Then parippu curry is served along with ghee
Ghee
Kerala Parippu Curry Sambhar
Next Sambhar is served (Some part Theeyal is also served)
Sambar
Varutharacha Sambar
Ulli-Onion Sambar
Pavakka Theeyal
Ulli-Onion Theeyal
Next Kalan, Kurukku Kalan, Puliserry, Moru Curry
Kaalan-Kalan
Kurukku Kalan
Ethapazha Puliserry
Mambazha Pulissery
Kumbalanga Moru Curry
Pineappla Puliserry
Moru Curry
Next served is Rasam
Tomato Rasam
Black Pepper Rasam
Ginger Rasam
Garlic Rasam
Then comes the most anticipated part the Desserts /Payasam’s.
Normally 2-3 varieties of payasam from the below list will be served to make sadhya delicious.
Palada Pradhaman
Palada Payasam
Chakka Pradhaman
Parippu Pradhaman
Ada Pradhaman
Pazhaada Payasam
Gothambu Payasam
Paal Payasam
Sharkara Payasam
Banana Pradhaman
Aval Payasam
Semiya Payasam
Pinepapple Payasam
oops! tried Is’t? 
The traditional sadya is not over yet….
Then Sambaram /Curd /Buttermik is served at the end to complete the meal and to help digestion.
Sambaram-Spiced Buttermilk
Most people stop with the dessert…This is the way we serve in our place(Central Kerala). The ways of serving differs from region to region.
Once again Wish you all very Happy & Prosperous, Blessed Onam! Enjoy traditional virtual Onam sadya /Kerala Feast. Hope you all like my Onam sadya recipes :- ) Do try and don’t forget let me know your opinion.Would love to hear it.
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to you too onam ashamsakal, nice one pics also superbbb
Onathinu angottu varam…ente vayil kappal odikkanulla vellamundu
Thank you Jinson!
nice
Thx Faseela. Wish u n ur family the same dear 🙂
Thank you.Wish u the same 🙂
Thanks for your sweet note Sangeetha.
Thank you so much Anu 🙂
Thx Suja 🙂 Wish u n ur fly the same 🙂
Hi Achu,
Thanks for wishes dear…wish u n ur family the same 🙂 you're most welcome! I'm so glad you liked the sadya recipes from this humble space and thx for that sweet note,it brings me so much joy to read them.:)
Good Luck and looking forward for your pics!
Have a wonderful blessed onam! Happy Cooking!
Sangeetha
Suja, Anu, Sangeetha, Susan, Faseela, Thank You so much…wish u n ur family the same:)
Happy Onam
Sangeetha!
Wow Awesome Wishing you and your family very happy onam!!! I love each and every recipes on onam sadya..i am gonna make it and will send u fotos 🙂 Thank u dear. It is one of my favorite i have ever seen Its best site ever for Onam sadya I have been looking for! 🙂
Happy Onam 2 u dear….
happy onam to you and your family
A Very Happy Onam Sangee!! love all the recipes n a very delectable spread…Palada Pradhaman is my fav…real treat to eyes!!
WOW!!! Sangeetha great collection of onam recipes. Love all of it.
Happy Onam Sangeetha,delicious spread,all looks yum