Khichdi Unchained

A simple mung bean and rice prep is given to kids and adults in India when they are recovering from an illness. It is kept simple to make it easy to digest as your digestive system recovers from an onslaught of viral or bacterial attack.

I have taken this very popular and simple recipe and transformed into a dish that you can have for any meal – “Khichdi Unchained.”

To prepare, take half cup of brown rice and one and half cups of yellow mung beans. Wash and place it in a pressure cooker with eight cups of water, pinch of salt, a teaspoon of turmeric powder, and a pinch of chili powder and steam it on medium heat. Stop after the pressure cooker has emitted two whistles. Let the cooker cool down and the steam escape naturally.

Meanwhile, dice a medium sized onion, one large tomato, one green chili  and 4-5 garlic cloves chopped coarsely. 

Take a saucepan and add a tablespoon of olive oil. When warm, add a quarter cup of shelled unsalted pistachios. Saute and remove them as soon as they start changing colors. Keep aside on a paper towel so that the excess oil is absorbed.

In the same pan, add a tablespoon of butter. When warm, add garlic cloves. When they turn light brown, add chopped onion and green chili. Saute until it becomes translucent. Add a teaspoon of cumin seeds and fennel seeds followed by diced tomatoes. Next add the steamed rice-lentil mix. Mix it thoroughly. The consistency should be almost running fluid, like porridge. If needed, add some warm water until the desired consistency is reached. Remove from heat.

Spoon it into a serving dish. Garnish with chopped green coriander leaves and fried pistachios.

Enjoy with some Poppadoms or a bowl of yogurt or both.

In our home, we love it so much that we repeat this dish substituting brown rice with quinoa or amarnath or barley or any whole grain of your choice. And to make it even more wholesome, add steamed green vegetables like zucchini, any Indian gourds, beans etc. Try it and you will love it. An easy to make and huge on the taste dish for your next meal. Enjoy...