Sabudana Kheer, or Tapioca Pudding, is a popular Indian dessert made with sabudana (sago), milk, sugar, and nuts. It’s often prepared during fasting festivals and can be cooked either on the stovetop or in an Instant Pot.
Every region of India boasts its unique version of traditional kheer, each offering distinct flavors and ingredients. Here are some popular kheer recipes: makhana kheer, rice kheer, lauki kheer, paneer kheer, vermicelli kheer, and more, perfect for celebrating festivals or special occasions.
Today, I am sharing a delicious sabudana kheer recipe. Sabudana means Tapioca pearls, and Kheer means pudding in Hindi. Sabudana or tapioca pearls are a vrat (or fast) staple. You can make several dishes with sabudana like, sabudana khichdi, sabudana vada.
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What is Sabudana Kheer?
Sabudana Kheer (also known as sabudana payasam) is a rich and creamy popular Indian dessert made from tapioca pearls (also known as sabudana or sago), milk, sugar, and flavored with cardamom, saffron, and chopped nuts. It is typically made during festive occasions or the fasting (vrat) period of Navratri.
Sabudana Kheer Ingredients
- Sabudana (Tapioca Pearls): I’ve used small tapioca pearls, which can be easily found in Indian grocery stores or on Amazon.
- Milk: I used full-fat whole milk in this recipe. You may also use unsweetened almond milk if you are looking for plant-based.
- Sugar: I have used refined sugar. You can also use brown sugar or jaggery. If using jaggery, ensure that you add it in the end, as its impurities can curdle the milk.
- Dry fruits: I used dry fruits like cashews, almonds, pistachios, and raisins.
- Ground Cardamom: Is used for flavoring; if you don't have it, you can substitute it with vanilla extract.
- Saffron strands: A few saffron strands can be added to the milk to enhance flavor and color. You may also soak them in warm milk before adding them to the kheer, but this step is optional.
How to Make Sabudana Kheer (Stovetop Method)
Prep
Rinse ½ cup sabudana in water 1-2 times and drain all the water.
Soak the sabudana in 1 cup of water for 1 hour in a bowl.
In a heavy-bottomed pan, heat 1 tablespoon of ghee. Add 2-3 tablespoons of chopped dry fruits like cashews, almonds, and pistachios, and roast them until they turn light golden. Then, add 1 tablespoon of raisins and fry them until they become plump. Remove the mixture from the pan and set it aside.
Once the sabudana has soaked for 1 hour, drain and add them to the same pan and saute for a minute while stirring continously.
Add 3 cups of whole milk (or almond milk) to the pan, give it a quick stir, and let it come to a boil. Then, reduce the heat to low and let the milk simmer for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the tapioca pearls from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
The milk will begin to reduce, and the sabudana will soften and get cooked.
Stir in ¼ cup sugar (or as needed), and 1 big pinch of saffron milk. Cook for another 4-5 minutes or until the kheer thickens further, stirring occasionally.
Lastly, add ½ teaspoon cardamom powder, and roasted nuts. Mix well. Turn off the heat.
Note: Sabudana kheer thickens as it cools down.
Serve sago kheer warm or chilled.
How to Make Sabudana Kheer in Instant Pot
Clean the Instant Pot thoroughly – the steel pot, lid, and sealing ring. If you have an extra sealing ring for sweet foods, use it. Else, milk may curdle.
Rinse ½ cup of sabudana in water 1-2 times and drain all the water.
Soak the sabudana in 1 cup of water for 1 hour in a bowl. Keep it aside.
Press Saute on the Instant pot, Heat 1 tablespoon of ghee, then add 2-3 tablespoons of chopped dry fruits like cashews, almonds, and pistachios, and roast till it turns light golden. Then add 1 tablespoon raisins and fry till they turn plump. Remove and keep aside.
Once the sabudana has soaked for 1 hour, drain it, add it to the same pot, and saute for a minute while stirring continuously.
Add 3 cups of whole milk, and give a quick stir. Close the lid, and turn the pressure valve to the SEALING position. Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (Low Pressure) and set the timer to 10 minutes.
Once the pot beeps, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes, and then quick release the remaining pressure.
Open the lid, then add ¼ cup sugar and saffron milk, and stir well. Simmer for 4-5 minutes or until the kheer thickens further, stirring occasionally. If you don't achieve the desired consistency, cook for an additional 2 minutes until it thickens a bit more.
Note: Kheer thickens after cooling down or refrigeration.
Lastly, add ½ teaspoon cardamom powder, and roasted nuts. Mix well. Cancel Saute.
Storage Suggestions
- Fridge: Sago kheer can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. Cool down completely before storing in the fridge.
- Do not freeze: Sabudana kheer does not freeze well; sabudana becomes mushy and loses its shape when thawed.
- Reheat: When you are ready to serve, add a little milk to thin the kheer and reheat it in the microwave or stovetop until it's warm.
Tips to Make Perfect Sago Kheer
- Soaking Sabudana: Soaking the sabudana for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour before making kheer is an important step, so don’t skip it. This helps the pearls become soft and reduces the cooking time.
