A sadhya is Kerala's traditional vegetarian feast, served on a banana leaf at festivals, weddings and especially during Onam. It is one of the best food experiences in Kerala.
The leaf and the layout
The banana leaf is placed with its narrow end to the diner's left. Dishes are served in a set order and position: pickles, chips and salt on the left top, curries in the middle and rice at the bottom centre. A full sadhya can include more than twenty items.
Dishes you will see
- Rice: usually Kerala matta (red) rice.
- Parippu: a mild lentil curry served with ghee, eaten first with rice.
- Sambar: lentil and vegetable stew.
- Rasam: a thin, peppery soup.
- Avial: mixed vegetables in coconut and yoghurt.
- Thoran: dry stir-fried vegetables with grated coconut.
- Olan: pumpkin and beans in coconut milk.
- Erissery: pumpkin with lentils and roasted coconut.
- Pachadi and kichadi: yoghurt-based side dishes.
- Inji puli: sweet-sour ginger and tamarind relish.
- Banana chips and sharkara upperi (jaggery-coated banana chips).
- Pappadam.
- Payasam: a sweet pudding, often two or more kinds, served near the end.
- Moru (buttermilk) to finish and aid digestion.
The order of eating
A typical sequence is parippu and ghee with rice, then sambar, then payasam, followed by rasam or moru. Sadhya is eaten with the right hand.
When you finish
In many parts of Kerala, folding the leaf towards you signals that you enjoyed the meal.
Where to try one
- During Onam (August or September), many restaurants and hotels serve sadhya.
- Some restaurants in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram serve sadhya on certain days or at lunch.
- Ask us and we can add a sadhya lunch to your Kerala itinerary.
Not just for vegetarians
Sadhya is vegetarian, but Kerala's non-vegetarian food is just as famous: fish moilee, karimeen fry, appam with stew and beef fry. See Food and culinary holidays.
When to go
When to go
When to go
When to go