As UAE restaurants gear up to serve Onam sadhya - an elaborate vegetarian meal served on a banana leaf - this weekend, we have put together a list of 15 dishes without which the feast would be considered incomplete.
Sadhya, the Malayalam word for feast, typically consists of 15 to 20 small dishes that include both savoury and sweet items.
Keralites around the world celebrate Onam, a 10-day religious and cultural festival, and the sadhya is one of its highlights.
1. Kerala matta or red rice
The red rice is a staple in the state. Unlike basmati, the rice grains are plump and have a reddish outer layer with many swearing by its nutritional benefits. While the preparation is as simple as soaking and boiling, it does take longer to cook than white rice.
2. Kaya varuthathu or banana chips
If you have Malayali friends, you have already tasted this savoury treat at some point. Deep-fried in coconut oil, these chips are typically made from plantains. They are crispy, crunchy and have probably left many bingers feeling guilty.
3. Sharkara upperi or deep-fried banana sweet
Another deep-fried treat, the dish uses the local Nendran banana, cut into small cubes and soaked in thick jaggery syrup along with ginger and cumin.
4. Nendran or Kerala banana
As if the chips weren’t enough, your meal would be incomplete without a whole ripe banana. This local variety is packed with nutrients and is low in calories.
5. Avial or mixed vegetable curry
This traditional dish of mixed vegetables is cooked in a coconut and yoghurt sauce. The vegetables usually include elephant foot yam, plantain, ash melon, carrots, brinjal, drumstick pods, snake gourd and beans. There are many variations of the dish depending on the contents of the curry and spices used.
6. Thoran or stir-fried vegetables
A staple in Kerala homes, this dish is made with finely chopped vegetables and grated coconut. The common ones are cabbage, carrots, beans and beetroot. Mustard seeds, curry leaves and other spices are used to season it.
7. Sambar or lentil-based curry
If you have ever had a dosa, chances are you have also had sambar. This stew is packed with flavours as it uses lentils, mixed vegetables, tamarind, herbs and spices. South Indians call this a powerhouse of nutrition and it is a popular topping over rice for lunch.
8. Rasam
This is the simpler, but spicier version of sambar. A traditional soup made with tamarind, tomatoes, spices and herbs, this one is also considered good for treating common cold.
9. Pulissery or yoghurt curry
Pulissery, also called moru, is a yogurt-based curry known for its sour taste. Akin to spiced buttermilk, it uses coconut paste and tempered spices.
10. Pappadam
This is a crispy snack made from black gram flour, salt and water. It is also a popular side dish with biryani.
11. Inji puli or tamarind sauce
This condiment is sweet, sour and spicy at the same time. It has a thick jam-like consistency and is made using ginger, tamarind and jaggery.
12. Pickle
The most common pickle used in an Onam sadhya is the lemon pickle that will add a zest to your meal. The other option is the mango pickle or what is called the kadu manga in Malayalam.
13. Erissery or pumpkin curry
A dish made with pumpkin and red or brown cowpeas, the recipe for this curry also calls for coconut paste.
14. Parippu with neyy or lentils with clarified butter
This lentil soup uses green gram, coconut, cumin seeds and green chillies. This one too has many variations, with some households adding garlic, depending on personal preference. It is generally served with a dash of clarified butter.
15. Payasam or rice pudding
The endnote of Onam sadhya generally consists of a minimum of three payasams – palada payasam, which is made from rice flakes; parippu payasam, which is made from lentils, coconut milk and jaggery; and semiya payasam, made with vermicelli, milk and nuts.
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