Sabudana Kheer (saffron flavored sago kheer for vrat or fast)

First of all I would like to wish you all a very happy Mahashivratri.Today  I prepared Sabudana kheer for vrat or fast.It is the most common type of sweet served on fasting days.This creamy smooth traditional Indian sweet is made from small size sago pearls.

       Sabudana kheer cooked in a clay pot

     Now let me give you some information about the origin and history of Mahashivratri. According to  Puranas , during the samudra manthan a pot of poison emerged from the ocean.This terrified the Gods and demons as the poison was capable of destroying the entire world, and they ran to Shiva for help.To protect the world from its evil effects,Shiva drank the deathly poison but held it in his throat instead of swallowing it.This made his throat turn blue,and he was given the name Neelakantha,the blue-throated one.Shivaratri is the celebration of this event by which Shiva saved the world.

On the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri,Hindu devotees around the world observe Shivratri vrat or fast.And if you are fasting then you have to abstain from food made with rice,wheat,dal or pulses.Food with specific ingredients are allowed during the fast are prepared and consumed.Sago is an ingredient that is a part of fasting food and so today I’m going to share this saffron flavoured sago kheer recipe with u all.

To prepare this dish you need following ingredients-

Ingredients–

• Milk- 1ltr
• Sago pearls-1/2 cup(soaked in water)
• Sugar-1/2 cup
• Few strands of saffron roughly crushed
• Cashew-1tbsp chopped
• Almonds-1 tbsp chopped
• Cardamom powder-1/4 tsp

                       Soaked Sabudana

      Chopped dry fruits and crushed saffron

                       Cardamom powder
Instructions-

Soaking Sabudana-

1. Wash the Sabudana and soak it in water for at least 2hrs.They will double in size.
2. Drain the water and keep it aside.

        Soak Sabudana in water for two hrs

                    After 2hrs drain water

Making kheer-

1.  You can use a deep sauce pan,I have used a clay pot.Cooking in a clay pot will give it a special exotic flavour.
2. Take milk in a clay pot and bring it to a boil.Reduce the flame to low and let it simmer for 8-10′, or till it thickens slightly.Stir the milk in between.
3. Add crushed saffron and mix well.
4. Add soaked sabudana.Stir well and cook it for 5′ or till the sabudana becomes translucent.
5. Add sugar and chopped dry fruits.Mix it nicely till the sugar dissolves completely.
6. Then add cardamom powder.
7. Let it  simmer for another 2-3′ and keep stirring.Then turn off the stove.
8. Let it cool down.Garnish it with saffron and serve warm or you can also serve it chilled.

Pictorial presentation–

                    Take milk in a clay pot

       Bring it to a boil and simmer for 8-10′

                     Add crushed saffron

                    Add soaked sabudana

                            Cook it for 5′

           Sabudana becomes translucent

                  Add dry fruits and sugar

                   Add cardamom powder

                 Switch off the flame when it reaches desired consistency

            Garnish it with saffron strands

     Ready to serve creamy smooth sago kheer😋

Note:

1. Cook the sago pearls very well.
2. This kheer naturally thickens after cooling, so keep in mind the consistency you want if u are serving it chilled.

I dedicate this recipe to all Hindu devotees who are observing Mahashivratri vrat today.

May Lord Shiva  shower his benign blessings on you all.Once again l wish you all a very happy Mahashivratri.

      Do try this recipe and let me know how you like it.

                    Happy cooking 😃