Recipe At a Glance
Ingredients
- 1 cup sabudana (tapioca pearls)
- 2 medium potatoes, boiled and mashed
- ½ cup roasted peanuts, coarsely crushed
- 2–3 green chilies, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh coriander
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon sugar, optional
- Salt to taste
- Oil, for deep frying
How to Make Sabudana Vada
1. Soak the Sabudana
Wash the sabudana 2–3 times until the water becomes mostly clear. Drain well.
Add just enough water to barely cover the sabudana and let it soak for 4–5 hours or overnight.
The sabudana should become soft and easily mash between your fingers. Drain any excess water completely.
2. Prepare the Mixture
In a large bowl, combine soaked sabudana, mashed potatoes, crushed roasted peanuts, green chilies, ginger, cumin seeds, coriander, lemon juice, sugar, and salt.
Mix everything thoroughly until you get a firm mixture that holds together when pressed.
3. Shape the Vadas
Divide the mixture into 8 equal portions.
Grease your hands lightly with oil and shape each portion into a round ball. Flatten each ball gently to form a small, thick disc.
4. Fry the Vadas
Heat oil in a deep pan over medium heat.
Once the oil is hot, carefully slide the vadas into the oil. Avoid overcrowding the pan.
Deep-fry until the vadas are golden brown and crisp on both sides.
Remove them with a slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel to absorb excess oil.
5. Serve
Serve hot and crispy Sabudana Vadas with fresh coriander chutney, coconut chutney, or sweet yogurt.
Tips for Crispy Sabudana Vada
- Drain the sabudana very well after soaking. Excess water can make the vadas break while frying.
- Use coarsely crushed roasted peanuts for the best texture.
- Don’t make the vadas too thick; slightly flattened vadas cook more evenly.
- Make sure the oil is properly hot before frying.
- If the mixture feels too soft, add a little more crushed roasted peanut powder.
Serving Suggestion
Enjoy crispy Sabudana Vadas hot with green chutney and chilled yogurt. They make a delicious breakfast, tea-time snack, or fasting-friendly meal.