How to make a perfect Sabudana Khichdi

Sabudana khichdi (or tehri as we call it in Lucknow) is easily a unanimously favourite dish during fasts. Sabudana is not a grain or pulse and is full of carbohydrates which fills you up really fast. Top it with dahi and it makes for a complete meal. I still remember, when my mother used to fast she’d cook sbudana khichdi for all of us; even if we weren’t fasting. I always loved the way she made it, slightly sticky and spicy. When I came to Bombay I ate the less spicier version with curry leaves. I didn’t like it initially but then developed a taste for it. This khichdi becamr my go-to Sunday meal while I was living alone. Eventually I learnt the process of how to make the non-sticky khichdi. Here’s my mom’s recipe. Take note of the first two steps, they are the most important ones.

Ingredients:
Sabudana (tapioca pearls) - 1 cup
Potato - 1 medium size
Green chilli - 1
Peanuts (crushed) - 1/4 cup
Amchoor (dry mango powder) - 1 tsp
Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
Sugar - 1 tsp
Oil - 1 tbsp
Juice of half lime
Salt to taste
Coriander leaves for garnish
Dahi to serve with

Method:

• Soak sabudana in water and leave it for half an hour.

• Drain excess water, cover and leave it overnight. This will result in beautiful non-sticky khichdi.

• Finely chop potato and green chilli.

• Heat oil in a kadhai and fry peanuts.

• Add potato, chilli, amchoor, red chilli powder, sugar and let the potatoes cook.

• Now add sabudana and salt, mix well and cook for 5 minutes. Make sure you don’t overcook it or it’ll get sticky.

• Mix in lime juice, garnish with coriander leaves and serve with dahi.