Khichdi is a traditional, healthy one pot Indian dish made with rice and lentils. In its simplest form, khichdi is just 5 ingredients plus water – rice, lentils, haldi (turmeric) salt, and ghee/butter. Khichdi is very filling and customizable. You can substitute the rice for quinoa or brown rice and add vegetables as well. We enjoy it with Gujrati kadhi, mango pickle, and papad, but you can certainly just eat it on its own as well. This instant pot method makes the perfect easy weekday dinner (takes less time than food delivery!)
Ingredients
For the temper
1 tsp rai (mustard seeds)
1 tsp jeera (cumin)
Pinch of ajwain
½ cinnamon stick
2 cloves
5 curry leaves
Pinch of hing
2 Thai chilis (to taste)
2 dried red chilis
1 bay leaf
2 tbs peanuts
2 tbs oil or butter
¼ cup each bell peppers, cauliflower, tomatoes, peas, or other fave veggies
2 tbs chopped cilantro (use the stems as well)
1 tsp red chili powder (to taste)
1 tsp ground haldi (turmeric)
1 tsp khichdi masala (or garam masala)
1 cup rice/quinoa
1 cup split moong dal (green or yellow work equally well)
4 cups water
Salt (to taste)
Method
1 Rinse the rice/quinoa and moong dal in warm water 2 times and let it soak in the 3rd water wash. Put aside
2 Heat oil/butter in your pot on the stovetop and add all temper ingredients and cook for about 1 min making sure nothing browns
3 Add cilantro and veggies and cook for 1 more minute
4 Drain quinoa and dal and add to the pot along with water, salt, red chili, haldi, and khichdi masala. Mix gently, taste and adjust spices to your liking
5 Prepare Instant Pot by placing 1 cup of water and trivet inside main pot.
6 Place the khichdi mixture on top of the trivet and cover with a steel dish
7 Close Instant Pot and cook on multigrain mode. Let cool naturally and enjoy!
Tags: Quick & Easy, Healthy, Instant Pot
