VEGETABLE KHICHDI & GUJARATI KADHI

I have a happy announcement!!! My recipe Paneer-raw banana kababs has won third place in Tarla Dalal's recipe contest!!!
Here is the link announcing my winning entry!!! You can see the Contest archive  here too.

This Khichdi originates from Gujarat... it is called Ram Khichdi there in Gujarat....this is definitely a comfort food, one-pot meal, and its life long companion is Gujarati kadhi. This is such a healthy Khichdi, with 2 kinds of dhal along with basmati rice, loads of vegetables, different kinds of spices to accentuate the aroma, and ginger and black pepper to perk up the flavour....and what more you want??? And.,...and...this is a no onion-garlic dish too!!

Ingredients

Basmati rice - 1/2 cup

Split moong dhal - 1/8 cup

masoor dhal - 1/8 cup

Water - 3 cups

A handful of the following vegetables, chopped:

Fresh peas

Carrot

French beans

Yellow pumpkin

Brinjal/egg plant

Potato

Cooking oil & Ghee - 5 tbsps

Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp

Coarsely pulsed Jeera and Black pepper - 1 tsp, each

Bay leaf - 1

Cardamoms - 3

Cloves - 2

Cinnamon - 3-4 small pieces

Slit green chillies - 3

Ginger - a small piece, finely chopped

Salt to taste

Recipe Cuisine: North Indian; Category: Lunch / Dinner; 

Recipe Source: Tarla Dalal, but modified

Prep time: 20 mts; Cooking time: 20 mts

Serves 2

Rice and dhal soaked for 1 hour, and the veggies neatly arrayed

Look how many spices have gone in to make this Khichdi a tasty one!!!

Heat a pressure pan with above mentioned oil and ghee(Don't be miserly to use  this quantity of oil and ghee.  You certainly need this to give that texture to Khichdi). first add turmeric powder, then cardamoms, cloves, bay leaf and cinnamon pieces, now comes the time to add the chopped ginger, curry leaves, pepper and jeera. Saute well.

Now add all the vegetables, then the soaked rice and dhals, then add salt and the measured hot water.

I cover the pressure cooker vent like this, keep the flames on the lowest and cooked for 15 minute, the picture on the right side of the pressure pan shows how the khichdi looked after 5 minutes, then the below 2 are , how it looked after 15 minutes.. Close the lid, after mixing it well, and allow to rest for 5 minutes.

Serve hot, garma-garam with Gujarati Kadhi (recipe to follow)

This post first appeared in www.malpatskitchen.com

 Notes

*Split moong can be replaced by tur dhal also, but moong and masoor have similar cooking time, tur takes little bit more time.

*This Khichdi has an unique taste of the Ven Pongal and  Vegetable pulao, blended into one. Hence, this can be given the name "Fusion dish".

Will you promise to try out this recipe.....and don't forget to look into my glossary for any unknown terms

Categories: Inseparable Combos, Khichdi varieties, No Onion-no garlic, Pressure cooker recipes, Rice Varieties