RAINY DAY MUST HAVE :: BENGALI STYLE KHICHURI

Today it's pouring outside. For me, a perfect cold rainy day is a day with a plate of warm khichuri with cauliflower along with fried eggplant and papad. In Bengali culture, khichuri is a must-have food while it is raining. It reminds me of my childhood days when my mom used to cook khichuri the day like today.

Khichuri is made with rice and different types of lentils. is a delicious one-pot meal of rice, dal (lentil). Today I made dry pan roasted moong dal(yellow lentil) khichuri. This Bengali recipe is also used to make Khichuri during puja as bhog. This dish does not have any non-veg items. Instead, we generally add veggies like – cauliflower, green peas, potatoes, etc. I added cauliflower and green peas.

Prep Time :15 mins

Cook Time: 45 mins

Serving : 4

Ingredients::

1. 1 cup Gobindo Bhog rice OR Basmati rice

2. 1 cup moong dal (split yellow lentil)

3. 4 tablespoon Oil

4. 1 Bay leaf

5. 1 teaspoon Panchforon or Whole Cumin seeds

6. 1 Dry red Chili

7. 1 and half tablespoon grated Ginger

8. 1 teaspoon Cumin powder

9. 1 teaspoon Coriander powder

10. 1 teaspoon Turmeric powder

11. 1 teaspoon red Chili powder

12. 1 medium chopped Tomato

13. 5 slitted Green Chilis or as required

14. 2 cup Cauliflower

15. ½ cup Green Peas

16. 1/4 cup chopped Coconut fried(Optional)

17. 1/4 cup Raisins(Optional)

18. 1/4 cup dry roasted Peanuts (Optional)

19. 2 tablespoon Ghee

20. 1 tablespoon Sugar or as required

21. 2 teaspoon Salt or as required

22. 6 cups Water or as much needed

Methods::

• Rinse and soak the rice in water for 15 mins.

• In a pan dry roast, the moong dal till it turns light golden and a nice aroma comes out.

• Then wash the dal in water and keep aside.

• Fry the Cauliflower and keep it aside.

1. Take a pan and heat oil.

2. Add Panchforon(or Whole Cumin seeds), Bayleaf, and Dry red chili to temper the oil.

3. Then add the grated ginger and saute a little bit.

4. Next add turmeric, red chili powder, cumin powder, coriander powder.

5. Then add the tomatoes and green chilies and saute for 2-3 mins.

6. Add Green Peas to it and cook for few mins.

7. Add salt and sugar to it.

8. Then add washed Moong Dal and Rice to the pan and mix it well.

9. After that add 6 cups of water and stir it.

10. Cover the pan and cook it for 10 mins on medium heat.

11. Check the water and add more if it needs.

12. Remove the cover and Stir occasionally.

13. Add dry roasted peanuts, Fried Coconuts, and Raisins

14. Cook until the rice and dal is cooked and you get the desired consistency.

15. Add Ghee and mix it well.

16. Turn off the heat.

• Serve the warm khichuri with warm Fried Eggplants, Fried Papads, and Omelets.