Onam is one of the most colourful festivals celebrated in Kerala, marking the homecoming of the mythical king Mahabali. It spans more than 10 days during the harvest season, culminating on the sacred day of Thiruvonam.
The 10-day-long celebrations end on September 15. During this time, Kerala will be abuzz with the sale of flowers, folk games, dances, boat races, and elephant processions. But the festival is incomplete without the fabulous Onam feast, also known as Onasadya.
Here are three popular sweets made during Onam that you can also try at home:
Paal payasam: A creamy rice kheer made of rice, milk, cardamom, cashew, and raisin. A must-be-included menu for Onam. Most often, this Paal Payasam is distributed as prasadom in temples.
Method
- In a thick-bottomed pan, add whole or broken basmati rice to a tablespoon of ghee and sauté on low and medium heat for about 30 seconds till the rice is fragrant. Remember, do not brown the rice.
- Then add 1 litre of full cream milk and combine with the rice on low to medium heat.
- Keep stirring while the milk boils and then simmers. Make sure the milk doesn’t get scorched.
- Continue till the rice is cooked fully.
- Add 4 tablespoons sugar or as per your taste.
- Simmer for another 8 to 10 minutes till the milk has reduced and your dish has thickened.
- Garnish with slices of almonds, saffron, or rose petals.
Rava Laddu: This sweet and simple dish is prepared by roasting semolina and sugar in ghee and topped with dry fruits and cardamom.
Method
- Roast some semolina in ghee on medium heat, stirring constantly till it turns golden brown and fragrant.
- Let the semolina cool down by removing it from the heat.
- In a separate pan, boil sugar and water together over medium heat, stirring constantly.
- Once the sugar has fully dissolved, continue to simmer for another five to seven minutes.
- Add the roasted semolina to this syrup and stir until combined.
- Add cashew nuts, raisins, and cardamom powder and mix well.
- If the mixture is too dry, add a little milk and mix until it comes together.
- Grease your hands with ghee and start making ladoos by rolling the mixture into small balls.
- Repeat the process to make these laddos.
- Garnish with chopped nuts, and your Rava Ladoos are ready to serve.
Method
- Mash 6 ripened and peeled bananas.
- Heat ghee in a heavy pan and add the mashed bananas. Cook over low heat, stirring to prevent the mixture from sticking.
- Cook for 10 minutes over medium heat or until bananas have browned, adding more ghee if required.
- Add sugar after 4-5 minutes and continue stirring until dissolved.
- Add cardamom powder and remove from heat.
- Keep stirring till the mixture becomes viscous.
- Allow to cool or serve hot.
These sweet dishes not only add flavour to the festivities but also highlight the rich culinary heritage of Kerala, making Onam a truly special celebration.
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