5 Delicious Onam Recipes You Must Try

Onam is a vibrant festival celebrated with great enthusiasm in the Indian state of Kerala. It marks the homecoming of the mythical King Mahabali, symbolizing the spirit of togetherness, harmony, and prosperity. A significant part of the festivities revolves around the Onam Sadya, a lavish feast spread over banana leaves, showcasing the region's rich culinary heritage. Here, we dive into five delicious Onam recipes you must try to celebrate this festival with authentic flavors.

Avial

Avial is a vegetarian delicacy that epitomizes the essence of Kerala cuisine:

• Preparation Time: 20 minutes
• Cooking Time: 30 minutes
• Servings: 4

Avial is made from a variety of vegetables, coconut, and spices, which are cooked together in coconut milk, creating a unique taste and texture:

1. Gather your ingredients:
   • Assorted vegetables like carrots, beans, raw banana, drumsticks, yam, and cucumber
   • Fresh grated coconut
   • Green chilies
   • Cumin seeds
   • Coconut oil
   • Curry leaves
   • Thick and thin coconut milk
   • Turmeric powder
   • Salt to taste
2. Method:
   1. Cut all vegetables into 2-inch long pieces.
   2. Grind coconut, green chilies, cumin seeds, and a few curry leaves into a coarse paste.
   3. Cook the vegetables with turmeric and salt until they are soft but not mushy.
   4. Add the ground paste to the vegetables and mix well.
   5. Pour in the thin coconut milk and cook for 5 minutes, then add the thick milk. Ensure it doesn’t boil after adding the thick milk.
   6. Finish by seasoning with coconut oil and fresh curry leaves.

🍲 Note: Do not overcook the vegetables, as they should retain a slight crunch.

Thoran

Thoran is a dry vegetable dish tempered with spices, a staple during Onam:

• Preparation Time: 15 minutes
• Cooking Time: 20 minutes
• Servings: 4-6

You can make thoran with various vegetables, but here’s a common recipe:

1. Ingredients:
   • Cabbage or any other vegetable
   • Grated coconut
   • Mustard seeds
   • Urrad dal
   • Green chilies
   • Curry leaves
   • Turmeric powder
   • Coconut oil
   • Salt
2. Steps:
   1. Heat coconut oil and splutter mustard seeds.
   2. Add urrad dal, green chilies, and curry leaves, then sauté until dal turns golden.
   3. Add shredded vegetables, turmeric, and salt.
   4. Cook covered until tender, then add grated coconut and mix well. Cook for another 3-4 minutes.

Olatha

Olatha, or Olan, is a mild and creamy dish featuring white pumpkin and cowpeas:

• Preparation Time: 15 minutes
• Cooking Time: 25 minutes
• Servings: 4

Here’s how to prepare this simple yet elegant dish:

1. Ingredients:
   • White pumpkin, peeled and sliced
   • Cowpeas or black-eyed beans
   • Green chilies
   • Coconut milk (thick)
   • Coconut milk (thin)
   • Curry leaves
   • Coconut oil
   • Salt
2. Preparation:
   1. Soak cowpeas overnight or pressure cook until soft.
   2. Boil sliced pumpkin in thin coconut milk with salt, green chilies, and curry leaves until soft.
   3. Add cooked cowpeas and cook for 5 minutes.
   4. Pour in the thick coconut milk, heat gently without boiling, and add a finishing touch with coconut oil and curry leaves.

Pappadam

Pappadam is an essential accompaniment in the Onam Sadya, providing a crunchy contrast to the soft dishes:

• Preparation Time: 5 minutes
• Cooking Time: 2-5 minutes
• Servings: Varies

Here’s how you can enjoy these delightful snacks:

1. Ingredients:
   • Store-bought or homemade pappadams
   • Some coconut oil for frying
2. Steps:
   1. If using store-bought pappadams, they are usually ready to fry.
   2. Heat oil in a pan or deep fryer to medium-high heat.
   3. Gently slide in a pappadam and watch it puff up and crisp within seconds.
   4. Flip once and remove quickly before it burns.
   5. Drain excess oil and serve immediately.

🔥 Note: Keep a close watch on the pappadams while frying; they burn easily due to their thinness.

Payasam

Conclude your meal with Payasam, a sweet, creamy dessert that is both comforting and celebratory:

• Preparation Time: 15 minutes
• Cooking Time: 45 minutes
• Servings: 6

To make this traditional dessert:

1. Ingredients:
   • Rice or semolina
   • Milk or coconut milk
   • Jaggery or sugar
   • Cardamom powder
   • Cashews and raisins
   • Ghee
   • Coconut pieces
2. Recipe:
   1. Cook rice or semolina in milk or coconut milk until well done.
   2. Add jaggery or sugar and melt completely.
   3. Flavor with cardamom powder.
   4. Fry cashews, raisins, and coconut pieces in ghee until golden and add them to the payasam.

🍮 Note: Payasam can be made with various ingredients like rice, wheat, or even lentils, each offering a unique taste and texture.

In essence, the Onam festival is a beautiful amalgamation of culture, customs, and cuisine. From the creamy textures of Avial and Olan, the crispiness of Pappadam, the rich taste of Thoran to the sweet aroma of Payasam, these dishes offer a taste of Kerala's soul. They not only nourish the body but also the spirit, fostering a sense of community and celebration. As we indulge in these dishes, we're reminded of the stories, traditions, and the legend of King Mahabali, making each bite a step closer to understanding Kerala's heritage.

Can I make Onam dishes if I’m not from Kerala?

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Yes, you can! Onam dishes are not exclusive to Kerala; with the right ingredients, you can recreate these flavors in your kitchen, celebrating the spirit of Onam.

What if I can’t find specific Kerala ingredients?

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Many Onam recipes can be adapted with readily available ingredients. For example, you can substitute certain vegetables in Avial or use frozen coconut milk if fresh coconut isn’t available.

How important is coconut in Onam dishes?

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Coconut is central to Kerala cuisine, providing flavor, texture, and richness to the dishes. However, dishes like Payasam can be made without coconut if preferred, though the taste would differ slightly.

Are there any vegan options in Onam recipes?

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Most Onam recipes are naturally vegan or can be easily adapted. Avial, Thoran, and Olan are vegan if coconut milk is used instead of dairy milk. Payasam can be made with coconut milk, making it vegan-friendly.

What’s the significance of the Sadya during Onam?

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The Sadya represents the harvest festival’s bounty and is a way to show hospitality and respect to guests. It’s served on a banana leaf, symbolizing purity and prosperity.