Of late I am trying to cut down store bought processed snacks as far as possible and that means I need to prepare some tasty and healthy snacks at home for munching.Though I love sweets,I always prefer munching spicy snacks along with coffee or while reading :). Recently I picked a pack of sago / jawarisi,as I wanted to include it in our diet.Even before buying it I was pretty much sure that I will be making this mixture,I saw this recipe in Mallika badrinath's cook book and it looked quite interesting.It will fun for kids to eat this mixture,as sago turns into big spongy ball like after deep frying and it is also absolutely melt in mouth.I got so addicted to this I am planning to make it again soon :)I made some changes to the recipe to suit taste and we really loved this snack.This keeps well for 10-15 days when stored airtight but I bet you can't keep it that long :)
It is best to use Nylon sago (big ones with shiny finish),but if you can't get it you can use normal sago.Addition of beaten rice is purely optional,I added it as I had just 1/4 cup left and I wanted to use it.You can even add puffed rice to this mixture.Same goes with spicing.Here I have used chili powder,you can use pepper powder or even green chillies.One key point to remember while preparing such snacks is,we need to mix the salt properly such that it is equally distributed.Sago will burst and spill out while frying so you need to fry it carefully.Here is the recipe for tasty sago mixture.
If you are looking for more options on healthy and tasty snacks,here are few from the blog
Aval mixture/poha chivda
Oats mixture
Spicy oven roasted nuts
Kara pori
Sago mixture recipe
Star ingredients: Sago/jawarisi
Time:30 minutes
Yield:2 cups
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups sago
1/4 beaten rice/aval/poha (Medium thick)
1/4 cup peanuts
1/8 cup broken cashews
1/8 cup Roasted gram
Salt
Oil for frying
To temper:
2 teaspoons channa dal
1 teaspoon mustard
11/4 teaspoon chilli powder
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/4 teaspoon asafoetida
10-12 curry leaves
2 teaspoons oil
Method:
1.Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a frying pan.Once hot,keep the flame low and fry 2 tablespoons sago.It will pop up like tiny balls and will be very light once fried.Repeat the same for 1 1/4 cup sago,drain in a kitchen towel.
2.To the same frying pan add another 3-4 tablespoons oil and fry the beaten rice.Add it to the fried sago.
3.Fry cashews and peanuts and add to the sago mixture.
4.Drain the oil and just saute the roasted gram in the same pan.Add it to the fried ingredients.
5.Add salt and mix very well.
6.Heat 2 teaspoons oil in the same frying pan and do the tempering. Add the tempering to the fried ingredients and mix very well.
7.Cool thoroughly and store airtight.
Notes:
1.To ensure even mixing of salt,close the vessel with a lid after adding salt and shake it well.This ensures even mixing rather than mixing with a spoon.
2.Shake the box well before serving.
3.You can add fried green chillies and raisins to this mixture if you like.