It's Happy COR"ONAM" Again. Let's Make a traditional "ONASADHYA" together.

 Onasadhya Recipes- Happy Onam!

It's again a Happy Coronam around our corner. Last year also we were all celebrating onam in the middle of corona. I am hoping this time also we will celebrate onam safely.

Before going to our star of the day "ONASADHYA" I would like to share the story behind the Onam.(This is only for non-malayalis)

Onam Festival: History and Significance

As per the Gregorian calendar, Onam falls in the month of Chingam which is August – September. People celebrate Onam to honour a kind-hearted, benevolent demon King Mahabali, who is believed to return his kingdom during Onam time.

According to Vaishnava mythology, King Mahabali had defeated all the Gods and was ruling in all three worlds. Unlike other demons, Mahabali was sweet and less torturous. People loved this demon king. Yet, the Gods felt insecured and asked Lord Vishu for interference.

Lord Vishnu disguised as Vamana, a Brahmin dwarf went to meet King Mahabali. Vamana is supposed to be Vishnu’s fifth avatar. When the king asked for his wishes, Vamana replied with “three pieces of land.” The king granted his wish, and he grew in size, appearing before all the three worlds. When he was about to reach heaven, King Mahabali offered his own head and Lord Vishu was impressed by this act of benevolence. He granted his wish that he could visit his kingdom during the time of Onam.

Hence, Onam is a celebration of the return of King Mahabali to his kingdom.

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Sadhya – The Traditional Feast

Sadhya comprises more than 26 dishes. It includes Avial (vegetables in coconut curry), Kalan (sweet potato and yam with coconut curry), Chor (rice) and all-time favourite dessert Parripu Payasam (kheer). Sadhya also includes pickles, dry curries, pappadam (papad), poovan pazham (smaller bananas) and a lot more!

 Starting from the left side of the leaf, let’s just go through what all items are filled in the leaf! The rice is served hot only after the person is seated for having the Ona Sadhya. Lets begin !

Snacks

A typical sadhya has banana chips, thick jaggery-coated banana chips, pappadam and pazham on the extreme left corner of the banana leaf. Some sadhya also include bitter gourd chips, yam chips etc. A crispy snack, kaliyadakka is usually made during Onam and unniyappam is made as part of nivedhyam (offering) to God.

Ethakka Upperi (Banana Chips)

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Sharkara Varatti

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Pickles

Pickles are served right next to the chips. Pickles include – Inji curry/puli inji, naranga llasuachar and kaduku manga achar. Vadukapuli naranga achar is usually made as part of an Onasadya. Naranga achar is served once more, right before payasam is served during marriage feast. Inji thayir is served as part of a pirannal feast.

Inji Curry

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Puli Inji

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Lemon Pickle

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Kadumanga Pickle

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Side-dishes

Now its time for the main dishes to settle in the leaf ! The dishes that decide whether the sadya turned out good or not ! The delectable Aviyal, good looking thoran, colourful kichadi and pachadi, spicy and flavorful kootu curry and mild yet delicious, Olan. An absolute delight for the tummy of Keralites!

Aviyal

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Cabbage Thoran

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Achinga Payar Mezhukkupuratti

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Pineapple Pachadi 

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Pavakka Kichadi

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Beetroot Pachadi 

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Koottu Curry

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Erissery 

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                                            Olan

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Ozhichu Curry

In our part of Kerala , sambar is the first to be poured into the hot rice. Smash a pappadam into it and have it ! I guess lots of mouths would be watering now . Next in line is kaalan and parippu. After that rasam is a must, which is a stomach refreshner !

Sambar

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Kaalan

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Parippu Curry

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Mampazha Pulliserry

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Rasam

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Desserts

Finally the main star of the sadya is served – Payasam. Usually ada pradhaman or parippu pradhaman is served first. And then would come a white coloured payasam – palada or semiya or pal payasam.

Ada Pradhaman

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Parippu Pradhaman

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Palada Payasam

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Semiya Payasam

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Oh..My..God! My mouth is getting juicy to taste those traditional Onasadhya. So what are you waiting for..? Let's together celebrate this onam with Taste of Mallu. Wishing you all a prosperous and Safe Onam...

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Happy Onam!