Sabudana kheer is a creamy and aromatic Indian dessert made from tapioca pearls (sago), milk, and sugar. It’s delicately flavored with cardamom and saffron, creating a luscious, sweet pudding-like dish that’s often garnished with nuts for added texture. Generally, it’s eaten while fasting (Vrat), but it can be enjoyed as a tasty and healthy dessert.
Here’s a detailed recipe for you:
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup sabudana (tapioca pearls)
- 4 cups milk
- 1/2 cup sugar (adjust to taste)
- 4-5 green cardamom pods (seeds powdered)
- A pinch of saffron strands (optional)
- 2 tablespoons chopped nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachios) for garnish
- 1 tablespoon ghee (clarified butter)
Instructions:
- Wash and Soak Sabudana:
- Rinse the sabudana in water until the water runs clear.
- Soak the sabudana in enough water to cover them for at least 2-3 hours or overnight. They will swell up and become soft.
- Preparation:
- Crush cardamom pods and powder the seeds.
- Soak saffron strands in a tablespoon of warm milk.
- Cooking Sabudana:
- Heat a pan or saucepan and add soaked sabudana with water (if any) to it.
- Stir and cook on medium heat. The sabudana will turn translucent and soft. This might take around 10-12 minutes. Stir occasionally to avoid sticking.
- Once cooked, turn off the heat and set aside.
- Preparing Kheer:
- In a separate heavy-bottomed pan, bring the milk to a boil.
- Once it starts boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer the milk, stirring occasionally. Let it reduce to about 3/4th of its original quantity.
- Add the cooked sabudana to the simmering milk and stir well.
- Add sugar and continue to simmer for another 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Adding Flavors:
- Add the cardamom powder and mix well.
- Pour in the saffron-infused milk and stir gently. This adds a lovely aroma and color to the kheer.
- Garnishing:
- Heat ghee in a small pan and fry the chopped nuts until they turn golden brown. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Garnish the sabudana kheer with these fried nuts.
- Cooling and Serving:
- Let the kheer cool down to room temperature. You can serve it chilled or at room temperature, as per your preference.
Enjoy your delicious sabudana kheer! It’s a delightful dessert that’s perfect for special occasions or as a sweet treat anytime.
