Sabudana Khichdi is a favorite Maharashtrian breakfast dish. It is generally made while fasting on 'Sankashti Chaturthi'.
'Sankashti Chaturthi' is the 4th day of the waning lunar phase after full moon. If this Chaturthi falls on a Tuesday it is called 'Angaraki Chaturthi'. On this day, devotees observe strict fast. They break their fast at night after having the auspicious sighting of the moon preceeded by prayers to Lord Ganpati. Devotees believe their wishes would be fulfilled if they pray on this day. Also 'Sankashti' means deliverance during troubled times.
Getting back to the awesomeness..
This dish has suffered a great deal of bad publicity! Every generation has stories of how they messed up this dish when they were younger. I sincerely hope this post, will give your more confidence in preparing this delicacy.
I believe there are 2 most important steps in this preparation, which need special attention.
First and the most critical part is the soaking process. This is what makes or breaks this dish.
Second, is the quantity of oil used in this dish, which decides if this dish will clump up into a huge mass and get chewy or be perfectly soft and delicious!
Now with these 2 super handy tips, let us get making some Sabudana Khichdi
Level: Easy
Serves: 4 to 6 people
Ingredients:
2 cups sabudana (small white tapioca pearls)
1 medium potato, chopped
2.5 tblsp oil
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 pinches asafoetida
3 - 4 green chillies, finely chopped OR1.5 tsp red chilly powder
1/2 cup roasted crushed peanuts
8 - 10 curry leaves
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp sugar
5 tblsp coriander leaves, finely chopped
Method:
Step 1 - Take the sabudana in a large bowl. Wash it under running water. Handle gently while washing. Do not rub the sabudana roughly. This might destroy the pearls. Soak them till the water is 1/4 inch above the sabudana. That is all. Cover the vessel and keep aside for 4 to 5 hrs.
Step 2 - Lightly fluff the sabudana which will be stuck to each other with a fork to separate all the pearls. Add the roasted crushed peanuts, salt, sugar and coriander leaves. Add the red chilly powder if you plan to use it instead of the green chillies. Mix well with a spoon. Taste a few of the pearls and adjust the salt as per your preference. This is how your khichdi will finally look. So adjust the peanuts and coriander too, if you think you would enjoy some more. Keep aside.
Step 3 - In a large wok, heat the 2.5 tblsp oil on a medium high flame. When the oil is hot, add the cumin seeds. When they dance around and turn brown, add the asafoetida, curry leaves and green chillies. Stir for a few seconds till the green chillies slightly brown at the corners.
Step 4 - Add the potatoes and sprinkle 2 pinches of salt over them. (Remember we have added salt to the sabudana mixture in Step 2. So no not over do the salt here.). Cover and cook till the potatoes are almost done. Stir occassionally.
Step 5 - Add the sabudana mixture from Step 2. Mix well for a good 4 to 5 mins. Reduce heat to medium. Cover the wok with a lid and let it cook for 3 to 4 mins. Stir occassionally.
We are done!
Serve hot with some yogurt. As a kid, I used to have it sprinkled with some sugar on top. I know..WEIRD!
Sabudana Khichdi goes well with a pipping hot cup of Indian Tea by it's side.
Enjoy!
Tips:
How do I roast peanuts?
Take a wide pan, heat it on medium flame. Add the raw peanuts. Stir it continuously till the peanuts turn brownish. Do not roast them on a high flame as this might burn the peanuts. Cool this down and roughly grind them in a blender till they are crushed.
Sometime, I enjoy large pieces of peanuts in my khichdi, so I just pop the roasted cooled peanuts in a zip lock bag and hit them or roll them with a rolling pin.
(And before you ask, I do not de-skin the peanuts once they cool. Too much mess and once they are all ground, it really doesn't matter.)
If while cooking, you notice that the sabudana seems too dry, sprinkle or spray a little water on it and continue cooking. Do not over do this, you don't want your khichdi to clump up.
Once you soak your sabudana, it might seem like the water was absorbed quickly and your sabudana looks too dry. Hold yourself back. Do not be tempted to add more water. Excess water makes the khichdi chewy.
Happy cooking everyone!
