A sadya is Kerala’s traditional vegetarian feast: twenty or more dishes served on a banana leaf in a set order, from banana chips and pickles to rice, sambar, curries and several kinds of payasam for dessert. It is the centrepiece of Kerala weddings and festivals such as Onam, and it is eaten with the right hand.
How is a sadya served?
Guests sit in rows at long tables. A fresh banana leaf is placed in front of each guest with its tip pointing to the left, and servers move down the row placing each dish in its traditional spot on the leaf. Rice comes in the middle; the lighter accompaniments go at the top.
What is on the leaf?
Menus vary by region and family, but a wedding sadya usually includes:
| Dish | What it is |
|---|---|
| Banana chips and sharkara upperi | Fried banana, plain and coated in jaggery |
| Pickles | Mango and lime, sharp and spicy |
| Pappadam | A crisp lentil wafer |
| Parippu with ghee | Mild lentils, served first over rice |
| Sambar | A lentil and vegetable stew with tamarind |
| Avial | Mixed vegetables in coconut and yoghurt |
| Thoran | Stir-fried vegetables with grated coconut |
| Olan | Ash gourd and beans in coconut milk; very mild |
| Kaalan | Yam or raw banana in yoghurt and coconut |
| Rasam | A thin, peppery tamarind soup |
| Payasam | Sweet puddings, often two or three kinds |
| Moru | Spiced buttermilk to finish |
How do you eat a sadya?
With your right hand, mixing a little rice with each curry in turn. Many guests from abroad try it and enjoy it; spoons are always available. When you finish, folding the leaf towards you is a traditional way of saying the meal was good.
Can we have a sadya at our fusion wedding?
Yes, and we recommend it. We usually serve it at a lunch function or as the wedding feast, with milder dishes marked for guests new to Kerala food, and a wedding cake at the end of the table.
Questions couples ask
Is a sadya vegetarian?
Yes. A traditional Kerala sadya is entirely vegetarian; some communities in the north of Kerala add non-vegetarian dishes.
How many dishes are in a sadya?
Usually twenty or more, though a grand wedding sadya can have many more.
Is sadya food spicy?
Some dishes are, such as the pickles and sambar, but many, like olan, avial and payasam, are mild.
