Sandige facts for kids
| Alternative names | Vadam |
|---|---|
| Course | Accompaniment, snack |
| Place of origin | India |
| Region or state | South India |
| Serving temperature | Hot or cold |
| Main ingredients | Rice, Sago, Wheat |
Sandige (pronounced sun-dih-gay) or vadagam is a yummy fried snack from India. It's very popular in the southern parts of India, like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. People often eat Sandige as a side dish with their main meals, or sometimes just as a tasty snack on its own.
Contents
How Sandige is Made
Making Sandige starts with a thick mixture called a gruel. This gruel is made from main ingredients like rice, sago, or wheat. To give it flavor, spices like asafoetida (a strong-smelling spice), chili paste, and salt are added.
Once the gruel is ready, it's carefully poured onto a large plastic sheet or a big piece of cloth. Then, it's left out in the sun to dry for a few days. The sun helps to remove all the moisture, making the Sandige hard and ready for storage.
Special Ways to Shape Sandige
Some types of Sandige, like aralu sandige and avalakki sandige, are made differently. For these, the main ingredients are mixed into the gruel. Then, the mixture is shaped into small balls before being sun-dried.
Other kinds, such as peni and avalakki sandige, are made using special tools. These tools are called chakli molds or extruders. They help to press the mixture into interesting shapes, like spirals or sticks, before drying.
Storing and Serving Sandige
After the Sandige is completely dry, it can be stored for a long time, sometimes even for a whole year! When it's time to eat, the dried Sandige is deep-fried in hot oil. It puffs up and becomes crispy and delicious, ready to be enjoyed.
Different Kinds of Sandige
There are many different types of Sandige, each made with unique main ingredients. Here are a few examples:
- Sabbakki sandige - Made from pearl sago, which are small, round grains.
- Aralu sandige - Made from popped rice and ash gourd, a type of vegetable.
- Akki peni sandige - Made using rice flour, which is ground rice.
- Avalakki sandige - Made from pounded rice, also known as flattened rice flakes.
- Godi peni sandige - Made from wheat, a common grain.
