Khichdi
Updated Aug. 17, 2020
- Total Time
- 30 minutes
- Rating
- Comments
- Read comments
Advertisement
Ingredients
- ⅔cup long-grain white rice, such as jasmine
- ⅓cup yellow split moong beans
- 2tablespoons ghee
- ½teaspoon mustard seeds
- 1small cinnamon stick
- 2green cardamom pods
- 2whole cloves
- 1sprig curry leaves (optional)
- ¼teaspoon red chile powder
- ¼teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)
121 calories; 7 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 2 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 12 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 1 gram sugars; 4 grams protein; 150 milligrams sodium
Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Powered by
Preparation
- Step 1
Combine the rice and moong and rinse several times, until the water that drains away runs almost totally clear. Add to a heavy-bottomed pot with 1¾ cups water and set over medium-high heat.
- Step 2
In another small saucepan, heat the ghee and mustard seeds. When the seeds start to pop, lower the heat and add the remaining ingredients, swirling them in the pan. Let the spices sizzle for under a minute, then carefully pour into the rice pot, along with the ghee. (Watch out: The fat may splatter).
- Step 3
When the water comes up to a rolling boil, give it a good stir, scraping at the bottom of the pot, then cover tightly and turn the heat down to low. Cook for 15 minutes, then turn off the heat and let the rice rest for 10 minutes before opening the lid. Fluff gently with a spatula. Taste, season with salt to taste and serve.
Private Notes
Comments
Yellow mung dal and yellow split peas are NOT the same thing. Yellow split peas will require much longer cooking times than the mung dal. Yellow split peas are found everywhere; mung dal not so much but Amazon is my go to place for it. Also known as kitchari, it's the go to meal...the soupier the better...for ailments of any kind but especially tummy/digestive system. Kitchari is the Ayurvedic version of chicken soup by the way!
Grew up eating this - sort my family's gujarati version of chicken soup - we make it in a pressure cooker to give a very porridge like quality. We always use black mustard seeds and lately - been adding some fresh grated ginger root. Put on full heat - when the pressure valve releases once - turn down to medium heat and then let the pressure set off twice more. Then I turn it off and let the pressure release naturally. In instantpot set for 7 minutes on manual. natural release -perfect.
Moong beans are not in fact lentils; they are from a different genus. However, in Indian cooking, dried and split beans, peas, and lentils are all referred to as “dal,” and are used in similar ways. Sometimes the English word “lentil(s)” is used as a catch-all synonym for dal of all sorts, probably because the more correct word, pulse, is not widely known.
the photos are absolutely wrong - what i see is separate grains. Khichdi is an Indian "Porridge". period. Rice and split green moong (mung) or yellow mung or what is served in most Mumbai restaurants - with tur/arhar dal - split pigeon pea - when cooked together with a lot of water so the grains and the dal are inseparable and become like 'porridge' - this is khichdi. Tejal Rao's recipe is as authentic as it comes. I am running out of space here. will try add another comment. the recipe...
my recipe: wash and cook the rice and dal together in more water than would be needed for rice and dal cooked separately. about 2 times more. do add turmeric powder if using yellow dals. not needed for green split mung. if using a pressure cooker, it is simple, let cook for 3 or 4 whistles, and let cool. when opened, the mass inside should show no signs of separate grains, one has to mash it all together anyways. Add salt now. not before. Heat clarified butter (ghee) and add cumin seed >>
>> asafoetida, a small pinch after the ghee is hot, add optionals - garam masala, red chilli powder. i have seen khichidi cooked first stage with a piece of cinnamon, it does not hurt. there is no granish needed, no cilantro (green dhania) etc. this is soul food for anyone ill, having issues with digestion etc.