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The delightful sabudana vada begins with soaking 200 gmsof sabudana or sago pearls in water for at least 4 to 5 hours or even overnight.
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Soaking sabudana pearls is an essential requirement because it makes them swell and softens them, being vital to the vadas attaining perfect texture.
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Now, drain the sabudana by removing all excess water and keep the pearls aside for later use.
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Meanwhile, in another pot, boil two medium-sized potatoes. When they are tender, drain the water from the potatoes; mash well so that there are no lumps.
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The mixture of the mashed potatoes with the soaked sabudana would be the base of your vadas.
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Add more flavour to the mix by including 100 gmsof coarsely ground-roasted peanuts. It should add great crunch and nutty flavour, complementing the soft potatoes and sabudana.
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Introduce some heat into the mixture by adding one finely chopped green chilli along with one teaspoon of freshly grated ginger to give your vadas that zesty kick.
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Throw in the chopped coriander leaves with a spoonful; it will add freshness along with the overall flavour.
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Add one teaspoon of cumin seeds for the earthy aroma and add depth to the mixture.
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The refreshing tang is bound to be brought in by lemon juice.
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Salt to taste - so all ingredients are well absorbed. Using your hands, mix all these ingredients until they form one doughy-like consistency, ensuring everything is spread around.
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Once you are ready with your mixture, divide it into equal portions so everything gets cooked evenly.
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Each portion is in small, round, flat vadas, and pressing gently gives them excellent form. This shaping is critical because it will help you cook them evenly with crispy exteriors.
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Once the vadas are prepared, let us heat the oil.
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Fill as much as you want into a deep frying pan and turn on the flame at a medium rate.
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Test when the oil is adequately hot by taking a tiny piece from the mixture; if it starts sizzling and floats on the surface of the oil, then it is ready to be fried.
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Place the shaped vadas gently in the hot oil without overcrowding the pan, as overcrowding will lower the temperature of the oil and the vadas will become greasy.
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Fry the vadas deep until they are golden brown and crunchy, which should be about 4 to 5 minutes on each side.
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Keep observing and turn them gently so that they get cooked even on all sides. Remove the vadas from the oil with a slotted spoon, letting the excess oil drip back into the pan.
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Place those fried vadas on a paper towel-lined plate, allowing any further oil to drain off them; they'll stay crispy. The most appealing thing about these sabudana vadas would be to enjoy them hot.
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They go well with green chutney, which adds a tangy freshness, or sweet yoghurt, providing a creamy contrast. The crispy outside and soft, flavourful inside of this sabudana vada make it one of the most sought-after snacks, especially during fasting periods in India.
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These vadas are not only delicious but quite versatile, suitable for any occasion- be it casual snacking or festivals.
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The whole process, right from soaking the sabudana to frying the vadas, forms an utterly fantastic dish to satisfy, making it much more rewarding to eat.
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Serve hot and savour fresh homemade sabudana vadas for the best experience.