Recipe- Incredibly Tasty Masala Khichdi

Khichdi or khichri is an Indian one pot lentil and rice dish that’s vegetarian, easy to digest and wholesome. Done right, it can be incredibly tasty and may become your favourite comfort food. This version can be made in a traditional pressure cooker or an Instant Pot.

When I was thinking about the first recipe I want to share when I get back to the blog after a long two month stint, I couldn’t think of anything else except khichdi. It’s the first thing I made when I got back to my own kitchen. It’s what we’ve eaten the last two days for three meals straight. And it’s what comforts my soul best.

It also reminds me of how I would demand that my grandma make me khichdi every time we were having lunch at her place. Those were simpler days.

Health Benefits of Rice

- Great Source of Energy
- High Nutritional Value
- Controls Disease's Occurrence
- Cancer Protection
- Controls Blood Pressure
- Prevents Constipation
- Gluten-free Food

Ingredients

1/2 cup Small grain Rice
1/4 cup Arhar Dal Toor dal/ Split Pigeon Peas
1/4 cup Dhuli Moong Dal skinless Petite Yellow Lentils
2 tablespoons Ghee
1 teaspoon Cumin Seeds
6-8 Whole Peppercorns
2 Bayleaves
4-5 Cloves
2 Cardamoms whole
1 teaspoon Ginger grated
1 Green Chilli / Serrano Chilli split lengthwise
6-8 Cauliflower Florets
1 Potato quartered
1 Carrot peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces (large )
8-10 French Beans cut into 1 inch pieces
1/2 cup Green Peas frozen or fresh
1 teaspoon Turmeric
1/2 teaspoon Red Chilli Powder / Paprika Powder
1.5 teaspoons Salt
5 cups Water

Method

* Wash the rice and both the dals (lentils) well, and soak them in enough water to cover them for at least 30 minutes or up to two hours.

* This helps them cook faster.

* Heat ghee in the pressure cooker and add cumin seeds, peppercorns, bayleaves, cloves, cardamoms, ginger and green chilli.

* Saute for two minutes on medium flame.

* Drain all the water from the rice and lentils and add them to the cooker.

* Dry roast them for 4-5 minutes, till you can smell a nutty aroma.

* Don't worry if some of the rice and lentils stick to the bottom of the pan, but be careful not to burn them.

* Add all the veggies, turmeric, chilli powder, salt and water to the cooker and pressure cook for 6-7 whistles.
* Let the pressure release naturally.

* Once all the pressure has released, open the pressure cooker and mix well.

* After mixing, the rice and dal should have broken down and should look slightly creamy.

* Check for salt, and serve hot with ghee, fried potatoes, tomato chutney or just yogurt.