A traditional Kerala Sadya is a fully vegetarian meal built around rice, served on a banana leaf with a set arrangement of curries, accompaniments and payasam. The exact number of dishes varies by occasion and menu tier — a full wedding Sadya can run past twenty items — but most Sadyas draw from the same core groups below.
Rice and the base curries
- Rice — the base of the Sadya, served first and refilled through the meal
- Sambar — a lentil and vegetable curry seasoned with tamarind and sambar powder
- Avial — mixed vegetables in a thick coconut and yogurt curry
- Kalan — yam and raw banana in a spiced, sour yogurt-coconut gravy
- Olan — ash gourd and cowpeas simmered gently in coconut milk
- Rasam — a thin, peppery, tamarind-based soup served near the end of the meal
- Moru (buttermilk) — spiced buttermilk that cuts through the richness of the curries
Accompaniments
- Thoran — a dry stir-fry of chopped vegetables with grated coconut
- Pachadi — a sweet-and-sour yogurt dish, often made with pineapple or beetroot
- Kichadi — a lighter, tangier yogurt dish, closely related to pachadi
- Pickle (achar) — traditional Kerala pickle — mango, lime or mixed vegetable
- Puliyinchi — a tangy tamarind-ginger sauce with a distinct sweet-sour-spicy kick
- Pappadam — a crisp lentil wafer served alongside the rice
Sweet and crunchy sides
- Varutha upperi — thin, crisp banana chips fried in coconut oil
- Sharkara upperi — sweet plantain chips coated in jaggery syrup
- Kondattam — sun-dried, fried savory bites served as a crunchy topping
Payasam
- Payasam — one or more traditional payasam varieties close out the meal — see our full guide to the payasam varieties we offer
At Adithya Catering Kitchen, each Sadya menu tier includes a specific set of these dishes — see our Sadya menu for exactly what's included at each level, or read our Onam Sadya booking guide for how to order.
Order a Sadya in Tanur, Tirur or Parappanangadi
Message us on WhatsApp with your headcount and date for a quick quote.
Chat on WhatsApp