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Kakka Ularthiyathu

For Onam 2026, Kerala's Spiced Clam Meat Roast

Onam sadhya has non-vegetarian delights too, and many families add fish and other seafood delights like clams to their banana leaf. Kakka ularthiyathu is one such recipe: a Kerala-style clam roast where fresh clam meat is cooked with shallots, ginger, garlic, curry leaves, and a blend of ground spices, then finished with coconut strips. This is a quick stir-fry recipe and is known in Kerala's backwater regions as kakka irachi. It is usually reserved for special occasions, and Onam, which falls during the monsoons are when fresh clams are in season. Before you prepare the dishes for your Onam 2026 sadhya, especially the non-vegetarian ones, make sure to clean the clam meat properly. Remove the greyish grit inside the clams by squeezing them on their sides, then rinse them well in water. Make sure to squeeze out the excess water before mixing them with other ingredients for a dry dish that tastes rich and meaty. This Onam 2026 dish features clam meat with slit green chillies, chopped ginger, sliced shallots and garlic, curry leaves, red chilli powder, turmeric, coriander powder, black pepper powder and garam masala cooked in a pan or an earthen manchatti, with some salt added to taste. Add the coconut strips, mix everything, and cook covered so the dish cooks in the juices of the onions and clams.