Sabudana khichdi, a typical Maharashtrian snack made by Puneites almost every week and definitely on fasting days because of its nutritional value, fulfils all these needs – it is fast to cook, appetizing and simplistic, not to mention, affordable to ever body.

Now the question remains: where could you get the best bite? Here is a guide to where you can get that tummy full of a palatable plate of sabudana khichdi.

Yogita Veg

Right in front of Kamla Nehru Park, Yogita Veg is a low-profile place where you can always count on a delightful platter of sago. The manager, Ashok Khandagle, is courteous/daring enough to take me to the partly open kitchen in the back and let me have a chat with the cook, Laxman Lokhande who has been serving the dish for the past six years. "People come at any time of the day to have it. We usually serve it with sweet curd or chutney because that is how they like it", he beams while tossing the soaked sago. "It has the simplest ingredients", he says as he enumerates them, "soak the sabudana for an hour, and flip them. In a tablespoon of oil, put jeera, chopped potatoes - not more than half or one at most - and a whole chilly or two, if u want to make it pungent. Use sugar and salt as per taste. Do not forget the grated coconut. It gives that mild flavor", he says, as he wraps up the recipe in expedited flourish. But he is right about one thing. The grated coconut does give it that mild flavor one is bound to savor.

Janseva Dugdhalaya

In the heart of the city on Laxmi road, Janseva Dugdhalaya is almost bound to go unnoticed amongst the overcrowded shops in the area. It has been amongst the Puneites for generations. There quick service adds another feather to their reputation. Khichadi is served here with khamang-kakdi, an accomplishment made of cucumber and coarsely grinded groundnuts. Shoppers on laxmi road love to stop by to savour this quick and all time snacks here. "I've been coming here for so many years, that I don't even remember, when I visited this place for the first time. My favourite is definitely sabudana khichadi and a glass of buttermilk," says Shrirang Paripatyadar, executive producer of several Marathi films.

Sago – the street side dish

If you try any random kiosk, pushcart or stall around Kamla Nehru Park that serves sabudana khichdi, it would be as gratifying as anywhere you could try. For a measly eight bucks, they dish you out this wholesome snack on a small size colourful plastic plate. "In a day about 15 kg of sabudana is consumed. We get customers in the mornings the most. They prefer it for breakfast", says the cook, Savitri, who owns one of the kiosks there. Guardedly and decisively refusing to let her recipe out.

Bipin Snacks

This overcrowded joint squashed up in a consecution of eating joints facing Railway Booking on Karve Road, near Bank of Baroda, has been drawing patrons more than any other in the file. Reason? "We use the highest quality sago for the khichdi. It is called Double Dolphin and is consigned from market yard. Another specialty that we have is the groundnut we use. It is oven-fried and adds immensely to the taste", says Madhusudan 'Mama' Lohokare, the owner of Bipin Snacks. What make it all the flavorsome are the sliced potato chips, made in the joint and sprinkled on the khichdi, which costs eight bucks. On Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, however, khichdi takes on a new attribute with kakdi-khichdi, that is, khichdi served with curd and cucumber at Rs 14. The curd, like every other accompaniment Mama serves, is self-made, and the rush that there is for his serve speaks implicitly about its twang. "I come here often with my friends as the khichdi here doesn't have that dryness found at other places. The best I like about khichdi at Bipin is the lemony taste", says Vicky Sedani, a Symbiosis student who stays on F C Road. "If I don't have it here, I go to Maushi", he says; Maushi, being the pushcart that stands between 8.30 in the morning and 4.00 in the evening in a lane off Bhandarkar Road.

Niranjan

Opposite Motilal Ostwal building on F C Road, Niranjan serves raita-khichdi for Rs 15, but you only get it in the mornings between 7 am and 11 am. Augmented with sheng dana, the sabudana embellished with chillies is made for people observing upvaas. On special days like Sankranti, however, they serve it till noon. "Usually, people from the Jain community prefer only sabudana khichdi on their fasting days", says the staff of Niranjan.

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