Thursday, November 30, 2017

Khichdi / Masala Khichdi / Vegetable Khichdi | One pot Rice meals

Khichdi is something I make at home at least once in a week,sometimes more.It was Arjun's first solid food.Initially I made it without any spices for him but now I just make one batch,for us as well as for him.I couldn't believe such a simple dish created such a furore of being called the National dish by some while some argued it is not.There is no doubt about one thing however,and that is the taste!
It packs in flavor as well as nutrition since it is a one pot meal consisting of rice,dals and vegetables.You could completely customize it according to your taste.Don't like rice?Add millets!Don't like vegetables?Make it plain!Or add vegetables of your choice!!Don't like spices?It tastes good with just a tadka of ghee and jeera!

Served warm with a dollop of ghee on top,this absolutely tastes divine.You need to eat it to believe it :)

Khichdi / Masala Khichdi / Vegetable Khichdi

Ingredients

Raw rice - 1/2 cup
Dal - 1/4 cup (I used a mixof Toor dal,Moong dal and Masoor dal)
Onion -1 small,chopped
Tomato - 1/2 medium sized tomato,chopped
Capsicum - 1/2 of a small capsicum,chopped
Carrot - 1 small,chopped
Beans - 4-5,chopped
Pumpkin - about roughly 1 cup,chopped
Water-3 cups

For the tadka

Oil+ghee - 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
Jeera - 1/4 tsp
Whole peppercorns - about 5-6
Curry leaves- a few
Hing - a pinch
Ginger garlic paste - 1/2 tsp(optional)
Haldi - 1/4 tsp
Chilly powder - 1/4 tsp
Coriander powder - 1/4 tsp
Garam masala - 1/4 tsp
Salt to taste
Ghee - 1 tbsp

Method

Wash and soak together rice and the dals for about 30-45 minutes.
In a pressure cooker add oil/ghee and splutter mustard seeds and jeera.Add in the peppercorns and curry leaves.
Now add the hing and chopped onions and saute for a minute.
Add the ginger garlic paste and saute for a minute or till the raw smell of the paste disappears.
Now add tomato and the vegetables and give a good mix.
Time to add the spice powders - haldi,chilly,coriander and garam masala.
Give it a good mix.
Add the drained rice and dal mix and add salt to taste.
Add water and check for seasoning.Close the cooker and cook for 2-3 whistles on high and simmer for another 10 minutes.
Switch off the flame and let the pressure settle down.
Open and mix well.If you feel it is watery,simmer for a few minutes more and if you feel it is dry add hot water till it reaches the consistency of your choice.
Add ghee and close the cooker and let the flavors infuse.
Serve warm with some more ghee :)

Step by Step Pictorial


Wash and soak together rice and the dals for about 30-45 minutes.
Wash and chop the vegetables.
In a pressure cooker add oil/ghee and 
splutter mustard seeds and 
jeera.
Add in the peppercorns and 
curry leaves.
Now add the hing and 
chopped onions and saute for a minute.
Add the ginger garlic paste and saute for a minute or till the raw smell of the paste disappears.
Now add tomato and the 
vegetables and give a good mix.
Time to add the spice powders - 
haldi,
chilly,
coriander and 
garam masala.
Give it a good mix.
Add the drained rice and dal mix and 
add salt to taste.
Add water and check for seasoning.Close the cooker and cook for 2-3 whistles on high and simmer for another 10 minutes.
Switch off the flame and let the pressure settle down.
Open and mix well.If you feel it is watery,simmer for a few minutes more and if you feel it is dry add hot water till it reaches the consistency of your choice.
Add ghee and close the cooker and let the flavors infuse.
Serve warm with some more ghee :)

Here's a small video :)

Notes
  • The spice powders can be added more/less according to your taste palettes.Since I am serving this to Arjun as well,I keep it to the bare minimum.
  • You can add any vegetables of your choice,I sometimes add only carrots and beans or only potatoes or then a medley of vegetables like I've used here.
  • The water quantity is approximate.You may need less or more depending on the amount of vegetables you add or depending on the cooking time.Like I said,once you open the cooker you could add more water or simmer and cook till the Khichdi reaches the consistency of your choice.



Sunday, November 5, 2017

Arjun is THREE!!!

The li'l fellow turned THREE last month,I mean,can you believe it?Where did the time go?



Lots has happened since my last blog update.Though I've been planning to update the blog more regularly,clearly it isn't happening.Arjun has joined Pre-school and most part of the day goes in getting him ready for school,dropping and picking him up,cooking for the day and it is only when he takes a short nap in the afternoon I get a breather.I just want to cuddle up reading a book then or watch some television or better still lose myself in Instagram where I seem to spend most of my time these days.Do follow me there for regular updates of Arjun,food I cook,cakes I bake and more such fun stuff.
So coming back to his Birthday,we celebrated his birthday in our usual fashion.Close friends,cake cutting and dinner.Maybe when he grows up a little and wants his own party with friends I can plan something of that sort :).
Unlike Ajay who asks for 'anything you like' or 'chocolate' when asked for a choice in the birthday cake,Arjun is very opinionated and clear about his requirements :) He asked for a Strawberry and Chocolate cake with Gems and the baker/food blogger in me did a very happy dance!I had bookmarked a 3 shaped cake from Pinterest and did a chequerboard cake.Made Eggless Strawberry and Chocolate sponges and sandwiched them using chocolate ganache and covered the cake with good ol' chocolate buttercream and of course,Gems!
We also celebrated his star Birthday which was two days before his birthday and his grandmother made a Sheera(Kesari)which he cut like a Birthday Cake :) Made a huge batch of Eggless Chocolate cupcakes too for him to take to school,Oh I've always wanted to do such stuff and it gives me so much happiness to actually plan such things and execute :)

Hoping to continue blogging as always.So for some inspiration and motivation,if anyone of you are still coming back to read my blog,please let me know in the comment section.What recipes you'd like to see or what I can do to improve the quality of the blog,or anything actually.Hope to hear from you soon:)