My Quick-fix Bisi Bele Bhath

'KHICHDI' - thy have so many forms!!

Khichdi is basically a wholesome meal comprising of rice, lentils and vegetables. Served with pickle, yogurt, papad or best with a dollop of ghee/clarified butter, it is perhaps the most humblest of all meals.
It is widely prepared in almost all the states of India with its variation typical to each territory.
In West Bengal(My state :)!!) it is customary to cook 'Khichuri' on a rainy day and is a major part of the prasad on special Puja days like Durga puja and Saraswati puja. 'Bhog Khichuri' with aloo dum is absolutely heavenly and something we look forward to very eagerly!!
Khichdi in my birth state, Punjab, is supposed to be a very plain bland dish cooked only when you are ill. We as a family love our simple khichdi with fried potatoes and the very bengali 'Beguni'/fried brinjal and the dollop of ghee my mother adds.
In Karnataka, my study state, khichdi is devoured in a very famous avatar called 'Bisi Bele Bhath' or 'Hot Lentil Rice'. It is made with rice, toor/tuvar dal and veggies with tamarind paste and a special masala made by roasting and grinding a variety of spices.

My version of this famous Khichdi is a very simple, quick fix one. I have used leftover boiled rice and moong dal that was made for another type of khichdi. I sauteed the available veggies and mixed homemade tamarind chutney along with a tempering of mustard seeds and curry leaves. A delicious and simple makeover to leftover food.

Ingredients: For 2 servings

• 1/2  cup Rice
• 1/4 cup moong dal/toor dal/split pigeon peas
• 1/4 cup diced carrot
• 1/4 cup chopped french beans
• 1 medium size potato diced
• 1/4 cup peas, boiled
• 1 medium size onion chopped
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 8-10 curry leaves
• 2 tbsp tamarind paste/tamarind chutney
• salt to taste
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder

Procedure: 

Wash rice and moong dal/toor dal and cook in a pressure cooker with 3 cups water and salt and turmeric powder for 2-3 whistles. (I used leftover khichdi from previous day)

Heat 2 tbsp oil in a kadhai/pan and add mustard seeds. Let them splutter and add curry leaves. Now add onion and as they turn pink add carrot, french beans and potato. Cook for a few mins til the veggies are cooked and add peas.

Add the tamarind paste (I used homemade tamarind chutney)You can make the paste by soaking some tamarind in little water for a couple of minutes and squeezing the pulp through a strainer to get the thick paste. 

Add the prepared rice and dal mixture and mix well.

Adjust salt to your taste.

For Favorite Rice Dishes

Happy Khichdi eating

Amrita