This Sabudana Khichdi Recipe makes the best non-sticky Sabudana or Sago Khichdi. It is a kind of pilaf with Tapioca pearls. This delicious, lip-smacking, and filling snack with soft sago, mild spices, roasted powdered peanuts, potatoes, and lemon juice will make you crave more!
If you have not heard of Sago, Sabudana, or Tapioca pearls, they are extracted from Tapioca roots and processed to form small pearls by passing through a sieve under pressure and then dried.
Sago Pearls are rich in starch and naturally gluten-free. Sago gives a sudden boost of energy. It is a popular item during fasting for example air fryer sabudana vada as it keeps the energy levels high and keeps you full.
Sago and sabudana (tapioca pearls) are often confused, but they’re different. Sago is derived from the pith of tropical palm trees, while sabudana is made from tapioca starch, which comes from cassava.
They both are similar in the way they look opaque like white pearls and turn transparent on boiling in water. You can use them interchangeably in sago recipes like deep-fried sabudana vada or mango sago coconut milk drink.
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Why you will love this?
- A great snack during religious fasting that will keep you full.
- The taste is absolutely irresistible and incredibly addictive, you’ll find yourself unable to resist going back for more servings.
- The combined flavors of roasted peanuts, boiled potatoes, and sago go well together.
- Needs very few simple ingredients and gets done quickly.
- Serve Sago Pilaf with cucumber curd salad, falooda with rose syrup, beetroot potato cutlets, and chips and you have a full-fledged meal.
What you will need?
- Sago pearls - Wash and soak in water for about four hours and drain.
- Potatoes that are peeled and cut into small pieces.
- Cumin for tempering helps aid digestion.
- Green chilies: the spice in this dish is from the green chilies, use as tolerated
- Peanuts (peeled or with skin) - Use some while tempering, roast, and powder the rest.
- Lemon juice, chopped coriander leaves and curry leaves
Sabudana Khichdi Recipe - How to Make?
Sabudana Khichdi is a favorite dish of many folks and is quite easy to make as well. One of the main hurdles in this recipe is to get the right consistency of the cooked sago pearls, all separated without sticking to each other.
Soak the sago pearls after thoroughly washing them in just about enough water, 1:1 for every cup of sago use 1 cup of water for about 4 hours. Later drain into a colander. After the soaking, squeezing a pearl between your fingers should easily mush and be soft.
Steps 1-3: Dry roast the peanuts, cool, de-skin, grind, and powder them. If you can get already peeled peanuts your job is much easier. The powdered peanuts will be cooked with the sago pearls that are completely drained.
Steps 4-7: In a pan heat up oil, add cumin seeds, peanuts, and green chilies followed by potatoes, curry leaves, lime juice, sugar, and salt. Add drained Sago.
Steps 8-10: The next step is to add powdered peanuts and mix all the contents gently on a low flame. Cover with a lid and cook on low flame. Keep stirring from time to time till the sago pearls turn translucent. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
If you loved this recipe, you may want to check out Instant Pot Quinoa Pulao and Air Fryer Sabudana Vada or the deep-fried Sabudana Vada, which are also popular fasting dishes. Another similar breakfast item, poha easy recipe made with soaked beaten rice
Tips to get a non-sticky Sabudana Khichdi
- It is quite common for first-timers to end up with a sticky mass if they do not follow the cooking instructions properly. Once you learn the tricks, it is a breeze to make it.
- The first step is to choose good-quality sago from the store. It’s best not to use old sago that’s been sitting in your pantry for too long, as it tends to have excess starch, which can make it sticky when cooked.
- After adding the soaked sabudana, gently stir with a wooden spatula and cook it on low heat, covering it with a lid. Stir occasionally and check periodically until the pearls turn translucent and are fully separated.
Recipe FAQs
Ensure to soak in just about enough water, for 1 cup of sago use 1 cup of water and do not soak for more than 3 to 4 hours. The pearls should mush when pressed between your fingers.
Drain off the water in a colander after soaking.
Use a fresh packet of Sago pearls don't use the one sitting in your pantry for a long time, it may have excessive starch.
Keep cooking on a low flame and keep stirring vertically and horizontally to avoid the sago pearls from sticking. Check and stir periodically.
