Khichri
This is a south Asian specialty of rice and lentils served with an assortment of accompaniments.
- Season: Year round
- Course: Main
- Complexity: Easy
- Prep time: 10 min
- Cooking time: 35-40 min
- Category: Veg
- Serves: 4-6
Ingredients
1/2 cup red Lentils
1 cup moong lentils
1/2 cup chickpea lentils
1 cup long Basmati rice
2 bay leaf
1-inch cinnamon stick
1 tbsp fresh cumin seeds
1 cup of vegetable oil
1 cup sliced white onion
1 cup of sliced tomatoes
4 tbsp of garlic and ginger paste
1 tbsp turmeric
1 tbsp cumin powder
1 tbsp coriander powder
1 tbsp chilli powder
4/6 green chillies
Ingredients
To temper:
1/2 cup sliced onions
Four dry red chilli
1/2 tbsp fresh cumin seeds
4 tbsp of ghee
1/3 cup of oil
To garnish:
1 tbsp roasted cumin seeds
1 tbsp garam masala
1 tbsp of ghee
Method
Steps:
- Roast lentils and rice at 180 degrees for 5 minutes. Then wash and strain.
- Heat oil and ghee in the pot, then add bay leaf, cinnamon and fresh cumin seeds. Fry for a minute.
- Add onion and sauté until golden brown for about 3 minutes on a medium to high heat.
- Tip the garlic and ginger paste and fry.
- Dilute all the powdered spices with 50 ml of water and pour on the onion mixture and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the oil separates from it.
- Add sliced tomatoes and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes, then add all the rice and pulses and cook for a couple of minutes. Stir to combine everything well.
- Pour over 8 cups of hot water and bring it to a boil, then simmer for 20 to 25 minutes until the rice and pulses soften and thicken.
- Add green chilli, turn off the heat and pop the lid onto the pan.
For tempering and garnish:
◦ Heat the frying pan with oil and ghee, add red chilli and fresh cumin seeds and fry for 30 seconds, then add onions and fry until golden brown.
◦ Pour the tempering mixture (straight from the pan, whilst still hot) over the khichuri and mix it well.
◦ Finally, garnish with roasted cumin and garam masala on top and a tablespoon of ghee. Then close the lid and finish cooking for a few more minutes.