Onam Recipes

Onam is the state festival of Kerala. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm and zest by the Malayalees all over the world. While Thiruvonam (the tenth day) is the most important day of the festival, the celebrations at some places continue until chatayam (twelfth day). The festival is marked by elaborate rituals, feast, socializing, games and fairs. Umpteen varieties of dishes are prepared throughout the festival in every Malayalee home. 'Onasadya' or the traditional feast of Onam is an unavoidable part of the festival. It is organized by people irrespective of caste, creed and community barriers.

The grand feast of Onam is held in a methodical manner. The impressive spread of delicacies are served in banana leafs. The leaf has to be placed in a particular way and the dishes are also to be served in a defined pattern. The serving on the leaf begins from the left with 'Upperies' (deep-fried dishes). Umpteen numbers of scrumptious dishes are served on this occasion. Different kinds of rice with a number of side dishes and other delicacies such as curries, 'pappadams' (round crisp flour cakes), 'achaars' (pickles) and 'payasams' or 'pradhamans' as desserts are served. Plantain fruits are also served as a part of the meal.

Avial
Avial is a scrumptious dish of Kerala. It is a kind of mix vegetable recipe. Easy to make and delicious to taste, this dish is also very nutritious and fulfilling. It is basically a side dish served hot along with varieties of rice.

Banana Halwa
Kerala recipes are extremely luscious. Apart from the variety of coconut dishes, the most relishing Kerala recipes are sweet to taste. Payasams, Uniyappam, Elayada, Achappam, Banana Halwa (Nenthra Pazham Haluva) are the most popular sweet dishes of the state.

Coconut Chutney
Coconut is a vital ingredient of almost all the Kerala dishes. Right from vegetables to the desserts, coconut is used in almost all the dishes. However, one of the most regularly made and popularly made coconut dish of Kerala is the coconut sauce or 'thenga chutney'.

Idli
Idli is one of the most popular south Indian recipes all over the country. Extremely scrumptious, light and nutritious, Idli is an ideal breakfast item. Made of rice and Urad Daal, making Idli is not difficult at all, however its preparation takes a little time as the batter for Idli requires fermentation.

Dry Fruit Kesari
Sweet dishes of Kerala are extremely famous for their wonderful taste. One of them is the Dry Fruit Kesari, a popular sweet dish of Kerala. Made of Rava and dry fruits as the primary items, Kesari is extremely scrumptious to taste. It is prepared in a very manner very similar to north Indian 'Rava Halwa', except for the fact that the Halwa is not cut into diamond shape later on.

Masala Dosa
Masala Dosa is one of the most popular south Indian recipes all over the world. Made up of the fermented batter of Rice and Urad Daal along with the stuffing of mashed potatoes, it is an extremely scrumptious and fulfilling dish. Though the preparation of Dosa requires a lot of time and efforts, the taste is worth it.

Mor Kuzhambu
Mor Kuzhambu is a popular south Indian dish. It is actually buttermilk curry seasoned with cumin seeds, coriander seeds, turmeric powder and mustard seeds. It is very easy to make and hardly takes 15-20 minutes for preparation. It is extremely luscious and is relishing when served along with plain hot rice. If you are a curry lover, you will simply love this recipe.

Moru Curry
Kerala is famous for its umpteen varieties of curry. One of them is the delicious Moru Curry. It is basically a yoghurt curry popular in Kerala. It is served along with varieties of rice. Preparation of Moru Curry is a very easy task and hardly requires 20 minutes.

Kozhukattai
Kozhukattai, also known as 'Modak', is one of the most popular recipes of Kerala. It is generally prepared on 'Ganesh-chaturdashi' as it is considered to be the favorite dish of Lord Ganesha. Sweet and scrumptious to taste, this dish takes a little time to be prepared, yet the taste is worth the wait.

Palada Pradhaman
Onam, the harvest festival of Malayalees, is celebrated with great enthusiasm. Right from Attam (the first day of the festival), the air is filled with festivity. A number of interesting games are played. While the rituals performed on Onam may differ from region to region, one tradition that remains the same is feasting.

Pesarattu
A number of varieties of dosa (Indian pancakes made of flour) are made in the southern parts of India. Out of them, Pesarattu stands out. Prepared by using moong dal, Pesarattu makes a very healthy and easy-to-make snack item, which can be served with coconut chutney.

Rice Puttu
The festival of Onam is observed with much fanfare all over Kerala. The festival of harvest includes a number of interesting activities, one of them being feasting. All through the festival, delicious recipes are prepared by Malayalee household. When it comes to breakfast, they would ensure that something healthy as well as delicious is made, to kick-start the day.

Sambhar
On the glorious festival of Onam, lip-smacking Onasadya (Onam feast) is prepared by every Malayalee household, as it is the state festival of Kerala. It is said that people should eat the Onam feast during the festival even they have to sell their possessions. Talking about the dishes, the recipes prepared for the grand feast may vary from region to region.

Theeyal
The harvest festival of Onam is celebrated with fun and fervor. Feasting and playing games form the important traditions of the festival, which falls on the Malayalam month - Chingam (Aug-Sep). Celebrated across the length and breadth of Kerala, Onam finds a special place in the Hindu festivals of India.

Tomato Rasam
Onasadya (traditional Onam feast) is prominent in the celebrations of Onam, the harvest and state festival of Kerala. It is famous world-wide, because a number of items (preferably vegetarian) are served in the delicious feast. While Sambhar makes a prominent side dish, served with rice, Rasam is another item that is inevitable from the menu.

Vada
Onam is very special for Malayalees all over the world, as it is the state festival for their homeland - Kerala. Celebrated with great fanfare, Onam is the wonderful opportunity for people to reconnect with their family and friends back home. Feasting is a prominent part of the merrymaking.

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