Dal Khichdi is one of the most comforting recipes there is. It's easy and so light on your belly! Also, not to forget that it's absolutely yummy and delicious!
Dal Khichdi
Hello, people! Welcome to Twins Ki Rasoi. So today it's all about my love for Khichdi. Dal Khichdi is one of those comforting and lazy recipes that I make when I am too tired to cook or have an early morning meeting the next day and this is all I make for dinner! Yeah... I love to have cold Khichdi for dinner... Kinda weird... I know but I love it. I make it in the day and keep some leftovers which I love to enjoy for dinner.
Dal Khichdi is that comfort food for me which calms me down and relaxes me after a busy and tiring day.
The story of Dal Khichdi
Lentils and Rice cooked together along with other veggies, spices, sugar, and salt and cooked in a pot until its all mixed and releases its own flavors in a pot! All of this combines to make your favorite Khichdi.
There are so many varieties of Khichdi. While in Maharashtra it's kinda spicy with some coconut flavors. The same thing becomes different in Northern India, specifically in Lucknow, where you make Awadhi style Khichdi, which is more fragrant of the whole spices. Go to the west of India in Gujarat and Khichdi is mildly sweet there and served with Gujarati Kadhi. Similarly, in Eastern parts of India, it's made with Potatoes and other seasonal vegetables and is much sweeter compared to other versions.
It is said that during earlier times, when people used to travel, Khichdi was their go-to meal. They used to put Rice and Dal in a pot along with all the other veggies they could get in hand and mix everything to make a wholesome meal for everyone... From there began the story of Khichdi...
In India, Khichdi is also traditionally made during festivals or specifically during Navratri, the 9 days celebration of Goddess Durga in her various forms... People fast all day long and then they serve this Khichdi along with other curries to the deity and later on this is served as prasad to everyone in the house...
The use of Dal
Khichdi is essentially rice and dal mixed together. Now you might ask which Dal goes best with Khichdi. To be honest, all Dal Khichdi has its own authentic and unique flavors. For example, the Moong Dal Khichdi is the most commonly make Dal Khichdi, while the one made with Toor Dal is quite thick. Also, Khichdi with Massor dal is filled with proteins and is extremely healthy.
Today, I'll teach you how to make Dal Khichdi with all 3 types of Dal. I am using Moong Dal, Masoor Dal, and Toor Dal for making my Khichdi. These are easily available in Indian Markets and make for the best Dal Khichdi.
How to make Dal Khichdi
So coming to my recipe, it's so easy you guys...
You start by washing some Basmati Gol Dana rice in water and strain the water. Now keep it aside. This will soften your rice and it'll cook quickly.
Now, you do the same thing with all the 3 dals - Moong Dal, Masoor Dal, and Toor Dal. Wash and rinse it and keep aside.
Now, in a pressure cooker, heat some oil and add chopped onions, garlic, grated ginger, and chopped Tomatoes; along with spices - Turmeric Powder, Chili Powder, Cumin Powder, Coriander powder. Mix everything well until combined and add the soaked Rice and Dals and mix well.
Now add 4 cups of boiling water to this and pressure cook until it's just about to whistle. Do not wait for the whistle or else, the Dal will overflow and you'll end up making a mess. Just when it's whizzing, turn off the flame and let it sit for some time until the steam releases.
Meanwhile make fry some Peanuts in vegetable oil and keep aside. For the Tadka, add 2 tbsp of ghee in the leftover oil from frying the Peanuts and add the dried Red Chilis, the whole spices, some cumin seeds (jeera), and a pinch of Asafoetida (hing). Once it beings to sizzle take it off the flame.
Serve your Khichdi in a pot and add the tadka over it along with the fried Peanuts. Serve with some Aachar, Papad, and Yogurt.
So, that was all about Dal Khichdi. I hope you like this recipe and make this at home. If you make this recipe then tag me on Instagram with #twinskirasoi. Also, provide a rating to this recipe and comment on your suggestions and opinions below.
Comforting Masala Dal Khichdi
Equipment
- pressure cooker
Ingredients
- 1 cup Basmati Gol Dana Rice
- ½ Cup Moong Dal
- ¼ Cup Masoor Dal
- ½ Cup Toor Dal
- 2 Tbsp Refined Oil
- 1 tsp Shahi Jeera
- 1 cup Onions chopped
- 5-6 cloves Garlic chopped
- ½ inch ginger grated
- 3 medium sized Tomatoes chopped
- 1 Tsp Salt adjust as per taste
- 1 Tsp Turmeric Powder
- 1 Tbsp Red Chili Powder
- 1 Tsp Cumin Powder
- 1 Tsp Coriander Powder
- 2 Tbsp Desiccated Coconuts
- 1 Tsp Sugar
- 4 cups Boiling Water
Tadka
- 2 Tbsp Refined Oil
- ½ Cup Peanuts
- 2 Tbsp Ghee
- 4 pieces dried red chilis
- ½ Tsp Shahi Jeera
- 1 pinch Asafoetida (Hing)
- 1 handful Whole Spices (½ Stick Cinnamon, 2 broken Green Cardamoms and 3-4 cloves)
- 1 spring Coriander Freshly chopped
Instructions
- First, wash the rice and rinse it and keep aside. Do the same with all the three Dals. Wash it with running water and rinse it and keep aside.
- Heat 2 tbsp oil in a Pressure cooker and add some Shahi Jeera along with the chopped onions and garlic. Once it begins to sizzle, add the grated ginger and chopped tomatoes.Once the tomatoes are cooked, add the spices - salt, turmeric powder, red chili powder, cumin powder, and coriander powder. Mix everything well until combined. Add 2 tbsp of Desiccated coconuts and mix well.Add 1 tsp of sugar and mix well.
- Now, mix in the soaked rice and dal to this spice mix and mix well.
- Add about 4 cups of boiling water to this and pressure cook for 10 minutes or until it's just about to whistle. Don't wait for the whistle.
- First, fry some Peanuts and keep aside.In the same oil add some ghee and add some dried red chillies, some cumin, some hing and some whole spices and once it sizzles, take it off the flame.
- Serve the Khichdi in a bowl, top with the Tadka and peanuts. Garnish with some freshly chopped coriander leaves.Serve with some Papad, Aachar, and Yogurt. Enjoy!