By Aditi Saraswat
November 25, 2025
Sabudana kheer is a comforting dessert prepared with tapioca pearls cooked slowly in milk, sugar, and ghee. Scented with cardamom and nuts, it’s a popular vrat-friendly dessert that is easy to make and enjoy as a cosy treat.
½ cup sabudana 1 litre of full-fat milk 4–5 tbsp sugar (adjust to taste) 1–2 tbsp ghee 3–4 tbsp mixed chopped nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachios) 1 tbsp raisins ½ tsp powder cardamom powder 8–10 saffron strands soaked in 2 tbsp warm milk (optional)
Soak the sabudana in 1 cup of water for about 2–3 hours until it swells and turns soft.
In a heavy pan, boil 1 litre e milk, and simmer on a low flame, stirring frequently, until it thickens and creamy consistency.
Drain the soaked sabudana and add to boiling milk. Cook until the pearls turn transparent and soft.
Add 4–5 tbsp sugar and mix well until it is mixed. Adjust the sweetness as per the requirement and simmer for a few more minutes to let the flavours blend.
In 1–2 tbsp ghee, lightly roast the chopped nuts. Add this to the kheer with ½ tsp cardamom and the saffron milk.
Cook for another 2–3 minutes, then turn off the flame. Let the kheer cool down a bit and serve.