First things first, what is khichuri? Khichuri, my dear friends, is the ultimate one-bowl meal. Made of rice, lentils and vegetables (optional), it is comfort, health, warmth and nostalgia in a bowl. You will find variations of this super healthy food as you cross over India.
In West Bengal, khichuri is often the first dish anyone learns to cook. A step I seemed to have missed completely. This was evident when Maa was out of town and Baba and I wanted to eat khichuri. And neither of us was sure how to make it. Horrors!
This ‘shameful’ situation was relayed to maa over the phone and she guided Baba in the khichuri-making process. Day saved. We had a yummy lunch of piping hot khichuri topped with ghee and a side of roasted fish. Khichuri can also be served with vegetable fritters, roast meat or fish, curries or omelettes. It is a staple during holy ceremonies as offerings to deities and preferred for community meals that follow the ceremony.
Yours truly made the decision to learn this super healthy food as guided by maa and pishi4. For the parents, khichuri making was more a trip down memory lane.
Khichuri was a must on poush sankranti which would be celebrated with picnics and visits to funfairs. “We would head to a farm of a clearing in the forest along with utensils and ingredients to make lunch. Everyone would pitch in and a huge batch of khichuri would be cooked as picnic lunch. The next day, all of us friends would troop in to the funfair for a fun-filled day,” baba reminisced.
A kedgeree made of rice, lentils and vegetables (optional), it is comfort, health, warmth and nostalgia in a bowl.
- 1 cup Yellow moong dal
- 1 cup Rice
- 4 cups Water
- ½ cup Potato (cubed)
- ½ cups Cauliflower florets
- ½ cup Carrots (cubed)
- ½ cup Green peas
- ½ cup Tomato (chopped)
- 2 Green chilli (slit lengthwise)
- ½ teaspoon Grated ginger
- 3 tablespoons Mustard oil
- ½ teaspoon Cumin
- 2 Dried red chilli
- 3 Bay leaves
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoom Sugar
- Salt (to taste)
Place the vessel on low flame and allow it to heat well. Lightly roast the lentil until they give out a mild fragrance and are light brown in colour. You need to keep a close eye on the lentil or they will be toasted instead of mildly roasted!
Remove from the vessel, allow to cool, wash and set aside. Wash the rice and set aside.
- In the same vessel, heat the mustard oil, sauté the potatoes, carrots and cauliflower and keep aside.
Add the cumin, bay leaves, dried red chilli and sauté till they crackle. Pour in the water and quickly cover to trap the fragrance.
- Once the water comes to a boil, add the rice and lentils, mix well.
Allow it to come to a boil again and then add all the vegetables and seasoning.
Cook till the rice, lentils and vegetables are cooked well. Sprinkle some sugar, mix and the khichuri is ready to be served.
Photos: Vaibhav Tanna
