Sabudana Vadas (Sago Patties)

"Sabudana" or "Sago", also known as tapioca, is produced from pith of Metroxylon and other palms, looks like semi-white unglazed pearls, and is a major ingredient for meals cooked during times of fasting. Its similar to rice-grains, just smaller and round, and is high is starch content, hence filling. What I describe below is a sabudana vada recipe that's simple yet extremely tasty, and gets ready in a jiffy!! (image courtesy of mumbai-masala.com)

Ingredients

2 cups sabudana
1/2 cup crushed peanuts (dry and unroasted)
3 boiled potatoes
2 tbsp yoghurt
1-2 green chillies cut finely
1 tsp ginger paste
spices - salt, sugar, lemon juice, dhana-jeeru powder, garam masala - add to taste
oil for frying

Method

Soak the sabudana in a large bowl with water level slightly higher than the sabudana seed level for 4-5 hours.

Mash the boiled potatoes and add them to the soaked sabudana bowl. Now add the yoghurt and mix properly with hand. Add all the spices, cut green chillies, ginger paste and finally add the crushed peanuts. Add a dash of oil to hold the mixture together. DO NOT add water.

Now heat oil in a frying pan. Roll the mix into small oblong shaped vadas(patties) and fry 3-4 at a time. Only when one side is light brown, turn them around. Do not turn them a lot as the vadas could break. Fry till golden brown and lay out on a piece of paper to absorb extra oil.

Serve hot with sweet Date and Tamarind Chutney or spicy Green Chutney!! Sabudana vadas (fritters) are a sureshot hit as party food, so do try out this recipe and let me know how it goes!

Tip: Add more peanuts to increase the crispiness of the vadas!