Sadya
Onam Sadya
The banana-leaf vegetarian feast of Onam — a dozen or more dishes in one sitting.
About
Sadya is Kerala’s ceremonial vegetarian meal, served on a banana leaf during Onam and other feasts. A full spread can run to twenty dishes or more: rice, sambar, avial, olan, erissery, thoran, pachadi, pickles, papadam, banana chips, and payasam. The proverb says one must eat Onam lunch even by selling property if need be.
Course
Feast
Region
Statewide
Typically with
Onam, Vishu, weddings
More dishes
Continue tasting
Other famous plates from Kerala’s kitchen.
Avial
Mixed vegetables in coconut and yoghurt, thickened with curry leaves and coconut oil.
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Olan
Ash gourd and cowpeas in thin coconut milk — a quiet, pale dish of the sadya.
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Erissery
Pumpkin or yam with cowpeas, coconut, and a fried-coconut topping.
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Thoran
Finely chopped vegetable stir-fry with coconut, mustard, and curry leaves.
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Moru curry
Seasoned yoghurt curry of the sadya, with or without coconut.
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Kerala sambar
Lentil and vegetable sambar with roasted coconut — the Kerala take on the sadya gravy.
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