Moonger Daler Khichuri (One Pot dish with rice, lentils and vegetables)

I love cooking complex dishes at home but comfort food is my specialty. You see, you cannot eat those heavy butter dipped curries or biryani’s everyday, sooner or later you will get bored and feel like eating something which is healthy and light. It’s always good to know some of these easy to cook, one pot recipes which you can rely on. If you have a pressure cooker perfect! Because this porridge like dish gets cooked in just 3 whistles in a pressure cooker. Don’t have a cooker? No worries, plan this one pot dish a little early and it will be ready in time for dinner.

Today’s recipe is Khichuri which is prepared with rice, lentils and vegetables. Its aroma comes from a variety of whole spices which are used in its preparation like cloves, cardamoms and bay leaves but I think it’s the addition of ghee (clarified butter) which makes this simple dish taste so good and comforting.

Usually the ideal time to eat Khichuri is when its raining outside or its freezing cold but I usually go for Khichuri when I am tired or lazy. Needless to say, the whole process of preparing this yummy meal is so easy and quick that once you prepare it, it will be in your cookbook forever. 

Khichuri is definitely a go-to meal for the babies and the elderly because it is rich in nutrients and easy on the tummies. This is a very good meal during colds and fevers as well because the warm ginger with the lentils immediately makes you feel better. When I was working in Delhi, I survived mainly on Khichuri for the first couple of months. I used to eat my lunch in the cafeteria and after a while I started feeling bored. Of course any ready made food has excess oil as well so I started cooking Khichuri at home and soon it became my comfort food. Another good thing with this meal is, since this already has vegetables in it, you can enjoy it with just a good quality pickle (chili or mango) or papad. 

I like cooking Khichuri during our religious praying days (Durga Pooja or Lakshmi Pooja) as well and after offering fruits to the goddess I serve the hot Khichuri with the Panch Bhajas (fried vegetables), Chochchori and Payesh. It’s amazing how a simple dish can taste so ecstatic with some delicious side dishes.

So, let’s check the list of the ingredients and prepare this yummy one pot meal tonight.

“Food for the body is not enough. There must be food for the soul”.

Photo taken during Durga Pooja, features: Khichuri, Panch Bhaja (Alu, Kopi, Begun, Kumro and Saag), Chochchori with fruits and sweets.

Ingredients:

• Potatoes – 1 medium, cut in big pieces, washed and patted dry
• Cauliflower – half,  cut into medium florets
• Peas – about 1/3 cup (I use frozen peas)
• Rice – ½ cup, keep it soaked in water till you are ready to cook
• Yellow Moong dal – ½ cup
• Turmeric powder – ¼ teaspoon + ½ teaspoon
• Salt – ¼ teaspoon + ½ teaspoon
• Oil – 2 tablespoons + 1 tablespoon
• Ghee (Clarified Butter) – 1 tablespoon
• Green Cardamom – 2
• Cloves – 4
• Cinnamon – 1 small stick
• Bay leaf – 2
• Dry Red Chili – 2
• Cumin seeds – ½ teaspoon
• Ginger – 1 tablespoon, minced
• Cumin Powder – ½ teaspoon
• Red Chili Powder – ½ teaspoon or Green Chilies – 2 (slit in half lengthwise)
• Sugar – ½ teaspoon
• Garam Masala – ¼ teaspoon

Let’s do a little prep:

• Heat the wok/ pressure cooker on medium high heat.
• Add the dry moong dal in it and dry roast it.
• Keep roasting the dal till the color changes to reddish yellow.
• Transfer to a bowl and add a cup of water in it.
• Coat the Potatoes and the Cauliflowers with about ¼ teaspoon each of Turmeric powder and Salt
• Add 1 tablespoon of Oil in the wok/ pressure cooker and fry the potatoes till they are golden red in color. Remove from the wok and set aside.

• Add another tablespoon of oil (if required) and fry the Cauliflower florets till they are golden red in color. 
• Add the Peas in it and sauté them. After a minute remove everything from the wok and set them aside with the potatoes.
• Clean the wok/ cooker a bit using a paper towel and do this carefully.

Directions to prepare the Khichuri:

• Now add 1 tablespoon each of Oil and Ghee in the wok and heat it over medium high heat.
• Tamper the oil with the whole spices (Green Cardamoms, Cloves, Cinnamon, Bay leaf, Dry Red Chili and Cumin seeds).
• When the spices start sputtering, add the Ginger, Cumin Powder and Red Chili Powder or Green Chilies.
• Mix all the spices together and add the roasted moong dal in the wok.
• Turn down the heat to medium and mix everything well.
• Now let’s add the rice and the vegetables along with about 4-5 cups of hot water and about ½ teaspoon of Salt.
• Add about ½ teaspoon Turmeric powder and turn down the heat to medium low. Add the Sugar and Garam Masala and mix well.
• If you are cooking in a cooker, cover it with the lid and attach the rubber and the whistle. If cooking in a wok cover it with a lid.
• When the cooker whistles for 3-4 times, turn off the heat and let it cool down. If you are cooking in a wok, it will take up to 40-45 minutes on simmer to get everything cooked properly. Keep checking occasionally for water and stir. 
• When its ready, check the consistency, Khichuri should neither be too thick nor too runny. Adjust the Salt and serve hot with Panch Bhaja, pickles or papad.

Tips:

• I always keep all the spices measured and ready in a small bowl so that I don’t forget any spices while tampering the oil. This also prevents any burning.
• Use butter if you don’t have Ghee.
• Moong dal takes longer to cook than the rice or vegetables so if you are cooking in a wok make sure you are giving the dal enough time to cook properly.
• Adding hot water to the Khichuri will ensure that the temperature does not drops down. This will save the cooking time.
• When the Khichuri is getting ready, use the time to set the table or prepare some sides. Papad is a quick option, I usually get a packet of Lijjat Papad from the Indian store. To prepare the papad in the microwave just take a plate and set a papad on it. Microwave for a minute and it’s ready.
• Make it more delish by adding a dollop of Ghee on it.
• If the Khichuri turns out too thick, add some hot water in it and mix well. Don’t forget to adjust the salt.

Recommended Reading:

• Chochchori (Bengali style mixed vegetables)
• Garam Masala
• Top 10 Spices to keep in your kitchen
• Make Cumin Powder at Home
• Panch Bhaja (Crispy Deep Fried Vegetables)
• Matar Pulao (Yellow Rice with Peas)
• Make Homemade Ghee from Spoiled Cream
• Moong Dal ka Halwa (Indian Yellow Lentils Dessert)
• Matar Mushroom (Peas and Mushroom in a creamy gravy)
• Goat Stew with White Wine
• Panch Mesali (Bengali recipe: Mixed Vegetables)