what is sabudana vada?
Crisp Sabudana vada or sabudana cutlet is a popular snack recipe in canteens and office mess these days in India. Sago pearls or sabudana is made from tapioca root or cassava. It has been around since World war II. It is both gluten-free and vegan. There are many small sago recipes like sabudana kheer ,sabudana usal and the famous Maharashtrian sabudana khichdi. You can also make sabudana wada without peanuts.
Many canteens in Mumbai and Pune sell this at tea time or breakfast. It is a popular Maharashtrian snack and very tasty too. You can serve sabudana vada with sweet yogurt peanut chutney, mint cilantro chutney or coconut chutney.
Jump to:
- what is sabudana vada?
- what to eat with sabudana vada?
- How long do you need to soak sabudana?
- Sabudana benefits
- Equipment
- Ingredients
- How to make crispy sabudana vada recipe ?(traditional frying method)
- How to make Sabudana vada in air fryer ?
- What are some other vada recipes?
- Related recipes
- air fryer sabudana vada | Sabudana vada recipe
- Storage
- FAQs
what to eat with sabudana vada?
Generally sweet yogurt is served with khichdi and vada in canteens. You can mix some water with curd and add some sugar to it for making the sweet yogurt. If you are avoiding sugar and want to eat vegan, then you can also serve mint chutney or coconut chutney with it.
Hindu Religious fasting and Gluten-free food
In India, many people tend to fast as their devotion to God. Most people fast only on water while some do not take salt. Some may take only fruits during that time. Others may take an evening meal on fasting days or just sago and potatoes. This is a common practice. A gluten-free meal or fruits taken once a day. We also eat it during Mahashivratri, Sawan somavar and Navratri fasting.
What is Navratre and Sawan fasting?
During the periods of religious fasting like Navratre where Hindus fast for 7-9 days. They consume mostly one meal. We do not eat traditional grains like wheat and rice. Most families do this twice an year. Usually, at the onset of summer and winter. These practices were done since ages at the change of weather. This helps healing.
Fasting is cleansing of both body and mind. People spend time in meditation and prayers. This heals the soul. Also, eating gluten-free and vegetarian cuisine helps the gut. During Sawan or rainy season, most people pray to Lord Shiva and fast every Monday. This also keeps you healthy as you do tend to eat lots of fried food like pakoras in rains. We also fast during Maha Shivratri in Feb-March each year and pray to Lord Shiva for well being and prosperity.
One common problem with sago is we are unsure when it is ready?
How long do you need to soak sabudana?
Place sabudana or tapioca pearls in bowl and cover it with enough water. Keep it aside for 3-4 hours until it fluffs up. Drain the excess water by keeping the soaked sabudana in a sieve. If you add less water, it will result in under-soaked sabudana which is still tough to mash. In that case just add more water to the bowl and check after 30 minutes.
Sabudana benefits
- Aids in muscle growth.
- Has calcium so strengthens bones.
- Lowers blood pressure and improves heart health.
- Improves digestion and gut health.
- Good in folates so fights birth defects.
- Great for breastfeeding and increases milk production.
Equipment
- kadai/frying pan (traditional method)
- or air fryer for low oil version
- mixing bowl
- sieve
Ingredients
- sabudana soaked for 4 hours(results in 1 cups sabudana)
- boiled mashed potatoes (You can also use 1 potato & 1 sweet potato)
- ginger paste / grated ginger
- peanuts crushed(optional)
- coriander/mint leaves (Note: Do not use coriander leaves for vrat recipe)
- green chilies adjust as per taste
- Rock salt as needed
- Oil for deep frying /1 tbsp. oil for air fryer (healthier option)
refer to recipe card for details.
How to make crispy sabudana vada recipe ?(traditional frying method)
- Wash sago and soak them in enough water for 4 hours to overnight. After soaking, they will swell up and will become double the size. Mix together mashed potatoes, sago and all dry ingredients. If you are making them for vrat. Kindly use mint leaves and sendha namak/ rocksalt.
2. Make 10 to 12 balls and then flatten them to make patties or vada. You can also freeze them by placing them on a tray lined with parchment paper and covering it with a cling film.
3. Deep fry sabudana vada over medium heat in a wok/kadai. Note: Make sure oil is hot by putting a pinch of mixture in it. If it is hot, it will bubble up immediately.
4. Take it out when brown from all sides. Keep it aside on paper towel so that it soaks excess oil. Serve crispy sabudana vada hot with spicy green chutney or sweet yogurt.
How to make Sabudana vada in air fryer ?
Just follow the above steps to make the sago fritters in the form of a cutlet and place in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Cook in a preheated air fryer at 190C for 16-17 minutes .Brush oil once in between
serve warm with a chutney
What are some other vada recipes?
Note: All these recipes are not vrat compliant.
Related recipes
air fryer sabudana vada | Sabudana vada recipe
Equipment
- kadai/frying pan (traditional method)
- or air fryer for low oil version
- Mixing bowl
- Sieve
- skimmer spoon / chhana for frying
Ingredients
- ½ cup sabudana soaked for 4 hours(results in 1 cups sabudana)
- 2 medium sized potatoes mashed and peeled(You can also use 1 potato & 1 sweet potato)
- 1 tablespoon ginger paste
- 2 tbsp. peanuts crushed(optional)
- 1 tbsp. coriander/mint leaves Do not use coriander during fasting/vrat
- 1-2 chopped green chilies adjust as per taste
- Rock salt as needed
- Oil for deep frying
- 1 tbsp. oil for air fryer
Instructions
- Wash sabudana and soak them in enough water for 4 hours to overnight. After soaking, they will swell up and will become double the size.
- Mix together mashed potatoes, sabudana and all dry ingredients.
- Make 6 to 8 balls and then flatten them to make patties or vada.
Frying (Traditional method)
- Deep fry in medium hot oil in a kadai, until golden brown evenly on all sides.
For air fryer version
- Follow all steps as above to make sabudana vada. Place all vade in air fryer basket,spray oil at start
- Air fry them for 16-17 mins at 190 deg C, brushing oil in between after 10 minutes.
Notes
Add enough water upto 1 ½ inches above the sabudana.
If the mixture becomes too sticky and soft, add kuttu or rajgiri ka aata.
Oil should be hot enough for frying the vadas.
Storage
Store them in an air-tight container and serve it again by shallow frying it in little oil or air frying them for 3-5 minutes in a preheated air fryer.
FAQs
If there is moisture in vadas or oil temperature is not right, it will burst while frying.
Run the sabudana under water 3-4 times,in a sieve until you get clear water. This way you can remove starch.Then soak it with just enough water for 30-40 mins.
Kuttu ka atta or buckwheat flour. Other flours you can use are rajgira ka atta(amaranth flour), singhare ka atta (water chestnut flour).These days people also eat quinoa.
Please share your inputs..