- Use full-fat milk: Use whole milk to make the kheer rich and creamy. I do not recommend using low-fat or 2% reduced milk, as it may not give the same richness and texture.
- Stir the kheer frequently: Frequent stirring prevents the sabudana from sticking to the bottom of the pan and clumping together.
- Use a heavy-bottomed pot: Use a heavy-bottomed pot or non-stick pan to prevent the kheer from sticking to the bottom or burning.
- Kheer Consistency: The sabudana kheer becomes thick after cooling down or refrigeration. Add warm milk to adjust the consistency while serving.
Variations of Indian Tapioca Pudding
- Nuts: You can add any nuts of your choice to this tapioca pudding/kheer.
- Vegan Friendly: To make vegan-friendly tapioca pudding, substitute dairy milk with almond milk or full-fat coconut milk.
- Sweetener: You can replace refined sugar with organic powdered jaggery or brown sugar.
- Add fruits: After the kheer has cooled, you can add small pieces of fruit, such as mango and strawberries, for a fruity twist.
- Sago Kheer with condensed milk: To make richer sago kheer, Add ¼ cup of condensed milk and reduce the sugar appropriately.
More Indian Desserts Recipes
Sabudana Kheer (Tapioca Pudding)
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup sabudana (tapioca pearls)
- 1 cup water for soaking sabudana
- 3 cups whole milk (or almond milk)
- a pinch of saffron strands
- ¼ cup sugar (or as needed)
- ½ teaspoon cardamom powder
- 2-3 tablespoons chopped nuts (cashews, almonds, pistachios)
- 1 tablespoon raisins
- 1 tablespoon ghee for roasting nuts
Instructions
- Rinse the sabudana in water 1-2 times and drain all the water.
- Soak the sabudana in 1 cup of water for 1 hour in a bowl.
Stovetop Method
- In a heavy-bottomed pan, heat 1 tablespoon of ghee. Add chopped dry fruits like cashews, almonds, and pistachios, and roast them until they turn light golden. Then add raisins and fry them until they become plump. Remove the mixture from the pan and set it aside.
- Once the sabudana has soaked for 1 hour, drain and add them to the same pan and saute for a minute while stirring continously.
- Add the whole milk, give a quick stir, and let it come to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and let the milk simmer for around 10-15 minutes while stirring it occasionally to prevent the pearls from sticking to the bottom of the pan.The milk will begin to reduce, and the sabudana will soften and get cooked.
- Stir in the sugar, and saffron milk. Cook for another 4-5 minutes or until the kheer thickenes further, stir occasionally.
- Lastly, add the cardamom powder, roasted nuts. Mix well. Turn off the heat. Serve warm or chilled.Note: Sabudana kheer thickens as it cools down.
Instant Pot Method
- Clean the Instant Pot thoroughly – the steel pot, lid, and sealing ring. If you have an extra sealing ring for sweet foods, use it. Else, milk may curdle.
- Press Saute on the Instant pot, Heat 1 tablespoon of ghee, then add chopped dry fruits like cashews, almonds, and pistachios, and roast till it turns light golden. Then add raisins and fry till they turn plump. Remove and keep aside.
- Once the sabudana has soaked for 1 hour, drain and add them to the same pot and saute for a minute while stirring continously.
- Add the whole milk, and give a quick stir.
- Close the lid, and turn the pressure valve to the SEALING position. Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (Low Pressure) and set the timer to 10 minutes.Once the pot beeps, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes, and then quick release the remaining pressure.
- Open the lid, Add the sugar and saffron milk, and stir well. Simmer for 4-5 minutes or until the kheer thickens further, stirring occasionally. If you dint get the desired consistency, cook for extra 2 minutes until it thickens a bit.Note: Kheer thickens after cooling down or refrigeration.
- Lastly, add the cardamom powder, and roasted nuts. Mix well. Cancel Saute. Serve warm or chilled.
Notes
Tips to Make Perfect Sabudana Kheer
- Soaking Sabudana: Soaking the sabudana for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour before making kheer is an important step, so do not skip it. They become soft and reduce cooking time.
- Use full-fat milk: Use Whole milk to make the kheer rich and creamy. I do not recommend using low-fat or 2% reduced milk.
- Stir the kheer frequently: Stirring the kheer frequently prevents the sabudana from sticking to the bottom of the pan and clumping together.
- Use a heavy-bottomed pot: Use a heavy-bottomed pot or non-stick pan to prevent the kheer from sticking to the bottom or burning.
- Kheer Consistency: The sabudana kheer becomes thick after cooling down or refrigeration. Add warm milk to adjust the consistency while serving.
Variations
- Nuts: You can add any nuts of your choice to this kheer.
- Vegan Friendly: To make vegan-friendly tapioca pudding, substitute dairy milk with almond milk or full-fat coconut milk.
- Sweetener: You can replace refined sugar with organic powdered jaggery or brown sugar.
- Add fruits: You can add small pieces of fruits such as mango after the kheer has cooled down for a fruity twist.
- Sago Kheer with condensed milk: If you want to make richer sago kheer, Add ¼ cup of condensed milk if you like and reduce the sugar appropriately.
Nutrition
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