A humble and well-known Maharashtrian dish, this perfect Sabudana Khichdi has a chewy texture and can be had as a filling breakfast or a light dinner even on non-fasting days with fresh curd. If you are looking for a simple vrat ka khana, I got you covered. This post gives you a detailed step-by-step recipe for the same. Find More Navratri Recipes/ Indian Desserts: Makhana Kheer, Jaggery Rice With Saffron, Wheat Gulgule or Pua, Mango Kesari Suji Halwa,
Why Would You Love This Recipe?
Quick and easy recipe Gluten-Free Dish Delicious meal Can be easily made Vegan. Bursting with Flavors of Ghee and Lemon Juice Energy Rich and easy to digest. The Best Sabudana Khichdi Recipe Ever!
Ingredients
Sabudana: Sago or Tapoica pearls are the star ingredient of this dish. I have procured these from a local store. You may buy any brand from any Indian stores. Ghee: I use Mother Dairy Ghee (Cow’s) for most recipes. You may choose any brand. People looking for vegan options may use any vegetable oil or coconut oil, though the best taste comes from ghee. Tomato: We don’t avoid tomatoes in Navratri. You may follow your custom and skip tomatoes if not eaten during the Navratri fast. Green Chilies: Since I avoid adding Red Chili powder or turmeric powder for Navratri fast, I prefer using fresh green chilies. Potato: A source of energy and flavor, potatoes add depth to this Khichdi and keep you energized for the day. Lemon Juice: A tangy touch to this fasting recipe makes it ideal for a refreshing snack. Whole Peanuts: Dry Roast the whole peanuts and grind them in a food processor to add perfect crispiness and texture to this recipe. Black pepper and Sendha Salt: I use only Sendha Salt (Rock salt for Vrat) and black pepper only during the fast. One may also use Garam masala, Coriander powder, and Amchur. Just make sure that these spices are clean and not mixed with onion, garlic, or any other flour. Cumin Seeds: Cumin seeds work best. You may also use cumin powder. Coriander leaves: Garnish with fresh coriander leaves (or cilantro). You may also add curry leaves.
Variations
Sabudana Kheer: If you are on fast, you may also have sabudana kheer. Made slowly on simmer and dunked in milk, sabudana kheer is a traditional Sweet recipe. Sabudana Vada: Another popular sabudana recipe is of the Vada or Pakoda. You may use flour for the fast or besan to make this crispy vada.
How To Make a Perfect Non-Sticky Sabudana Khichdi
Step 1 Soak Sabudana and Prep
Gather all the ingredients. Chop Potatoes into thin slices. Rinse Sabudana before soaking. Soak Sabudana for at least half an hour. Depending upon the quality of the sabudana, the soaking time varies. It should be soft when pressed by a finger. Once it is soft, you may use it. For some quality, it might need to be soaked overnight. If in a hurry, try soaking it in warm water.
Step 2 Dry Roast Peanuts
In the meantime, you may fry raw peanuts in desi ghee in Kadai and after roasting for one minute, cool it off and grind to a coarse mixture.
Step 3. Roast Potatoes
Using the above Kadai, fry potatoes. It takes around 5 -10 min and depends on quantity of ghee. I took around 1 tablespoon of desi ghee and fried it on low flame. Before taking out, make the flame full so that the potatoes don’t absorb ghee.
Step 4. Temper the Khichdi
In the same Kadai, add Jeera, Tomatoes and green chilies, coriander leaves. I always add a little salt with tomatoes. This helps in quick cooking without sticking to the pan. Once tomatoes leave the ghee, add Black pepper and lemon juice.
Step 5. Mix Ground Peanuts With Soaked Sabudana
While tomatoes are to be done, you may check sabudana for being soft. If it easily is crushed by finger and thumb, sieve it and squeeze it. Add peanut powder to it. Mix well. Add these fried potatoes and soaked sabudana pearls peanut mix to the tomatoes sauteed.
Mix well and if need be, add little water and more salt. The water helps sabudana become soft and it absorbs all the moisture from the mixture.
Step 6. Serve It.
The simple yet delicious Sabudana Khichdi is ready!! Enjoy with Curd!
Expert Tips
Soaking sabudana is a crucial step. When we soak it for few hours/ overnight, it helps to make a non-soggy Khichdi. If you are a fan of crispy Sabudana Khichdi, you must soak it for at least 30 min. Depending upon the variety, it might take more soaking time. I have seen soaking in warm water helps it double up sooner. Do make a check of pressing it and if its soft and mushy, go ahead or else soak it for longer. Don’t add too much water or else the khichdi would be soggy. Add little more than the quantity of Sabudana.
About Navratri Fast- Do’s and Don’t
While writing about Navratri fast, several things come to my mind and how do I really divide it into do’s and dont’s is the really tough. Most of us already are aware of this. Avoiding Garlic, onion, non veg, alcohol. Eating simple veg food once a day with no grains and sendha Namak. Fruits, milk, Lassi to energise you. Above all, follow your family belief while observing any fast.
Significance of Navratri in my View
Satvik, Shakti, Divine are the words that come to my mind with the thought of Navdurga. Merely keeping a fast has no significance if we are not honest in our feelings, thoughts and actions. This day takes me back to the last Navratri of this year when we faced the first lockdown. Somewhere deep down most of us could feel that this year would mostly be observed in lockdown version. Whether like it or not, this is New Us. We won’t be looking for Kanjaks this year and would just make a bhog for Mata Rani and the little girls of the family.I don’t take it in a negative way. I remember my mother-in-law telling us to avoid inviting Kanjaks if they come in groups as their focus is not on prasad rather on things and they waste the food we offer. Instead just consider our daughter only. As like other things, I saw her vision years later. I wonder the darkness that surrounds Corona manages to throw light over aspects that are terribly ignored. Should we not focus on avoiding food wastage specially when we treat it as ultimate prasad and it’s denial is a denial from the basic belief itself?Should we not muster up the courage to lit a diya, fold hands and believe that God listens for sure rather to show off by offering the food, things to needy when we are really not sure about the needs? A special Nine day puja … what about other days?Do we remember to do the right thing on all other days? Are we giving benefit of doubt to someone before criticising him? Are we perception based readers to understand why someone might have done a thing before jumping to conclusions? Are you willing to let go of something that has encompassed your thoughts with darkness? If you wish to celebrate Navratri, celebrate the conquest of the inner demons and lead a peaceful way to happiness. You may also like:
Cucumber Radish Salad Amla Murabba Recipe- Indian Gooseberry Jam Makhana Chaat Recipe Sweet Potato Chaat (Shakarkandi Chaat) Easy Vegan Latkes (Potato Pancakes)- Gluten Free! Spiced Walnuts Recipe
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