Sabudana is a well-known ingredient in India, especially when it comes to Navaratri, where it comes in handy as the main ingredient in various dishes enjoyed during the 9 days of fasting. This year, many may not be able to fast completely owing to the self-imposed quarantine all of us are under. But despite the lockdown, those who are observing some kind of dietary restrictions during the festival of Navratri would definitely be looking towards sabudana (or sago) for some flavor and deliciousness. You’re at the right place if you were looking for sabudana variety recipes or some sabudana dishes for fast.
Processed from the stems of the tropical plants, Sabudana is a ball-shaped spongy ingredient that majorly composes of starch. During the festival of Navaratri, it becomes an essential ingredient that can be beneficial for keeping you healthy and active throughout the fasting period (it is gluten-free too).
Sabudana by itself tastes quite bland, but that, in fact, is a bonus that allows you to use it in many different combinations of species and ingredients for creating interesting and innovative dishes.
A 100 gram serving of sabudana can provide you with up to 83 grams of carbohydrates, which makes it an exceptional source of this essential macro-nutrient. However, it is also advised that you take note of your daily consumption, as the intake of carbohydrates in large quantities can result in excessive weight gain.
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Table of Contents
How To Prepare Sabudana Before Cooking?
One of the characteristic traits of sabudana, or sago, is its ability to stick together when cooked improperly, and this mushy and sticky texture that it adapts to can be quite unappetizing, which is the last thing that you’ll need for a perfect Navaratri.
However, if prepared properly, it can be something else altogether. But, how do we avoid it from sticking? Well, there are certain steps that you must follow from the beginning. For example, the first thing that you should do is thoroughly rinse the sabudana and get rid of excess starch, which is responsible for the sticking. After this, you must add water and its level should be just ¼ inches more than the sabudana level.
Keep these tips in mind and let’s begin cooking some sabudana Navratri recipes.
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Allowing it to soak will, later on, affect the overall preparation quality and time. Another tip that you should keep in mind is that after the sabudanas, or sago, are fluffed, use a minimal amount of oil in your dish. It normally takes sabudanas about 3-4 hours to perfectly soak, and in order to check if the droplets are perfectly soaked, smash them between your fingers and note if they are squished easily.
Popular Sabudana Recipes
If you are looking for some recipes that’ll help in bringing a flavorful experience during fasting, then you don’t have to look any further. Here are a few traditional sabudana recipes that can be your favorite go-to meal or snacks.
Want to try some vrat thalis instead of cooking at home during Navratri fast? We reviewed four popular brands that offer Navratri Vrat thali that you can try.
1. Sabudana Khichdi
Ingredients
- Sabudana
- Boiled Potatoes
- Oil or Ghee
- Peanuts
- Spices
Preparation Time
- Soaking Time: 3/4 hours or overnight
- Preparation Time: 25 minutes
Best Suited With
- Sweet Curd
- Coconut Chutney
Cooked alongside potato and peanuts, sabudana khichdi might just be the most popular sabudana dish during the Navaratri. With ingredients such as oil, peanuts, and other species, this recipe is a tasteful and likable mixture of flavors that bring satisfaction to your taste buds even after you cut down on salt.
2. Sabudana Kheer
Ingredients
- Sabudana
- Milk
- Ghee
- Sugar or Jaggery
- Dry Fruits
- Cardamom
- Saffron
Preparation Time
- Soaking Time: 4/5 hours or overnight
- Preparation Time: 25 minutes
You must include sweet-tasting foods in your meals, and sabudana kheer can be that perfect sweet addition to your fasting lifestyle. Made just with milk and sago, sabudana kheer is a milk pudding that is smooth in texture and quite easy to make. While cooking sabudana alongside milk, you can also add a little bit of cardamom powder and simmer it until the pearls are cooked well.
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3. Sabudana Vada
Ingredients
- Sabudana
- Roasted Peanuts
- Boiled Potatoes
- Salt
- Spices and Masala
- Oil for Frying
- Flour
Preparation Time
- Soaking Time: 5 hours or Overnight
- Preparation Time: 40 minutes
Best Suited With
- Mint Chutney
- Green Chutney
If you are craving something deep-fried and crunchy, then even fasting can’t keep you away from this tasty sabudana delicacy that is quite easy to prepare. These delicious fritters are a common dish that is served during the religious week of fasting, and along with chutneys, this fried delicacy can brighten your day.
