Onam festival, is a traditional vegetarian meal that consists of a variety of dishes, offering a blend of sweet, sour, spicy, and savory flavors. Here are 10 must-have Onam Sadhya dishes, along with their recipes, that you can easily prepare at home to celebrate the festival in style.
Avial – A Quintessential Onam Dish
Avial is one of the most important dishes in the Onam Sadhya and is believed to have originated in Kerala, with a legend linking it to Bhima from the Mahabharata. It's a mixed vegetable curry made with vegetables like carrots, beans, yam, and raw bananas, cooked with a ground coconut and yogurt paste. Drizzled with coconut oil and garnished with curry leaves, this dish provides a perfect blend of flavors and is a nutritious addition to the feast.
Recipe:
Sambar – The Heart of Sadhya
Sambar is a lentil-based stew made with a variety of vegetables and flavored with tamarind, which adds a tangy note. It’s said to have originated from Tamil Nadu but is widely popular across South India, especially in Kerala. Made with toor dal and vegetables like drumstick and pumpkin, Sambar is tempered with mustard seeds, curry leaves, and dried red chilies. Its wholesome flavor and nutritional value make it an essential part of any Sadhya.
Recipe: