Sabudana Khichdi Maharashtrian Tapioca Pilaf Food

SABUDANA KHICHDI (MAHARASHTRIAN TAPIOCA PILAF)

Steps:

• Place tapioca in a large bowl and cover with water. Swirl to release starch, then drain. Repeat a few times until water runs mostly clear, then drain well. Return tapioca to bowl, along with 3/4 cup water. Soak for 4 to 5 hours, or until water is mostly absorbed and tapioca pearls are easily squashed when pressed between your thumb and forefinger. Drain well, and place into a large microwave-safe bowl.
• Place whole potatoes in a small pot and cover with water. Season generously with salt and set over high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until completely tender, about 25 to 35 minutes, depending on size. Remove potatoes from water, allow to cool, then peel, and dice into 1/2-inch cubes. Add to tapioca.
• Set a frying pan over medium heat and add peanuts. Swirling constantly, toast them until shiny, aromatic and golden brown, about 4 minutes. Pour immediately onto a plate to prevent overcooking. Wipe pan, and return to stove.
• In a food processor, pulse chiles and ginger together until finely minced, stopping to scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula once or twice. (If you don't have a food processor, you can do this step by hand.) Remove 1 tablespoon chile-ginger mixture, and set aside. Add cooled peanuts to food processor, and continue to pulse just long enough to roughly chop nuts. Scrape peanut-chile mixture into tapioca-potato mixture.
• Heat frying pan over a medium flame and add oil. When oil shimmers, add cumin. When cumin begins to sizzle, stir in reserved chile-ginger mixture, and allow to sizzle but not brown, then immediately pour into tapioca mixture. Add 1 teaspoon sugar, toss and season with salt to taste.
• Microwave tapioca mixture on high for 2 minutes, then stir. Continue cooking for another 2 minutes, then stir again. Cook for another 1 to 2 minutes in 15-second increments, until tapioca is translucent and chewy, but not quite transparent and clumpy.
• Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, sugar and lemon juice. Garnish with cilantro, and serve hot.

SABUDANA KHICHDI (TAPIOCA WITH POTATOES AND PEANUTS)

Steps:

• Rinse tapioca in a large container. Drain. Cover and let stand, 8 hours to overnight.
• Rinse tapioca again before starting to cook. Drain, cover, and set aside.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add potatoes; cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, 5 to 6 minutes. Drain.
• Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add cumin seeds; cook until dark, about 30 seconds. Add potatoes, 3/4 cup peanuts, green chile peppers, and curry leaves. Season with salt. Saute until flavors combine, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Add sugar to the potato mixture; mix well. Add tapioca and remaining 1/4 cup peanuts. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring constantly, until tapioca looks transparent, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in cilantro and lime juice. Mix well. Add a bit more salt if desired. Serve hot.