Sabudana Khichdi – a pilaf/pulao made with sago/tapioca pearls! This vegan and gluten-free dish is extremely popular in India during the fast. However if you ask me, you don’t really need an occasion to make and devour it.
Ingredients1 cup sabudana, 180 grams, sago/tapioca pearls
1 cup water, 8 oz
1 tablespoon oil, use oil of choice, I used avocado oil
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 medium potato, 200 grams, diced small, around 1 cup diced potatoes
2 tablespoons raw peanuts
1-2 green chili, chopped, adjust to taste
6-7 curry leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste, use sendha namak if making this for fast
1/2 teaspoon sugar, optional
juice of 1/2 lemon
1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
Method* Rinse sabudana under water until watern turns clear. This is important to get rid of all the starch.
* Transfer the rinsed sabudana to a large bowl and add 1 cup water to it. No more.
* In the morning the sabudana would have soaked up all the water. But you still drain it using a colander just to get rid of any excess water.
* To check if sabudana is ready to cook, press a pearl between your thumb and index finger. It should smash easily. Set it aside.
* Heat oil in a pan on medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the cumin seeds and let them sizzle for few seconds.
* Then add the diced potatoes and cook for 3-4 minutes stirring often until potatoes are almost cooked. It's important to dice the potatoes small here so that cook quickly.
* Add the raw peanuts and for another 2-3 minutes.
* Then add the green, curry leaves and cook for 1 more minute.
* Add the drained sabudana to the pan along with salt and sugar. Mix until well combined.
* Cook for few minutes until most of the sabudana pearls become translucent, stirring once or twice. Do not cook it for a long time else it will become sticky.
* Remove pan from heat. Add lemon juice and cilantro and toss to combine.
* Serve sabudana khichdi hot with chilled yogurt