Onam Feast

Recipes for the side dishes and main courses of the traditional Ona Sadhya, as recorded in my mother's recipe book. She used to do this entire meal, which was then served and eaten on banana leaves - a full day or more of effort.

As I am short on time and won't be able to add in all my mother's recipes before Onam, I'm going to provide links alongside each sadya item to other great recipes online.

Kozhakotta (Steamed rice balls)

Kozhakotta is a kerala sweet made of steamed rice dumplings or balls stuffed with a sweet mix of jaggery, grated coconut and spices. Very similar to the 'modak' of Maharashtra.

Theeyal (Burnt dish)

Theeyal is a typical kerala curry - a little similar to sambhar (without the dal). It uses roasted/burnt coconut and tamarind, and becomes a dark rich colored curry which is eaten with rice. Sometimes served as as a curry in the Ona Sadhya.

Sannas

Spongy rice cakes - perfect accompaniment to the tangy spicy sorpatel or vindaloo, or even crab curry.

Sarpotel (Goan Pork)

The "killer" goan pork pickle curry - so spicy. Best if eaten a few days after it is made.

Coorg Mutton

Combined Ingredients and Instructions (I'm feeling lazy)

1. Soak mutton in salt and haldi for an hour
2. Heat oil , fry paste of  -
• 3-4 green chillies
• 3 medium onions
• 1" ginger
• 8-10 garlic cloves
• Dhaniya leaves
• 1 tbsp jeera
3. Add meat and fry

Swan's Down (Chocolate Cake)

Extremely laborious in today's instant cake mix age, but well worth the effort if you have an appreciative audience who loves cake. This has traditionally been the birthday cake made for my sister and my birthdays, and for Aditya whenever my mom has been in town.

Simple Biryani

Another staple from my childhood - lightly flavored biryani which was consumed in huge quantities. It was more "soul" food in it's flavoring,  and not the heavily spiced, oily version you get in restaurants. This isn't the "kerala" biryani either (no rose water flavor or small grain rice), it owes it's ancestry to hyderabad.

Biscuit Layer Cake - An Old Faithful

Ingredients:

• Marie Biscuits - 2 packets (Can't make this without Marie biscuits!)
• Amul butter - 100 gms (any salted table butter will do)
• Cocoa Powder  - 4 tablespoons (Cadbury's will be lighter, Hersheys makes it too dark)
• Instant Coffee powder - 1 teaspoon
• Powdered Sugar - 250 gms (If you are using Castor Sugar, use a little more)
• Icing Sugar - 100 gms
• Vanilla essence - 1 1/2 teaspoon