Submitting this recipe to the Bon Vivant Moments #3 on Sumee's Culinary Bites.
'Sankashti Chaturthi' is the 4th day of the waning lunar phase after full moon. If this Chaturthi falls on a Tuesday it is called 'Angaraki Chaturthi'. On this day, devotees observe strict fast. They break their fast at night after having the auspicious sighting of the moon preceeded by prayers to Lord Ganpati. Devotees believe their wishes would be fulfilled if they pray on this day. Also 'Sankashti' means deliverance during troubled times.
Getting back to the awesomeness..
This dish has suffered a great deal of bad publicity! Every generation has stories of how they messed up this dish when they were younger. I sincerely hope this post, will give your more confidence in preparing this delicacy.
I believe there are 2 most important steps in this preparation, which need special attention.
First and the most critical part is the soaking process. This is what makes or breaks this dish.
Second, is the quantity of oil used in this dish, which decides if this dish will clump up into a huge mass and get chewy or be perfectly soft and delicious!
Now with these 2 super handy tips, let us get making some Sabudana Khichdi
Level: Easy
Serves: 4 to 6 people
Ingredients:
2 cups sabudana (small white tapioca pearls)
1 medium potato, chopped
2.5 tblsp oil
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 pinches asafoetida
3 - 4 green chillies, finely chopped OR1.5 tsp red chilly powder
1/2 cup roasted crushed peanuts
8 - 10 curry leaves
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp sugar
5 tblsp coriander leaves, finely chopped
Method:
Step 1 - Take the sabudana in a large bowl. Wash it under running water. Handle gently while washing. Do not rub the sabudana roughly. This might destroy the pearls. Soak them till the water is 1/4 inch above the sabudana. That is all. Cover the vessel and keep aside for 4 to 5 hrs.
Step 2 - Lightly fluff the sabudana which will be stuck to each other with a fork to separate all the pearls. Add the roasted crushed peanuts, salt, sugar and coriander leaves. Add the red chilly powder if you plan to use it instead of the green chillies. Mix well with a spoon. Taste a few of the pearls and adjust the salt as per your preference. This is how your khichdi will finally look. So adjust the peanuts and coriander too, if you think you would enjoy some more. Keep aside.
Step 3 - In a large wok, heat the 2.5 tblsp oil on a medium high flame. When the oil is hot, add the cumin seeds. When they dance around and turn brown, add the asafoetida, curry leaves and green chillies. Stir for a few seconds till the green chillies slightly brown at the corners.
Step 4 - Add the potatoes and sprinkle 2 pinches of salt over them. (Remember we have added salt to the sabudana mixture in Step 2. So no not over do the salt here.). Cover and cook till the potatoes are almost done. Stir occassionally.
Step 5 - Add the sabudana mixture from Step 2. Mix well for a good 4 to 5 mins. Reduce heat to medium. Cover the wok with a lid and let it cook for 3 to 4 mins. Stir occassionally.
We are done!
Serve hot with some yogurt. As a kid, I used to have it sprinkled with some sugar on top. I know..WEIRD!
Sabudana Khichdi goes well with a pipping hot cup of Indian Tea by it's side.
Enjoy!
Tips:
How do I roast peanuts?
Take a wide pan, heat it on medium flame. Add the raw peanuts. Stir it continuously till the peanuts turn brownish. Do not roast them on a high flame as this might burn the peanuts. Cool this down and roughly grind them in a blender till they are crushed.
Sometime, I enjoy large pieces of peanuts in my khichdi, so I just pop the roasted cooled peanuts in a zip lock bag and hit them or roll them with a rolling pin.
(And before you ask, I do not de-skin the peanuts once they cool. Too much mess and once they are all ground, it really doesn't matter.)
If while cooking, you notice that the sabudana seems too dry, sprinkle or spray a little water on it and continue cooking. Do not over do this, you don't want your khichdi to clump up.
Once you soak your sabudana, it might seem like the water was absorbed quickly and your sabudana looks too dry. Hold yourself back. Do not be tempted to add more water. Excess water makes the khichdi chewy.
Happy cooking everyone!
Submitting this recipe to the Bon Vivant Moments #3 on Sumee's Culinary Bites.
