Kiran has provided this recipe for Khichdi, a popular rice dish from the Indian sub-continent.

It is a combination of lentils and vegetables cooked with rice in one pot to create a wholesome and delicious vegetarian dish. Khichdi is easy to cook and takes less than 30 minutes to get ready. You can easily cook it in a pressure cooker or a pan.

There are many types of khichdi prepared across India, in certain regions cooked like porridge like consistency whereas, in others like a pulao.

Serves 2-3 people

Ingredients

• 2 cups of basmati or long grain rice
• 4 tablespoons of cooking oil or ghee
• 1 chopped tomato
• 1 potato, cut into cubes
• 8 -10 green beans
• 1 medium size chopped onion
• 1/4 cup yellow (moong) or pink lentils
• 1/4 cup toor dal (pigeon peas) is optional
• 1 teaspoon of ginger garlic paste
• 1 teaspoon of red chilli powder
• 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
• 1 tablespoon jeera (cumin seeds)
• 1 green chilli
• Salt to taste
• 2 cloves
• 1 inch cinnamon stick

Instructions

To prepare the Khichdi, first wash, rinse and soak the lentils and the rice in separate bowls for 5-10 minutes.

In a pan heat the cooking oil or ghee over a medium flame. Add the cumin seeds, fry for 10 – 20 seconds. Add the cinnamon stick and the cloves. Next, add the chopped onion. Stir and sauté over a medium flame until the onion becomes soft and golden in colour. Add ginger garlic paste, turmeric powder, and red chilli powder, stir to combine and then add the green chilli (optional), chopped potato, and green beans along with chopped tomato with salt as required.

Drain water from the soaked lentils and rice. Add them to the pan, stir to combine and sauté for 2 minutes but don’t let them stick to the pan.

Add approximately 3 and a half cups of water to the pan, stir to combine and place a lid on the pan. Let the Khichdi cook over a high to medium flame for 15 to 20 minutes until the water is boiled and thickened, after that on a small flame for around 5-8 minutes and then turn off the heat. The Khichdi is ready!

Serve the Khichdi warm topped with ghee (optional) along with raita or natural yogurt.

Enjoy cooking and eating!