Palak , Dal Khichdi / Step by step Recipe

What do you do when you feel lazy to get in to the kitchen , or you just don't want to and feel like eating out , but I was held back as now I have no much options to eat out because its lent season
& so with half mind I made Khichdi , may call it a mish mash Rice Dish.
A complete one pot - healthy meal for the family.

Carbohydrates from Rice.
Proteins from Dal /Lentils
&
Fiber and other micro nutrients from Spinach/Palak.

Then you don't need to prepare side dishes and its all over within 45 minutes, enjoy with a dollop of curd and any pickle if you like.

Though its popular in all other parts of India ,We don't have it in Kerala ,  possible reason is that in kerala we use different brown rice(Matta Rice)  than the regular white rice , which is used for Khichdi.

Must tell you , its a very refreshing meal too...must try it if you haven't tried it.

Ingredients

White Rice - 1 cup (its better to use regular white rice than Basmathi rice)
Toor Dal - 1/4 cup
Red Gram dal - 1/2 cup
Spinach/Palak - 1/2 bunch chopped
Mint leaves - 1/4 cup chopped
Tomato - 1 small finely chopped
Green chili's - 2 no's slit
Ginger - 1 inch size piece crushed
Garlic - 2 no's crushed (Optional)
Onion - 1 medium chopped
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
Red chili Powder - 1 tsp (or according to your preference)
Hing/ Asafoetida - a pinch
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Cilantro / Coriander leaves - 1/2 cup chopped
Salt to taste
Oil - 3 to 4 Tb sp
Water - 4 cups ( and more , adjust according to your preference)

Method

* Wash and soak rice and dal in water for some time (10 to 15 minutes or more)
(soak these first before you start the other preparations)

May use any split dals/lentils which you like , I used 2 varieties , may use any of one variety dal too.

* Wash and chop the leaves.

Apple cider vinegar wash for my non Organic Spinach...

Read about it in many sites ,  its Anti Fungal , Anti Bacterial & Anti Viral ,
 A quick wash to enjoy pesticide and chemical free food.
For good results need to soak vegetables in water with a bit of vinegar for at least 10 minutes,
wash again  in normal water again and drain. 

* Heat oil in a pressure cooker , add the cumin seeds , wait till that cracking sound is heard.

* Add crushed ginger , Garlic , slit green chili's and chopped onion , saute till onion looks nice and brown.

* Add in the tomatoes and saute for a while , and then add the mint and chopped spinach leaves.

I must confess at least at this point that I added 2 Tb Sp Tomato sauce here as I didn't have any tomatoes ;)

*Saute till the water from the leaves are all dried (about 5 minutes) , then add in the powder's (turmeric powder and chili powder & Asafoetida / Hing)

 * Stir and add the soaked lentils/dal's & stir again.

* Add the soaked rice and stir again

* Add salt and the chopped cilantro/coriander leaves.

* Add water and close the lid.
I added 4 cups of water (for 1 cup rice and 3/4 cup dal  , its usually double the measurement of rice and dal taken)

* Cook till at least 3 whistles heard , keep the cooker in the same hot plate/coil (after switching off the heat) till the pressure leaves and then open the lid.
(If in a hurry , cook till 5 to 7 whistles heard in medium heat and then run cold water on to the cooker , so that the pressure get released soon)

Wanted it more loose , so I added more water and heated the same in low heat for sometime.
(Adjust the consistency according to your preference)

Garnish with more cilantro and serve hot.
May add a tsp of Ghee/ Clarified butter on top if you like....and then its

Delicious Vegetarian Meal !

Cheers
TN