Beginner-Friendly Festivities: Easy Kerala Desserts For Onam First-Timers
Written by jheelum basu | October 1, 2024
If this is your first time in ‘God’s Own Country,’ Kerala, during Onam, get ready for a vibrant cultural experience like never before. The 10-day-long annual harvest festival is a cultural extravaganza. This year, it is your turn to immerse yourself in the beauty of floral rangoli, adorn yourself in traditional attire, attend cultural events, folk arts, and a grand vegetarian feast called ‘Onam Sadhya’. Also, desserts and sweet snacks make an important part of the celebration. Make sure you try making some easy Kerala desserts for Onam first-timers on your own for an enhanced festive feel.
Besides the festive rituals and food, if this is your first Onam, you should know that the festival has a mythological narrative as well. It is believed by many that Onam is the festival that celebrates the homecoming of the benevolent demon King Mahabali. Legend has it that before being sent to the netherworld, Vishnu granted him a boon that allows him to visit home annually.
Onam Celebrations: Sweets and Snacks For The 10-Day-Long Festival
While a harvest festival is all about expressing gratitude and celebrating prosperity, it is inevitable that sweets and desserts are an integral part of such a celebration. Served on banana leaves and made with pure natural ingredients like coconut milk, jaggery, coconut, bananas, nuts, and dried fruits, the Onam sweets carry subtle and earthy tones that perfectly align with the core spirit of the festival. Making and sharing these sweets brings loved ones closer. And if you are here for the first time, you must try the easy Kerala desserts for Onam first-timers like Semiya Payasam, Ela Ada, Neyyappam, and Pazham Pori.
7 Easy Kerala Desserts For Onam First-Timers
Semiya Payasam
If you are new to making Onam desserts, this is probably the easiest and quickest recipe that you could come across. To make this milky, creamy, sweet payasam, all you need to do is roast some vermicelli in ghee, boil it in milk, and add some sugar or condensed milk for sweetening. For an aromatic twist in flavor, add a few cardamom pods. Ghee-roasted cashews and raisins are added for a rich and festive flavor twist. Made in under 20 minutes, this Semiya Payasam recipe is perfect to start the journey of making Onam desserts.
Neyyappam
In simple words, Neyyappam is a ghee-rich, deep-fried sweet rice fritter. In the Malayali language, the word ‘neyy’ means ‘ghee’, while ‘appam’ means ‘pancake’.Made with ground rice flour, melted jaggery, fried coconut pieces, and black sesame seeds, Neyyappam features a perfect blend of sweet taste with a crispy exterior and a soft interior. Made with some of the simplest ingredients, this recipe is quite beginner-friendly.
Pazham Pori
Also known as Ethakka Appam, Pazham Pori is a classic deep-fried, sweet tea-time snack served during Onam. Made with ripe Nendran bananas coated in a sweet batter, these fritters are deep-fried until golden brown. During the festive gatherings in the evening, these delicious snacks are often served with a cup of hot tea.
Unniyappam
Unniyappam is another classic deep-fried sweet frequently made during Onam. In the Malayalam language, unni means ‘small’ and appam means ‘rice cake’.To make this, prepare a batter with rice flour, jaggery, ripe bananas, coconut, and cardamom. It features a slightly crispy, caramelized crust and a soft and sweet interior. While it is popularly served as a tea-time snack during the festival, it is also offered as prasadam or offerings in temples.
Paal Payasam
Paal Payasam is another rich and creamy traditional milk-based dessert that is served as an Onam Sadhya staple. This slow-cooked delicacy features short-grained rice, milk, and sugar. When cooked slowly over a low heat, it achieves a signature pale pink color and a naturally sweet flavor.
Ela Ada
This traditional Onam delicacy features a sweet coconut and jaggery filling within a steamed rice flour dough. The whole sweet is wrapped in banana leaves so that their natural oils and aroma get infused easily into the rice cake. While it is often prepared as an offering, Ela Alda is also popular for breakfast and an evening snack.
Conclusion:
Experiencing a culturally enriching festive celebration for the first time is always special. And to make the memories even more cherishable, try these easy Kerala desserts for Onam first-timers.