Sweet Sabudana Kesari Doodh (Tapioca Pearls Saffron Milk).

"Sweet Sabudana Kesari Doodh (Tapioca Pearls Saffron Milk)" ... a simple drink from GSB Konkani Saraswat Cuisine that is relished extensively during upwas/ fasting days ... this one is my favorite from childhood be it prepared plain/ with kesar ... Amma used to serve this steaming hot for energy when we had mouth ulcers or weakness due to fever ... this is a age old method of cooking sabudana- simple- effective- hazel free ... addition saffron to warm milk creates a golden, aromatic elixir that promotes restful sleep, enhances natural immunity and a flawless skin ... just savor every moment by enjoying it sip by sip ... Yummilicious ...

** Sabudana/ Tapioca Pearls are beautiful white colored small pearl sized balls that swell when soaked and soften when cooked. Plenty of delicious dishes can be prepared and relished using them. These are extensively used during upvas/ fasting, however being rich in starch Dr's. advice against excess consumption.

** Sabudana is a starch that is extracted from tapioca roots by a certain process. It is then shaped into small or medium sized balls. Sabudana is actually a form of tapioca, also known as cassava root, a very common plant grown all across India and Southeast Asia. It is easily available all round the world in supermarkets.

** As per Ayurveda it increases body energy levels and is believed to balance pitta dosha too. Weak or people recovering from illness/ fever are often advised to consume sabudana, in fact I remember my amma always insisted we drink this particular simple cooked and sweetened sabudana when we had mouth ulcers/ fever.

** Though there is a list of health benefits attached to sabudana, personally I have no idea of the same and would not like to advice wrongly. However, in my opinion anything in limits is fine and one should enjoy all dishes to heart's content. Sharing a simple method of cooking which I learnt from amma and still love to relish it.

** Saffron/ Kesar is the world's most expensive spice, made from the dried red threads of the Crocus Sativus flower. It is extensively used in cooking dishes, coolants, beauty products etc. It imparts a beautiful bright golden- yellow color to dishes with a lovely fragrance of its own. It is often call sunshine spice as it acts as antioxidant. Used in beauty products as it is believed to give a flawless skin, fading dark spots. 

** Here is my Amma's recipe for "Sweet Sabudana Kesari Doodh (Tapioca Pearls Saffron Milk)" ... my style ....

** Soak 1 cup of sabudana/ sago/ tapioca pearls in 3 cups of water for 1-2 hours. Sabudana more than doubles in size when it gets soaked up well and also turns soft. It is always necessary to follow this step for best results.

** Boil 1 cup of skimmed milk/ doodh+ 1 cup of water in a thick bottomed stainless steel vessel, then lower the heat to minimum, add 10-12 strands of saffron/ kesar and let cook for a minute. Now add in the soaked and kept ready sabudana/ tapioca pearls, mix well and cook on low heat stirring often to avoid it getting stuck to the base. Sabudana turns to soft glassy transparent balls when well cooked and done. 

** Note : This is NOT Dudh Pak/ Sabudana Kheer prepared with milk, here the consistency of is thinner with lesser addition of milk. However, if desired you can always prepare it with full fat milk or without addition of water too. 

** You can also use Micro Wave method for faster and effortless cooking. Just add it into a glassware MW proof dish and micro wave for 4-5 minutes, stir well in between and continue to cook at 2 minute intervals until done. 

** Now add in approximately ½ to ¾ cup of sugar (shakkar/ sakkara) or depending on how sweet you want it and mix well. When the sugar has been completely dissolved and the milk is steaming hot add a large pinch of cardamom (ellaichi/ yella) powder, mix well, remove from fire and keep aside covered for 10 mins. While serving if you find it had turned out too thick you can add some hot milk/ water and mix well. 

** "Sweet Sabudana Kesari Doodh (Tapioca Pearls Saffron Milk)" is done and ready to be served. This drink not only tastes best served steaming hot but it should also be done so for health benefits. This drink is very good in case of body weakness due to illness or when there are mouth ulcers and Amma always made us have some steaming hot and I have still continued with this habit in my home for my family. Children love the white pearls, so also the sweetness, so include this sometimes in your diet. 

** Amma always prepared this either with saffron or plain or as payasam during summer vacations to savor during mid morning and we siblings loved it very much. You can add on full fat milk if desired or if serving to young children who have no issue of consumption of excess calories. You can also serve it plain without milk or addition of saffron which I have already blogged before, so are different varieties of payasam. 

** I am sharing a common link below to all "Sabudana" recipes, do browse through them in leisure for more choice of dishes .....

https://gayathrifoodbytes.blogspot.com/search?q=sabudana