4. Sabudana Thalipeeth
Ingredients
- Sago (Sabudana)
- Oil
- Multi Grains Flours such as Rice, Bajra (Pearl Millet), Jowar (Sorghum), Besan (Gram Flour) and Whole Wheat (Atta).
- Boiled Potatoes
- Chilli
- Cumin
- Roasted and Grinded Peanuts
Preparation Time
- Soaking Time: Overnight or 5 hours
- Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Best Suited With
- Curd
- Pickle
- Chutney
Also referred to as small pancakes, this dish has a soft inner texture and a crisp surface. Made with peanuts, mashed potatoes, sabudana, and mixed with an appropriate amount of flavorings, this dish is rather light and is not at all deep-fried. Though in many aspects it may resemble sabudana vada, this delicacy uses less oil for its preparation and is quite different in texture.
5. Sabudana Chiwda
Ingredients
- Sabudana
- Cashews
- Raisins
- Roasted Peanuts
- Salt
- Red Chilli Powder
- Oil
Preparation Time
- Soaking Time: 5 to 6 hours or Overnight
A chiwda is a fun snack that usually consists of a mixture of dry fruits. A sabudana chiwda recipe is a light fasting snack that can be quite useful in making Navaratri a more tasteful experience. Adding a few spices and herbs could further enhance its taste as well as its nutritional value.
6. Sabudana Ladoo
Ingredients
- Sabudana
- Sugar or Jaggery
- Ghee
- Coconut
- Grated Khoya or Mava
- Dry fruits
- Milk
Preparation Time
- Soaking Time: 5 Hours
- Preparation Time: 40 minutes
This is yet another sweet delicacy that you can add to your diet without breaking your fast. Made with the help of ghee or clarified butter, these ladoos can also include a large variety of dry fruits such as cashews and almonds. In addition to that, coconut oil can work as a great alternative for ghee. However, it won’t be great for shaping the ladoos, as ghee tends to solidify at room temperature.
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7. Sabudana Pakoda
Ingredients
- Gram Flour
- Roasted Peanuts
- Sabudana
- Salt
- Oil
- Carom Seeds
Preparation Time
- Soaking Time: Overnight or 5 hours
- Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Best Suited With
- Green Chutney
Much like the sabudana vada, these pakodas are deep-fried and crisp. However, it is advised that you take note of your oil consumption, as heavy consumption of fats contained in vegetable oils can lead to some serious side effects.
Much like the sabudana vada, these pakodas are deep-fried and crisp. However, it is advised that you take note of your oil consumption, as heavy consumption of fats contained in vegetable oils can lead to some serious side-effects.
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Don’t miss these delicious and tasty Navratri snacks this Navratri.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here we have answered a few interesting FAQs about the recipes made from sabudana.
1. Can these sabudana dishes be eaten at any time of the day?
As being a high calories dish, the best time to consume a sabudana dish is during lunch time as it will instantly boost the energy and will keep you satiated all day long.
2. Do these sabudana dishes lead to any gas related problems?
Intake of too much sabudana leads to stomach related problems such as constipation and bloating. It is advisable to consume it in a moderate quantity.
3. Is consuming sabudana dishes regularly healthy?
Sabudana has a high quantity of starch and is a high calorie food. Daily intake may lead to weight gain and diabetes. Other than this, excess intake of it can cause digestive and heart related issues.
4. Are these sabudana dishes wholesome?
Sabudana confers a lot of health benefits. Being gluten-free in nature, it helps in improving digestive issues. In addition to it, it improves heart health. It also helps in strengthening muscles and prevents birth defects during pregnancy.
Final Words
Navaratri is a religious festival that comes twice every year, and everyone deserves to celebrate it with a positive spirit. Stick to a healthy and tasty diet. Sabudana will not only help you deal with the ingredient cutbacks that are associated with Navaratri, but it will also help in providing you with a long list of delicious meals full of flavor and adequate in their nutritional value. These are few properties of sabudana that make it a number one go-to ingredient during the nine-day festival of Navaratri.