Khichdi

Khichdi is quite popular among North Indians. It’s a dish similar to biryani, made using basmati rice. It’s a main course dish. Different types of vegetables and dals are added for the preparation to make it a healthy dish.

In Kerala, Kichadi (spells similar to Khichdi) is a traditional vegetarian side dish served with rice. Curd added side dishes are generally classified as Kichadi or Pachadi. There is a major difference between Kichadi and Pachadi. Sweet added raita dishes are generally classified as pachadi, while south Indian Kichadis don’t have sweet taste. That’s the major difference. Ripen mangoes, pine apple or beetroot are generally used for preparing pachadi, and cucumber and white gourd for kichadi. Bitter gourd can be used to prepare both these dishes. If needed, sugar or jaggery is added to give sweetness taste.  

Ingredients to prepare Khichdi:

1. Olive oil – 1 big spoon

2. Onion – 1 big spoon

    Ginger finely chopped – 1 big spoon

3. Garlic finely chopped – 1 big spoon

4. Green chillies – 1, sliced

5. Turmeric powder – 1 pinch

    Pepper powder – ½ small spoon

6. Cumin powder – ½ big spoon

    Coriander powder – ½ big spoon

    Garam masala powder – ½ big spoon

    Asafoetida powder – A pinch

7. Basmati rice – ½ cup, soaked

8. Green gram daal soaked – 1 cup

9. Salt – As required

    Cauliflower pieces – ½ cup

    Green spinach – ½ cup

    Carrot – 1, finely chopped

How to prepare Khichdi?

1. Heat olive oil in a pan and sauté ginger and onions.

2. Add garlic and sauté again. Later add green chilly pieces and mix well.

3. Add pepper powder and turmeric powder, and sauté again.

4. To avoid sticking to bottom, sprinkle a little water.

5. Put to low flame, add ingredients no: 6 and mix again.

6. Add soaked rice and dal to it, add sufficient water and mix again.

7. Add ingredients no: 9, mix well and cook in low flame with lid closed.

8. If needed add extra water to cook your Khichdi.

Courtesy: Vanitha Magazine July 1-14, 2017

Khichdi – Recipe 2

Ingredients for Khichdi:

1. Basmati rice – ½ cup

   Green gram dal – ½ cup

   Carrot chopped fine – ½ cup

   Beans chopped fine – ½ cup

   Salt and water – As required

2. Ghee – 1 big spoon

3. Cumin seeds – ½ small spoon

How to prepare Khichdi?

1. Cook ingredients no: 1 using a pressure cooker.

2. Heat ghee in a pan and sauté cumin seeds.

3. Add this ghee to cooked Khichdi and mix well.

4. Serve hot.

Note: You can also serve chicken or vegetables as side dish.

Courtesy: Vanitha Magazine March 1-14, 2018

Please go through the gallery of different varieties of vegetarian side dishes. Click on the images in the gallery to choose a category