Khichdi is one the healthiest and tasty one pot meal that you can make very easily.

Khichdi is made with rice and lentils and it’s cooked to a soft,semi solid consistency. It’s a very popular dish all over India. Every region has its own recipe of khichdi.

It is a nutritious and a comfort food specially for children and ailing persons. In fact, for babies the first solid food that would be introduced will be khichidi.

Few days back I had made khichdi with whole moong and rice. To make it more nutritious and complete, I had added vegetables too.

Khichdi was very delicious and my family enjoyed having khichdi with kadhi and papad:)

Ingredients

Whole moong( green gram) – 1 cup
Rice – 1/2 cup
Sliced onions – 1/2 cup
Chopped carrots – 1 cup
Chopped cauliflower – 1+1/2 cups
Ghee – 2 tbsps
Bay leaf – 1
Cinnamon – 1/4th inch
Cloves – 2-3
Cumin seeds – 1 tsp
Turmeric powder – 1/4th tsp
Red chilli powder – 1 tsp
Garam masala – 1/2 tsp
Hing( asafoetida/ perungayam) – 1/4th tsp
Salt to taste

Method

Wash and soak whole moong and rice together for 3-4 hours.

Heat ghee in a pressure cooker. Add cumin seeds. When it starts spluttering, add bay leaf, cinnamon and cloves. Sauté for few seconds and add the sliced onions.

Sauté till the onion turns pale. Add the chopped cauliflower , carrots, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, garam masala, hing. Mix well.

Drain the soaked moong and rice and add to the vegetables and mix well.

Add 4- 5 cups of water and salt to taste. Mix well and check for the seasonings. Once the water starts boiling, close the pressure cooker and cook for 5-6 whistles.

Switch off the gas and open the lid when the steam subsides. Mix well.

Serve the khichdi hot with kadhi/ raita and papad:)