Sabudana Vada, also known as Sago Vada, is a traditional Indian snack from Maharashtra, renowned for its crispy texture, delightful flavors, and melt-in-the-mouth experience. Made with sago pearls (sabudana), mashed potatoes, and roasted peanuts, these golden fritters are a favourite, especially during Hindu fasting seasons like Navratri, Ekadashi, and Shravan. Each bite bursts with unique flavours from green chilies, cumin seeds, and fresh coriander, making Sabudana Vada an irresistibly savoury delight.
Health Benefits and Perfect Pairings
Sabudana Vada is not only tasty but also nutrient-rich. Sabudana provides instant energy from carbohydrates, making it an ideal snack for fasting and long days. The peanuts add a boost of protein and essential fats, while the potatoes provide a soft, creamy base that balances the crunchy exterior.
These fritters pair beautifully with cooling yogurt or tangy dips. Popular accompaniments include sweet yogurt, mint-coriander chutney, or tamarind chutney. For an authentic experience, serve them hot with a sprinkle of chaat masala or a squeeze of lime.
Tips for Making the Perfect Sabudana Vada
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Soaking Sabudana: Proper soaking is key. Rinse the sabudana under running water until it’s clear, then soak it for 4-6 hours or overnight. Well-soaked sabudana should be soft but not mushy.
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Binding: Use boiled and mashed potatoes for binding, and ensure that the mixture is firm enough to shape into patties. If the mixture feels too sticky, add a bit of rajgira (amaranth) flour or kuttu (buckwheat) flour.
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Crisping Technique: Fry on medium heat to ensure an even golden-brown colour. Frying on high heat may brown the outside too quickly, leaving the insides undercooked.
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Extra Flavour: Enhance flavour by adding finely chopped green chilies, cumin seeds, and a sprinkle of freshly chopped coriander leaves. Roasted, coarsely ground peanuts add a delicious crunch.
Recipe Variations and Serving Ideas
For a healthier twist, you can air fry or bake the Sabudana Vadas. Simply brush with oil and bake at 180°C (350°F) for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through until golden. These make a great party snack, tea-time treat, or even a side dish for a larger meal.
Sabudana Vada is a delightful snack for all ages, offering a comforting yet indulgent taste with every bite. Follow these tips, and enjoy Sabudana Vadas that are crispy, flavourful, and truly satisfying.
Also check my other recipe with Sago
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Sabudhana Vada
Equipment
- Appe pan
- Pressue cooker
Ingredients
- 1 cup Sago
- 2 tsp Ginger (finely chopped)
- 2 Nos Green chilli (finely chopped)
- 1 tsp Cumin seeds
- 1/4 cup Crushed Peanuts
- 1 No Boiled & Mashed potato
- 2 tbsp Fresh Coriander
- As per taste Salt
- 1 - 2 tsp Rice flour
Instructions
- Wash and soak the sago for 4 hours. After 4 hours, drain the water.
- Into the sago add chopped ginger, green chillies, cumin seeds, salt, crushed peanuts and mash it here and there.
- Donot mash it completely.Now add boiled and mashed potato into it and mix well.
- At this stage add the rice flour. It helps in binding.
- Finally add the chopped coriander and mix well.
- Now keep water in a small bowl, and wet your hands before making each balls so that it will not stick.
- Make even sized balls and keep it ready to cook.Now heat the appe pan and add a tsp of ghee in all the holes.
- Keep one sago ball in one hole and cook it in medium flame.Cover it with the lid and cook.
- Flip now and then and cook on all the sides.
- When it is golden brown and cooked well till inside, remove it from the pan.
- Serve hot with green chutney and tea.
Video
INSTRUCTIONS
- Wash and soak the sago for 4 hours. After 4 hours, drain the water. Keep it in a bowl.
- Boil the potatoes until it is cooked well.
- Then mash it well to mix it with other ingredients.
- Add chopped ginger, green chillies, cumin seeds, salt, crushed peanuts into a bowl and mash it here and there. Donot mash it completely.
- Now add boiled and mashed potato into it and mix well.
- At this stage add the rice flour. It helps in binding.
- Finally add the chopped coriander and mix well.
- Now keep water in a small bowl, and wet your hands before making each balls so that it will not stick.
- Make even sized balls and keep it ready to cook.
- Now heat the appe pan and add a tsp of ghee in all the holes.
- Keep one sago ball in one hole and cook it in medium flame.
- Cover it with the lid and cook. Flip now and then and cook on all the sides.
- When it is golden brown and cooked well till inside, remove it from the pan.
- Serve hot with green chutney and tea.
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Thank you !!
Tasty, chatpata vada looks too good!!
Thank you Deeksha…
Looks so yummy! It is a wonderful tea time snack.
Thank you Megala.. .
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Sabudana vada is a perfect snack to enjoy with evening cup of tea or coffee. Using appe pan you have made this snack more healthy
Thank you
Sabudana vada in appe pan! I love it I don’t know why I did not think of it. 😀 Will definitely love to make mine in the appe pan. Thanks for the idea.
Thank you
Thats a good idea to use the appe pan to get the vada cravings yet not feel guilty
Thank you
Niranjana interesting that you add rice flour to sabudana vada when enjoyed for fasting. We aren’t allowed to use any grains or cereals, pulses, beans. I too make sabudana vada in an appe pan… so much less oil required. Love them.
Yeah aunty, I have seen people avoid using that in North India. Here we avoid only onion, garlic and garam masala on fasting days. In fact we have chappathi on ekadashi. But I make this recipe without rice flour too.
Its nice to know different traditions from different parts of India.
Sabudana vada looks so crisp and crunchy. A lovely treat for all Sabudana lovers like me. I liked the way you have added rice flour to the vada. You are tempting me to make them soon.
Thank you Preethi.
I like you low oil version of making vadas in appe pan.. guilt free snack with tea and chutney.. also never added rice flour for binding, will try it this way, it must have added more crunch to vadas.
Thank you swathi
One of the favourite snacks, these are tasty. I make them in appe pan too and they are guilt free snack. Yummy snack with a cup of masala tea.