Sabudana Vada - Tapioca Patty Recipe

Sabudana or better known as Tapioca Beads, Tapioca Pearls or Tapioca Sago is made from the starch extracted from the pith of tapioca, then dried and shaped into small beads or pearls.

Sabudana or Tapioca pearls are majorly produced in southeast asia and supplied all over the world for making variety of dishes, however it is a staple food for those living in New Guinea and Moluccas.

Sabudana / Tapioca Sago has lot of health benefits like it is low in sodium, it is cholestrol free, it is good for muscles and provides strong bones, thus can be eaten daily or on a regular basis.

Though there are many recipes that can be made using sabudana / tapioca pearls, but today we will make the age old recipe of Sabudana VADA. Vada is a form of patty, deep fried and crispy, golden in color.

I am going to include onion and garlic in the recipe, but if you are making sabudana vada during festivals and fasting seasons, just skip those items which cannot be had during such time. So Let's Begin.....

Steps & Ingredients:

• Take 1 cup (250ml) Sabudana / Tapioca Pearls

Wash it properly, so that the white powder coating is washed away.

Soak this washed sabudana in 185ml to 190ml of water, for a minimum of 8 hours or overnight.

Keep the Sabudana : Water ratio for soaking, as mentioned.

In a mixing bowl.

• Add 2 boiled potatoes (grated)
• Add 10 - 12 curry leafs (sliced)
• Add 2 - 3 green chilli (fine chopped)
• Add 1/2 cup salted & roasted peanut (coarse powder)
• Add 1 tsp jeera (cumin)
• Add salt to taste
• Add 1/2 tbsp besan (gram flour)
• Add 1/2 tbsp dahi (curd / yogurt) [Alternative: 1 tsp lemon juice)
• Add 1/4 cup of dhania patta (coriander leaf - chopped)
• Add 1/2 tsp chini (sugar)
• Add 1 pinch of baking soda
• Add 1" adrak (ginger - fine chopped)
• Add the soaked sabudana (tapioca pearls / sago)

Mix everything well.

Make small balls out of the mixture.

Press the balls, using your palm to flatten them.

(TIP: Put little water on your fingers and palm so that while making the balls and flattening them, the mixture does not stick to your hands).

Heat up a pan (kadai), for deep frying.

Put oil and heat up the oil to medium hot.

Fry until golden brown from all sides.

Sabudana Vada or Tapioca Pearls Patty is ready.

You can serve it with mint sauce, coriander chutney or just normal ketchup. Best accompanied with a hot cup of Tea as an evening snack.