Sabudana khichdi is a pilaf dish that originates from Maharashtra, with the crunch of toasted peanuts, creamy bits of potato, and the occasional cumin seed. This hint of sweetness is balanced with salt, lemon, ginger and green chilies. Then, everything is showered with a generous amount of chopped cilantro. It is extremely popular, for it is a delicious vegan and gluten-free dish. This is especially the case during the fasting season of Navratri, when people are not allowed to eat dishes containing wheat.
Ingredients:
- 1 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:
1- Rinse sabudana under water until water turns clear. This is important to get rid of all the starch.
2- Transfer the rinsed sabudana to a large bowl and add 1 cup water to it. No more.
3- 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.
4- To check if sabudana is ready to cook, press a pearl between your thumb and index finger. It should smash easily. Set it aside.
5- Heat oil in a pan on medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the cumin seeds and let them sizzle for few seconds.
6- 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.
7- Add the raw peanuts and for another 2-3 minutes.
8- Then add the green, curry leaves and cook for 1 more minute.
9- Add the drained sabudana to the pan along with salt and sugar.
10- Mix well until well combined.
11- 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 stick. Remove pan from heat. Add lemon juice and cilantro and toss to combine.
12- Serve sabudana khichdi hot with chilled yogurt.
13-For a more delicious taste, combine your sabudana khichdi with a cup of masala chai.
Notes:
- Alternatively, you may add ginger to the khichdi which makes it taste even better.
- Add turmeric or other spices if not making this khichdi for fasting.
- Replace the salt with sendha namak if you are making this sabudana khichdi for navratri fast.
