Baahubali Thali – A brief introduction

A serving plate with 44-inch size, a few banana leaves spread on it followed by 50 non-vegetarian and vegetarian dishes, which include Biryani, different types of rice main dishes, chicken, mutton & fish sides dishes, desserts, eggs and much more, placed in round shape steel containers, enough to fill stomach of 4 people – Is it a dream or reality? Yes, it’s true. Ponnusamy Hotel of Chennai serves South India’s biggest Thali meals.

Baahubali Thali – Its name is also unique, and it reminds you of the big-budget blockbuster, Baahubali. Yes, this Thali with 50 dishes is known as Baahubali Thali. You need to book it in advance, and if it is for a weekend, you will have to book it a few days prior. This massive South Indian feast with 50+ dishes served on a giant platter is perfect for groups & food lovers.

Bahubali Thali

The Thali plate is gigantic, similar to the strength of Baahubali

If you are prepared to eat and die, keep your stomach empty for lunch. If possible, skip your breakfast and satisfy your stomach with a cup of tea. Then only you can reach Ponnusamy Hotel in Nungambakkam and ‘attack’ the big Thali plate at noon. The restaurant gets busy on weekends, and the thali is served from 12 pm to 4 pm. Its cost is around 1800 Indian rupees inclusive of all taxes, and serves 4 people comfortably. Baahubali Thali is also available in the evenings, with a slight change in the menu.

When you reach the place, you will be greeted with two questions: “Do you have a booking?” and “How many people?” After that, they will give you the token. Just like a one-day cricket match of 50 overs, your plate will be filled with 50 delicious items. Can you finish ‘batting 50 overs’ and complete the innings? That’s the only question! It’s your task to finish such a huge ‘Bahubali’ thali, whether you can achieve it or not.

Two people bring the big round plate and place it on the table. The plate containing dishes is approximately 4 kg in weight. Dishes are beautifully arranged in bowls, just like Pookkalam during Onam season. Chicken, mutton, fish curry, soup, pappadam, curd, banana, dal, sambar, boiled egg, curd rice, chicken biryani, mutton biryani, payasam, gulab jamun, fried fish, vegetable curries – everything is perfectly arranged, enough to induce our saliva glands.

What are the items on this menu? From where to start? How long will it take to complete? Here are some frequently asked questions when Baahubali Thali is served at the table. It satisfies both vegetarians and non-vegetarians, and the dishes are arranged in a way that caters to people sitting on either side of the table.

Let us start with soup

Thali with 100 dishes ChennaiSoups are of two types – Mutton and chicken, and you can also order vegetable soup. There are four items each for mutton and chicken. Chicken dishes in Baahubali Thali include Chicken biryani, roast, kolamb and Chettinad Pichipottu Chicken. Mutton kola urundai, Mutton pepper fry, Mutton nalli and Mutton biryani together complete the mutton menu in your plate. The fish menu includes two dishes – fish fry and sora puttu. Boiled eggs, omelette, Egg Podi Maas, Prawns fry, Curd rice, Sambar rice, Chapati, Parotta, Kesari, Poriyal, Kondattam, Pickles, Vegetable Biryani, Naan, banana – The list is non-ending.

Mutton Kola – a dish similar to mutton ball, and Sora Puttu – a steamcake made using fish are among the variety of dishes that are served. Also read: The recipe of Fish Peera Puttu + Fish Peera (Meen Peera Puttu + Meen Peera). Mutton is ground into a paste in a mixer, masala is added, shaped into balls, and fried in hot oil – that’s the secret recipe of mutton kola. It’s one of the popular dishes served at Ponnusamy Hotel. Dum biryani is equally famous. It is advisable to taste different items, instead of finishing one complete dish after another. Then only you can go through all 50 bowls before your stomach is filled.

You may worry whether the ordered food is excessive and if it will go to waste. If your group comprises 4 or 5 people, it’s easy to finish a Baahubali Thali. As the plate is filled with different cuisines, it can definitely satisfy a group with different tastes. Some people in the group may love sambar, while a few others prefer non-veg chicken curries. When you order a Baahubali plate, it almost satisfies the taste buds of every person in the group.

Bahubali Thali was introduced in 2018

It has been almost two years since Bahubali Thali was introduced in Ponnusamy Hotel. This idea came up when they wanted to introduce a new Thali similar to a Punjabi Thali, but also give importance to South Indian cuisine. Needless to say, it grew popular in a short span of time. The demand is so high that you need to book in advance. Chettinad dishes make up a major part of the menu. Old Madras tastes, Chettinad tastes and the sweetness of Kesari, payasam and rasagulla – it definitely satisfies the requests of different people. You can also enjoy a variety of dishes, which became the key point of the success of Bahubali dish.

Baahubali Thali is available for lunch and dinner, with slight variations. While rice items are given preference during noon meals, North Indian main course items like Naan and Chapati, along with various types of dosas, are mostly served in the evenings.

Fifty items of the Bahubali plate

Ponnusamy Hotel was started in Chennai in 1952. Chettinad dishes were introduced only after Mughlai, North Indian, Tandoori, and Chinese dishes. 50 dishes of the Baahubali plate are equally divided into vegetarian and non-vegetarian menu, and here it goes. Count it to 50. Let us start eating Baahubali Thali.

Baahubali Thali

  1. Curd Rice (Thair Sadam)
  2. Sambar Rice
  3. Veg Biryani
  4. Appalam
  5. Mutton Nalli
  6. Mutton Kolamb
  7. Chicken Curry
  8. Chicken Roast
  9. Mutton Kola
  10. Pichipottu Kozhi
  11. Mutton Pepper Fry
  12. Sora Putt (Fish Steam Cake)
  13. Egg Podimaas
  14. Egg Boiled
  15. Fish Curry
  16. Chicken Gravy
  17. Mutton Gravy
  18. Gulab Jamun
  19. Kesari
  20. Mango Pickle
  21. Lemon Pickle
  22. Curd
  23. Paripp (Dal)
  24. Ghee
  25. Karai Kulamb
  26. Raita
  27. Poriyal
  28. Sambar
  29. Rasam
  30. Moru Kulamb (Buttermilk Curry)
  31. Moru (Buttermilk)
  32. Kerala Parotta – 2 nos
  33. Chapati – 2 nos
  34. Naan
  35. Mutton Soup
  36. Chicken Soup
  37. Plain Rice
  38. Mutton Biryani
  39. Chicken Biryani
  40. Fish Fry
  41. Salad
  42. Bananas – 2 nos:
  43. Beeda (Pan) – 2 nos:
  44. Prawns Fry
  45. Podimeen Fry
  46. Uzhunnu Podi (Chutney Powder)
  47. Chicken Chettinad Roast
  48. Lemon Rice
  49. Omelette
  50. Appalam Small
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