Sabudana (Sago) Kheer

sabudana or sago kheer
For me, Sabudana or Sago is synonymous to Upvaas/Vrat or fasting.  My Mom used to cook a sago delicacy every Monday for her fasts.  And we too enjoyed those treats equally... Sabudana KhichdiSabudane Wade.
Today, I made Sago Kheer or Payasam in my US kitchen for the first time. I am not sure if Tapioca and Sago are one and the same.

Ingredients:
Sago/Sabudana - 1 cup
Sugar or Jaggery or Brown Sugar - about 2 tbsp
Clarified Butter/Ghee - 2 tsp
Whole Milk - about 2 cups
Almonds/Badam - 4
Cashews/Kaju - 4
Green Cardamom/Elaichi - 2 pods (seeds only)

How to cook Sabudana or Sago Kheer:
  • Roughly chop cashews and almonds.  You can use any other nuts of your choice.  Crush the cardamom seeds to a fine powder in a mortar pestle.
  • Heat ghee in a thick bottom vessel and add sago.  Roast sago at low flame for about 2 - 3 minutes.
  • Add about 1/2 cup water and cook sago till it turns soft.  Sago will turn almost double in size after cooking.  Sago is quite sticky, keep stirring.
  • Add milk, chopped nuts and bring it to a boil.  You can also add raisins/dry grapes if you like.
  • Add sugar and cardamom powder.  Add saffron/kesar too if you like.  Continue cooking till sugar dissolves and you get the desired consistency.  Garnish Sabudana Kheer with nuts and serve.

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