Sabudana wada - This one is for Ripul.

Sabudana wada is a hot favourite snack in Maharashtra, especially in Mumbai and Pune. It can be eaten on 'fasting' days along with many other goodies. Maharashtrians believe in eating and fasting. That's really funny but we have loads of different dishes which can be eaten on fasting days. Then there is another funny thing about a few ingredients used for the fast - like fresh coriander is used in all the namkeen snacks but one cannot use the dried variety. Roasted peanuts are a must for the fast but peanut oil is not used. Anyway that's the way it is but the wadas taste really good and should be consumed hot.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sago or sabudana
• 2 medium sized boiled and mashed potatoes
• 2 medium sized finely chopped green chillies
• 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
• 1/2 tsp jeera/cumin
• finely chopped coriander
• 1/2 lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• salt to taste
• oil for frying

Method:

Wash and soak the sago for about 5 hours or till the sago is soft to feel. The water should just be enough for the sago to soak. Add all the above ingredients well. Take a little mixture, flatten it into a wada shape either on a plastic paper or on your palm. Apply a little bit of oil on your palm so that the batter will not stick. Deep fry the wadas and enjoy them with coriander chutney or tomato ketchup. Rainy season is a great time to consume these wadas.