Bengali Style Bhuni Khichdi Recipe

Add as a preferred source on Google

Khichdi is one of the easiest recipes in Indian cuisine. When you feel too lethargic to cook, all you have to do is boil up some rice and dal together in a pressure cooker and you are done. This is one of the best example of hassle free and healthy cooking. Khichdi, apart from being easy to cook is also the best food to eat if you have digestion problems. Its is easy to digest and quite less in calories too.

Khichdi is generally seen as a boring dish on the menu which is consumed only when you are ill. However khichdi can be the most interesting thing to eat if you know the right trick to cook it. Here is a Bengali style bhuni khichdi recipe which will change your notion of a boring khichdi completely. The spice powder used in this vegetarian recipe is the most important ingredient which lends the delicious aroma to this dish.

So, wait no more to try out this delicious and lip-smacking Bengali style bhuni khichdi recipe, and enjoy a healthy and tasty meal.

Serves: 3-4
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• Basmati rice- 1 cup
• Moong dal- 1 cup
• Bay leaves- 2
• Green cardamoms- 2
• Cloves- 2
• Cinnamon stick- 1
• Dry red chilli- 1
• Onion- 1 (big, finely chopped)
• Ginger-garlic paste- 2tsp
• Tomato- 1 (chopped)
• Peas- ½ cup
• Carrot- 1 (chopped)
• Potato- 1 (diced)
• Turmeric powder- 1tsp
• Coconut- ½ cup (grated)
• Sugar- 1tsp
• Cashew nuts- 1tbsp
• Raisins- 1tbsp
• Salt- as per taste
• Warm water- 4 cups
• Ghee- 2tbsp

For Spice Powder

• Dry red chilli- 2
• Green cardamom- 2
• Cloves- 4
• Cinnamon sticks- 2
• Cumin seeds- ½ tsp
• Onion seeds- ½ tsp
• Fenugreek seeds- ¼ tsp
• Fennel seeds- ¼ tsp
• Mustard seeds- ½ tsp
• Coriander seeds- 1tbsp
• Hing (asafoetida)- a pinch

Procedure

1. Dry roast the moong dal in a pan on a medium heat for about 4-5 minutes. Switch off the heat and let it cool.
2. Wash the rice and keep it aside.
3. Dry roast all the ingredients for spice powder in a pan for 2 minutes on a medium heat. Switch off the flame and let it cool.
4. Once the mixture cools down, grind it in a mixer into a fine powder.
5. Heat one teaspoon of ghee in a pan and roast the cashew nuts for 2 minutes. Once done, transfer them to a plate and keep it aside.
6. Heat ghee in a pressure cooker. Add bay leaves, cardamoms, cinnamon, cloves, dry red chilli, onion and fry for about 4-5 minutes on a medium flame.
7. Add ginger-garlic paste and fry for 2 minutes.
8. Add peas, carrots, potatoes and fry for another 3-4 minutes.
9. Then add the tomatoes and cook for about 5 minutes.
10. Now add the roasted dal, rice, turmeric powder and the prepared spice powder. Cook for 4-5 minutes.
11. Add the grated coconut, salt, sugar, raisins and cashew nuts. Cook for 5 minutes.
12. Then add the warm water and mix well. Close the lid and lower the flame.
13. Wait for 3 whistles.
14. Once done, switch off the flame and wait for the pressure to cool down.
15. After the steam comes out completely, open the lid, transfer the khichdi into a serving bowl.

Bengali style bhuni khichdi is ready to be served. Enjoy this authentic Bengali recipe with any side dish of your choice.