Celebrate Onam the Vegan Way

Onam, Kerala's most popular harvest festival, is marked by lavish feasts. Here are some delicious vegan recipes to help you celebrate Onam the vegan way!

Avial

Adapted from a recipe by Rainbow Event Management

1/2 cup grated coconut

5 green chillies

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1/4 tsp rice

3 Tbsp coconut oil 

4 cups sliced vegetables (eg, yams, snake gourds, carrots, runner beans, drumsticks, raw bananas, white pumpkins, raw mangos, etc)

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

Salt, to taste

1 cup peanut curd (see recipe below)

Curry leaves

• Grind the coconut, green chillies, cumin seeds and rice into a paste and set aside.
• Heat the coconut oil in a thick-bottomed pan. Add the vegetables and cook on a low flame.
• When the vegetables are cooked through, add the turmeric powder and salt, mix well, and cover.
• When steam comes out, add the peanut curd and the coconut paste and stir well.
• Garnish with the curry leaves and serve.

Makes 4 servings

Peanut Curd 

150 g raw, unroasted peanuts

1/2 litre water

1/4 tsp lime juice or rejuvelac 

• Soak the peanuts for 4 hours or overnight. Peel off the skins, then grind into a very fine, smooth paste.
• Add the water, mix, then strain to extract the "peanut milk". Stir and bring to a boil slowly over low heat. Cool to room temperature.
• Set the curds using the lime juice (or curd starter )

Makes 4 servings

Ada Pradaman 

2 Tbsp coconut oil

1/2 cup ada

1 cup grated jaggery 

1 cup water

2 cups coconut milk

1/2 tsp cardamom powder

1/4 cup chopped nuts or seeds (cashews, raisins, pistachios, almonds, pumpkin seeds)

• Heat 1 tablespoonful of the coconut oil in a thick-bottomed pan. Add the ada and cook for 2 minutes.
• In another pot, combine the jaggery and water and boil down until a syrup is formed. Strain to remove any impurities.
• Add the syrup to the ada and cook until slightly thickened.
• Add the coconut milk and cardamom powder and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, or until thickened to the desired consistency.
• Fry the nuts or seeds in the remaining coconut oil. Add to the mixture and cook for 2 more minutes.

Makes 4 servings

Happy Onam!