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Saqo
Saqo (ساقو): Gulf golden sago pudding with saffron, cardamom and rose water
Saqo is a sweet that Gulf grandmothers in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the Emirates make for Ramadan nights and family gatherings: tiny sago pearls cooked with saffron and cardamom until clear, glossy and suspended in a golden, wobbly syrup. It is eaten warm or cold from small bowls, often scattered with pistachios, and is gentle enough after a big iftar. The texture is soft and jelly-like with little pearls that pop. The typical mistake is under-cooking, which leaves white chalky centres in the pearls; cook until every pearl is fully see-through. Stir often, as sago sticks to the pan. Chef's tip: add the rose water off the heat at the very end, or its perfume cooks away.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 5 ½ oz sago pearls
- 1.2 litres water
- 5 ½ oz sugar
- 1 pinch saffron threadssoaked in 2 tbsp warm water
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1 tbsp rose water
- 1 oz pistachios (optional)chopped
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What you'll need
Spices & pantry
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Rinse 5 ½ oz sago pearls in a sieve under cold water for a few seconds.
Step 2: Bring 1.2 litres water to the boil in a pan, add the sago and stir well so the pearls don't clump.
5 minStep 3: Simmer over a medium-low heat, stirring often, until the pearls are almost all clear with just a tiny white dot in the centre, 12–15 minutes.
15 minStep 4: Add 5 ½ oz sugar, 1 pinch saffron threads with its water and 1 tsp ground cardamom and keep simmering until every pearl is completely transparent and the mixture is thick and golden, 5 minutes.
5 minStep 5: Take off the heat and stir in 1 tbsp rose water. It thickens more as it cools.
Step 6: Spoon into bowls, top with 1 oz pistachios and serve warm or chilled.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 220 kcal
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbs
- 54 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does saqo take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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