Go Back
+ servings
Khichidi for the New Mom_PepperOnPizza.com
Print Recipe
4.50 from 2 votes

Khichidi -Rice and Lentils cooked for the New Mom

A traditional Indian recipe of Khichidi for the New mom. Nutritious and tasty.The addition of garlic, mustard and cumin seeds, pepper and plenty of ghee (clarified butter) to well cooked rice and easily digestible moong dhal lentils makes for a balanced meal or pathiya samayal as it is called in Tamil
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Indian
Servings: 1 person
Author: Sujata Shukla

Ingredients

For the Khichidi

  • ¾ cup raw rice
  • 2 tbsps tbsps moong dhal green gram lentils
  • ½ teaspoon rai mustard seeds
  • 1 stalk curry leaves
  • 1 cm Ginger piece
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 tablespoon tomato diced See introduction above
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon jeera cumin seeds
  • 2 tsps peppercorns fresh ground
  • salt to taste
  • 4 cups water

For the Garnish:

  • 1 tablespoon ghee
  • a few a few Cashew nuts
  • coriander leaves

Instructions

  • Clean and wash the rice and dhal. Soak together in water just enough to cover them, and set aside till required. Drain before use.
  • Mince ginger, garlic and curry leaves and the coriander leaves (to be used for the garnish) and set aside. Dice the tomatoes.
  • Wash and peel (if required) and dice the vegetable of the day, into small pieces. Carrots, methi (fenugreek leaves), spinach leaves, or a plain gourd such as snake gourd or chow chow (marrow gourd) would be best.
  • Powder the peppercorns and cumin seeds together ( I pound them in a small iron mortar)
  • Heat a pan or the pressure cooker, and add the ghee (I sauté everything right in the cooker itself and then add the rice and dhal).
  • Add rai (mustard seeds) and let them sputter. Add the curry leaves (they will crackle and sputter, if fresh) and then the ginger and the garlic. Sauté for 5 seconds.
  • Meanwhile, drain the rice and dhal mixture.
  • Add the tomato and then the turmeric. Stir and sauté for 10 seconds.
  • Add the sliced vegetables. Stir. Add the powdered pepper and cumin. Stir.
  • If sautéing in a pan, set the pressure cooker on the stove, warm it and transfer the sautéed items into it.
  • Add the drained rice and dhal, stir the mixture. Add salt and crushed peppercorns.
  • Pour 4 to 5 times the volume of water as the total volume of rice and dhal. This is your secret ingredient!
  • Close the cooker and let it cook for 4 whistles.
  • Don't open the cooker till its ready to be opened, as the cooking process will continue.
  • Meanwhile, break the cashew into pieces, and fry in ghee for a few seconds till the colour begins to darken. Drain and remove quickly from the pan before the cashew begins to burn and set aside.
  • Keep the ghee you used for frying the cashew, ready for use.
  • Once the cooker is opened, stir the khichidi briskly, transfer to a serving dish and pour the hot ghee over it. Add the fried cashew and garnish with the minced coriander leaves.
  • Serve hot with roasted or microwaved pappad.