Sabudana Khichdi

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This sabudana khichdi, a popular gluten-free Indian meal, is a comforting meal made with tapioca pearls, potatoes, peanuts, and with a hint of spices. This satisfying meal which is flavorful and texture rich, is perfect to pair with tea or coffee, and you can serve this for any meal.

Perfectly cooked pearls - looks like a bowl of savory and delicious dipping dots - that's how it looks like. This is how I would describe this. We call this tasty dish as Javvarisi (in Tamil) Upma in our home. It is light, fluffy, savory, spicy, nutty - all in one.

This is so simple yet it is full of flavors. The soft pearls soak up flavors. Soft and light with glassy individual tapioca pearls is a bowl of comfort with a bite of potato here and there. This makes a perfect brunch with tea, coffee, chaas, or juice.

Ingredients to make sabudana khichdi

Sabudana or tapioca pearls - These are made with tapioca roots and you can find these in Indian groceries. This adds to the soft and chewy texture.

Water - to soak the tapioca pearls.

Salt - gives flavor.

Oil - Any oil will work. I love using olive oil or coconut oil. If preferred, you may use ghee too.

Green and red chilise - A combination of these add to the spicy heat. You may adjust as per your heat tolerance or preferences. This recipe uses serrano peppers, you may use Thai chilies instead.

Potatoes - Adds to flavor, texture.

Peanuts - Adds protein content to the khichdi as well as texture. This recipe uses coarsely ground peanuts, you may use whole peanuts, or a mixture of both.

Herbs - Curry leaves and cilantro add aroma and flavor. You may use your favorite herb or what you have on hand.

Spices - Mustard and cumin add to flavor, aroma, and texture.

How to make perfect sabudana khichdi every time?

This delicious khichdi is easy to make once you master the initial step.  Thinking back, I honestly admit that I had difficulty in making this until a few years back. I happened to see how one of our family friends cook it when we were at their home and that changed everything. From that day on, I make perfect sabudana khichdi.

You need to take care of one one major step. Soaking the tapioca pearls in right amount of water. Sprinkle and soak. As a result, the pearls soak up beautifully and you can control the amount of water. You can press a pearl between your fingers to check if it soft. That is perfect soaking. Too much or too less water would not give great results. Certainly, you can make the perfect sabudana khichdi always, like me, following these steps. Thats what I did following a friend and here I am passing it to you.

Further, each individual pearl should be separate and this should be mushy at all. When it cooks, it will cook in the steam and no water is necessary to cook. That's the magic! It should be glassy or transparent. So, soaking perfectly helps in making it the best!

Serving Suggestions

This is a favorite one for us and we would eat it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. However, I serve this for a perfect weekend brunch as this is one of our top family favorites, loved and voted, and requested dish often.

Yet another thing about this sabudana khichdi is that it neither uses onion-garlic, nor any grains. Tapioca pearls are rich in carbs while the protein part of it comes from peanuts. Therefore this is a perfect dish to make for days when you fast for religious reasons keeping you satiated.

This khichdi is a crowd pleaser. Although this is ideal for fasting days, you can cook this khichdi during Navratri days or any time you have a get together. It is easy to make for a crowd and is budget friendly too. People of all age groups love this khichdi. Always! Sometimes we make it for special days like even birthdays. It is one of the top most foods requested for a birthday meal.

Storing the khichdi

This khichdi is the best when served hot. If it is cold, warm it in the microwave in 30 second intervals to reach the correct temperature where the pearls become soft.

If you have leftovers, you can store it in the fridge for a couple of days. The pearls become dry. While reheating sprinkle a tiny amout of water and heat in the microwave or on stovetop.

More Sabudana/Tapioca recipes

Sabudana or javvarisi aka tapioca pearls make wonderful appetizers/snacks, and even desserts too. Here are a few recipes from the blog.

Slow Cooker Sabudana Kheer

Sago Fruit at Gulaman

Sago Vadam Chaat