Sabudana vada


Sabudana vada, also called 'sabu vada', is a traditional deep fried snack from Maharashtra, India. It is often served with spicy green chutney and along with hot chai and is best eaten fresh. In other parts of the country, Sabudana vada are the best option to have when fasting. Therefore, this filling and nutritious snack is served usually during religious festivals and during fast/vrat/upvaas especially in Navratri vrats. Like all vadas, these are best eaten fresh. Sabudana vadas are crunchy and "melt in the mouth."

Preparation and recipe

Methods of preparation are simple, but time-consuming, as the main ingredients used in preparation of Sabudana vada require some processing. For example, sabudana, the main constituent of vada, need to be soaked overnight; potatoes need to be boiled, peeled and then mashed; and peanuts need to be roasted and ground to a coarse powder after removing their husks. Additional ingredients of Sabudana Vada include: Red chili, Green chilies and Coriander leaves, salt and vegetable oil.
;Recipe
  1. . Soak sabudana overnight in a little water, just enough to cover the sabudana. Drain any excess water from the sabudana.
  2. . Take roasted peanuts and remove the husk. Grind the peanuts to a coarse powder, and add it to the sabudana. Add mashed potato along with red chilli powder, salt, green chillies & coriander, and mix well.
  3. . Make small balls with this mixture, flatten them a bit, and set aside.
  4. . Fry these flattened pieces in the smoky hot oil, until they turn golden brown. The sabudana vadas are ready now.
  5. . Serve the sabudana vadas plain or with ketchup, and a hot cup of tea or coffee.

    Serving

During the monsoon season, it is popular to eat bhajias/pakoras with a cup of adrak chai. One such monsoon special crispy fried preparation is sabudana vada. Although it is deep fried, it is sumptuous and light. It is also eaten on days of fasting in Maharashtra for e.g., Chaturthi etc.