Sabudana Khichdi
Sabudana / Tapioca pearls- Maharashtra's favourite fasting food. Fasting in Indian culture means eating sattvic food throughout the day. Sattvic as in food that makes you feel rejuvinated, energetic, fresh and light. The list includes amaranth seeds/ flour, peanuts, fruits, spices like cumin, dairy products- yogurt, milk, ghee (A2) etc. and of course roots and tubers like sweet potato or regular potato or our favourite Sabudana- pearls made from tapioca starch. . . Not just in India, but tapioca pearls are used in south east asian cuisne as well to make porridge or the famous Bubble Tea. Bubbles in bubble tea are nothing but Sabudana. Tapioca starch comes from the root of Casava plant. We are all familiar with casava chips. Casava chips made in coconut oil are ruling the fad diets lately. . . A few years ago when I was on my weight loss journey and would eat Sabudana khichdi, I would be dumb-shamed. I always loved this dish and wondered why something so traditonal is not ideal for weight loss or not considered healthy. Sounds stange right. I studied the ingredients used in it and when is this eaten the most. The ingredients used like ghee (one of the healthiest fat ever), cumin (digestive properties), peanuts (healthy fat- not cholesterol or fattening at all). And this dish is usually eaten when fasting/ on a sattvic diet. . When fasting, we eat very light through out the day. Our energy levels could be affected by the end of the day. Sabudana khichdi is the power house of energy that keeps you going all day. Though starchy, it is probably the only starch you shall eat all day and starch =glucose= energy. Besides, you eat this once or twice a month. So not a big deal at all. . . And finally, after watching @rujuta.diwekar's post about sabudana I was finally convinced that this fasting staple is healthy by all means. She mentions how casava when eaten with healthy fats helps hormonal balance and increases fertility, aids cardiovascular functions, calcium assimilation etc. So there you go. What more reasons do you need to savour this delicousness!
Recipe
Ingredients:
2 cups Sabudana/ Tapioca pearls
4 cups water
1 cup peanuts, skinless
1 Potato, boiled and cubed
3 tbsp Ghee
2 Hot green chilies, chopped
1 tsp Cumin seeds
2 tbsp Cane sugar
Salt
Method:
- Soak sabudana over night. After 8 hours or so, it will have soaked up all the water and will be fluffy. If any water is left, strain it and let it sit for another hour so its not soggy.
- In a food processor, grind the peanuts to form a coarse peanut meal.
- Heat a wok, add ghee, cumin seeds, green chilies and potatoes. Saute for a couple minutes. Add salt and sugar.
- Add the fluffed up tapioca pearls and ground peanuts.
- Mix well on low heat. Add more salt and sugar is desired. Keep sauteing for about 7 minutes on medium- low heat or until the tapioca becomes slightly translucent.
-Serve with fresh grated grated coconut as garnish.
