Sabudana Khichdi for vrat | Easy Navratri Recipes

Sabudana ( or sago) Khichdi is one of the popular recipes for the fast/ vrat like Navratri, Ekadashi or Shivratri in which people avoid taking any grains or cereals.

Usually eaten grains like wheat, rice or millet are replaced by Sago (Sabudana), Samak (barnyard millet), Kuttu (Buckwheat), Singhara (Chestnut), etc.

These vrat food are found to be more rich in fibre, proteins, iron, calcium than wheat. Moreover, these are gluten free. They keep us full for longer and are easy on stomach.

About Navratri fast Do’s and Don’t

While writing about Navratri fast, several things come to my mind and how do I really divide it into do’s and dont’s is the tough apart.

Most of us already are aware of this. Avoiding Garlic, onion, non veg, alcohol. Eating simple veg food once a day with no grains and sendha Namak. Fruits, milk, Lassi to energise you. Above all, follow your family belief while observing any fast.

Significance of Navratri in my View

Satvik, Shakti, Divine are the words that come to my mind with the thought of Navdurga. Merely keeping a fast has no significance if we are not honest in our feelings, thoughts and actions.

This day takes me back to the last Navratri of this year when we faced the first lockdown. Somewhere deep down most of us could feel that this year would mostly be observed in lockdown version. Whether like it or not, this is New Us. We won’t be looking for Kanjaks this year and would just make a bhog for Mata Rani and the little girls of the family.

I don’t take it in a negative way. I remember my mother-in-law telling us to avoid inviting Kanjaks if they come in groups as their focus is not on prasad rather on things and they waste the food we offer. Instead just consider our daughter only. As like other things, I saw her vision years later.

I wonder the darkness that surrounds Corona manages to throw light over aspects that are terribly ignored. Should we not focus on avoiding food wastage specially when we treat it as ultimate prasad and it’s denial is a denial from the basic belief itself?

Should we not muster up the courage to lit a diya, fold hands and believe that God listens for sure rather to show off by offering the food, things to needy when we are really not sure about the needs?

A special Nine day puja … what about other days?

Do we remember to do the right thing on all other days? Are we giving benefit of doubt to someone before criticising him? Are we perception based readers to understand why someone might have done a thing before jumping to conclusions?

Are you willing to let go of something that has encompassed your thoughts with darkness?

If you wish to celebrate Navratri, celebrate the conquest of the inner demons and lead a peaceful way to happiness.

Recipe Insights

This is fairly easy recipe and doesnt require lot of cooking skills. During the Navratri, we consume the following food items:

1. Potatoes
2. Kaddu
3. Tomatoes
4. Lemons
5. Sweet Potato
6. Desi Ghee
7. Cumin Seeds
8. Black pepper
9. Green Chillies
10. Coriander Powder
11. Garm Masala
12. Amchur Powder
13. Sendha Namak
14. Non-grains like Kuttu, Samak, Singhara etc
15. Adrak (Ginger)
16. Eliachi( Cardamom)
17. Fruits, Milk, Lassi, Curd.
18. Peanuts

This is my family list. Please skip those items that are avoided by your family. You may recommend ones I have missed here.

Nutrition in Sabudana/ Sago

Sabudana or sago are white pearls rich in carbohydrates, calcium, magnesium, iron and fibre. Its considered to be a great food for bones. Since its rich in starch, its generally not recommended for diabetic and weight-loss diets. Having it in moderation does no harm.

In fact, its believed to be a food with low glycemic index which is a key factor in controlling sugar levels. Since its rich in sugars, its an ideal choice for a person on fast.

Detailed Recipe

1. Gather all the ingredients. Chop Potatoes in thin slices.
2. Soak Sabudana for at least half an hour. Depending upon quality of sabudana, the soaking time varies. You may check that when it gets soft on pressing by finger. Once its soft, you may use it. For some quality, it might need to be soaked overnight. If in hurry, try soaking it in warm water.

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3. In the meantime, you may fry peanuts in desi ghee in Kadai and after roasting for one min, cool it off and grind to a coarse mixture.

4. In same Kadai, fry potatoes. It takes around 5 -10 min and depends on quantity of ghee. I have taken around 1 tablespoon desi ghee and fried on low flame. Before taking out, make the flame full so that potatoes dont absorb ghee.

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5. In the same Kadai, add Jeera, Tomatoes and green chilies, coriander leaves.

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6. I always add little salt with tomatoes. This helps in quick cooking without sticking to the pan. Once tomatoes leave ghee, add Black pepper and lemon juice.

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7. While tomatoes are to be done, you may check sabudana for being soft. If it easily is crushed by finger and thumb, sieve it and squeeze it. Add peanut powder to it. Mix well.

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8. Add this fried potatoes and sabudana peanut mix to the tomatoes sauteed.

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9. Mix well and if need be, add little water and more salt. The water helps sabudana become soft and it absorbs all the moisture from the mixture.

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10. The simple yet delicious Sabudana khichdi is ready!! Enjoy with Curd!

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