Sabudana Kheer – Tapioca Pearl Pudding

I am sharing a recipe that goes back to basics of Indian desserts but prepared with the Instant Pot. Tapioca pudding a.k.a Sabudhana Kheer. This is one of India’s popular recipe and is usually prepared as a dessert during festivals. The original recipe is made with boiling the tapioca pearls in milk, with sugar and cardamom. However, my vegan variation with the Instant Pot is a refreshing look at this old time recipe.

A little of memories from the past….When I was little I remember my mother use to make this kheer and I liked it chilled than when it was warm. The traditional way of serving this recipe is warm after a sumptuous meal, but the chilled version can be equally good when the cashews soak up all the flavor. The vegan version isn’t that much different apart from the substitution of milk with coconut milk.

I have not tried any other plant-based milk because the flavor from coconut is a big part of this recipe. This comes close to the other Kheer recipe from my childhood that is prepared with milk, sugar and split yellow mung beans.

What is Sabudana? The different names of sabudana.

Sabudana balls are translucent spheres; a product of tapioca, a starch extracted from the cassava root. There is probably a  place where I was, this is called “Sabakki”. Another popular name is “Sago” and “Tapioca pearls”.

Why should you use the Instant Pot for sabudana kheer 

The good part about using the instant pot is the fact that you have a one pot solution to steam cook and prepare the recipe. Cooking the tapioca pearls in a traditional pressure cooker can be difficult at times, especially if the pearls are not cooked completely in one attempt. The instant pot makes it easy to cook them to perfection in 10 minutes. Tapioca pearls cook better after soaking them in cold water for about 10 minutes. If you do not plan to use an Instant Pot, be sure to cook them for at least 3 whistles.

Useful tips to make your Sabudana kheer really good!

1. Before soaking the tapioca pearls, wash them twice to remove the starch coating. Starch coating tends to make them sticky.
2. I used canned coconut milk. You can also use fresh coconut milk to improve the taste.
3. I used Jaggery to sweeten the Kheer. You can also use sugar or coconut sugar as a variation.
4. Adding Saffron strands and garnishing cardamom powder and nuts brings a ton of authentic flavor to the dish.

How to store soaked sabudana, sago

If you soak tapioca pearls but cannot use them one same day, just drain them and store in an airtight container. Tapioca pearls stay good for up to 3 days. The finished kheer recipe stays good in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Sabudana kheer or tapioca pudding becomes thick after 30 mins in room temperature. You can add more milk if you prefer to eat thin consistency. Enjoy!

You may like my other instant pot recipes…Instant pot jam, Instant Pot Vegetable rice, etc.

Here are the recipe details….

Print Recipe

5 from 5 votes

Sabudana Kheer - Tapioca Pearl Pudding

Sabudana Kheer is one of India’s popular recipe and is usually prepared as a dessert during festivals. Here is my vegan version of that recipe and made in Instant Pot.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time20 mins

soaking time10 mins

Total Time30 mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Indian

Keyword: sabudana, tapioca pearl pudding

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 215kcal

Author: Uma Srinivas

Ingredients

• 1 cup sabudana - tapioca pearl
• 1 ½ - 2 cups of water
• 1 can coconut milk
• ¼ cup of sugar
• ½ cup jaggery
• 2 tbsp cashews
• ½ tsp cardamom powder
• 3 -4 saffron strands
• Pinch of salt

Instructions

• Soak the clean and rinsed sabudana for 10 minutes.
• Drain them well and put them inside the instant pot and add 2 cups of water. Cook for 10 mins under high pressure (manual mode).
• Use the natural release method to let them cook and open the lid.
• Press the “saute” setting and add 1 can of coconut milk, 2 tbsp cashews, a ½ cup of jaggery, 4 saffron strands. Stir well.
• Add a few more teaspoons of sugar, if you prefer it sweeter.
• After 2 mins of boiling add cardamom powder and switch the instant pot off.
• Let it cool a little and Sabudana kheer is ready! Serve hot or chilled.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 215kcal

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