Crispy Sabudana Vada are fritters made with sago, potato and peanuts! These fried vadas are great for snacking or to serve as an appetizer. These are vegan and especially made during the fasting festival of Navratri.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 10 minutes
  • Cook time: 15 minutes
  • Total time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 10 vada
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup sabudana (rinsed and soaked in 1/2 cup water overnight)
  • 2 medium potatoes (boiled & mashed, 1 cup boiled & mashed potatoes)
  • 1/4 cup peanuts (roasted, skin remove and then crushed)
  • 2 tablespoons cilantro (chopped)
  • 1-2 green chilies (chopped, adjust to taste)
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste, use sendha namak if making these for fast)
  • oil (to fry the vadas, I used canola oil)

Method

  1. Rinse the sabudana under running water until water turns clear. Then soak it in 1/2 cup of water for 4 to 5 hours or overnight. Then drain using a colander (there won't be any water since sabudana will absorb all of it but still drain it). When done, sabudana will be soft and break easily when pressed between fingers.
  2. Transfer the soaked saubdana to a large bowl and add the boiled and mashed potatoes, roasted peanuts, chopped cilantro, chopped green chilies, lemon juice and salt.
  3. Mix everything together using a spatula or your hands. Then divide the mixture into 9 to 10 equal parts. Shape each part into a round shape and then flatten between your palms to shape into vadas. I got 9 vadas out of this mixture, each weighing approximate 50 grams and 2 inches in diameter.
  4. Heat oil in a kadai or wok on medium heat. Add vadas carefully into the hot oil. Make sure oil isn't very hot or very cold, it should be medium heat.
  5. Fry the vadas on medium heat until golden brown and crispy from both sides. Drain on paper towel. Serve hot with chutney or ketchup.

Air Fryer Instructions

  1. To air fry, preheat your air fryer according to manufacturer's instructions. Spray with a cooking oil and then air fry at 380 F degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. The timing may vary depending on the air fryer you are using. Don't make the vadas super thin if you prefer fluffy vadas.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.