Sure that will reduce the cooking time of the khichdi.
We do not use any spices as this is a fasting dish and tastes best as in the recipe instructions, if you must flavor it use the garam masala from the whole garam masala recipe, turmeric, and coriander powder.
Reheat it in the microwave or stove-top and it will taste fresh as just made.
Related Recipes
If you tried this Sabudana Khichdi Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and a 📝 comment below. I love hearing from you!
Sabudana Khichdi Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups Tapioca Pearls or sago soaked for about 4 hours
- 1 large Potato chopped into small pieces
- 3-4 Green Chilies finely chopped
- 1 cup Peanuts roasted, de-skinned and powdered
- 2 tbsp Peanuts regular with skin on
- 1 tsp Cumin seeds
- 1 tsp Sugar optional
- 1 tsp Salt (or to taste)
- 1 cup coriander leaves Chopped
- 1 stalk Curry leaves
- 1 tbsp Lime Juice
Instructions
- Wash and soak the Sago for about four hours in just about enough water.
- After soaking is done ,drain it completely into a colander .Ensure the pearls can be compressed between your fingers easily.
- Dry roast the peanuts, de-skin and powder it in a mixer.
- Mix the powdered peanuts and Sago and keep aside.
- In a cooking pan heat some oil.
- Add cumin seeds, peanuts, green chilies and sautee well.
- Add potatoes and fry them well so they are half-cooked .Alternately you can cook it in the microwave and add it to save time.
- Add the sago with powdered peanuts and mix well.
- Add Sugar (if using) and Salt .
- Close the pan with a lid and cook on low flame .Keep stirring now and then to ensure the Sago pearls don't stick to each other .
- When they turn transparent they are cooked through. It may take about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and curry leaves.
Notes
- First-timers often end up with a sticky mass if the cooking instructions aren’t followed carefully. However, once you master the right techniques, making it becomes a breeze.
- Start by selecting high-quality sago from the store. Avoid using old sago that's been sitting in your pantry for too long, as it often contains excess starch, which can result in a sticky texture when cooked.
- Once you add the soaked sabudana, gently stir with a wooden spatula and cook on low heat, covering it with a lid. Stir occasionally and check regularly until the pearls become translucent and are fully separated.
- Chop potatoes into very small pieces so they cook faster, you can also cook them separately and use the mashed potatoes in this recipe.
- If you can’t find de-skinned peanuts, roast the peanuts with the skin on. Once they’ve cooled to room temperature, simply rub them between your palms to easily peel off the skin.
This looks good! I haven't really tried this but I love tapioca pearls so this is worth the shot. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
looks good and very creative to me! I would love to give it a try and I will next week!
I love the sound of this dish. I am sure it would be tasty . Great with salad.
Ooo this is anew one for me and it looks so yummy too. I am going to have to give this a go at the weekend x
Thank you so much , hope you enjoy it!
This looks so tasty! I haven't seen this dish before but I would love to taste it. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
It is my pleasure to share. Thanks for the wonderful comment!
Thank you for sharing this, it looks delicious. Do you know if this can be eaten in the keto diet?
Thank you for the comments, I looked up for this information and seems like not an option for Keto diet as it contains starch and high in simple carbs.
I've never tried this dish but seems really interesting and delicious! I saved the recipe to try it another time 🙂
Hope you love it as well. Thank you for the comments and stopping by!
I have never heard of Tapioca pearls, but this recipe looks really good! I like that they are gluten free.
Thank you so much! Yes it is gluten free and that makes it popular with some folks.
Oh I've only had tapioca as a dessert as a child. never as a savory dish. Honestly, my memories of it weren't that favorable lol. But like you said, it's all in the cooking prep!
This savory version with potatoes and peanuts tastes very different from the sweetened one. Hope you get to try it some time !
I love this khichdi a lot. In North India it is very popular during fasting days!! Each daana separated, yours look perfect!!
Great to hear that Deeksha, Yes very popular fasting food item indeed. Thanks for the comments!
This looks so delicious, and so interesting for me, as I've only tried Tapioca in desserts.
I hope to give it a try soon! 😉
Thank you Ronit, the savory version of this dish is delicious indeed. Hope you like it .