Recipe for Bhuni Khichdi
What is unique about Bhuni Khichdi?
Making for a simple yet delightfully delectable one-pot meal – Bhuni Khichdi prepared using flavoured basmati rice cooked along with roasted split green lentils (moong daal )and mildly spiced with aromatic whole spices.
Making for a truly wholesome meal, Bhuni Khichdi is a simply good as light dinner, good breakfast or even for lazy brunch.
The mild fragrant aroma of this lentil pulao eaten along with desi ghee or clarified butter is sure to transport your gastronomic senses to an entirely different world. So go ahead and try out this delicious wholesome recipe !!
Ingredients for Bhuni Khichdi
Basmati Rice – 2 cups
Split Green Lentils (Moong dal) – 1 cup
Oil – 4 tablespoons
Onion – 1 large sized , finely sliced
Bay leaf – 1 medium
Cinnamon- 1-2
Cardamom- 1-2
Carom seeds ( Shahi jeera) – 1 teaspoon
Cloves – 1-2
Green chillies – 2, slit through the centre
Coriander – 1/2 a bunch, finely chopped
Method to cook Bhuni Khichdi
Wash and leave the rice to soak for about 20 minutes
Dry roast the moong dal in a pan on low heat and leave it to cool
Once cooked, soak the dal for about 15 -20 minutes or mix along with soaked rice
In another big sized pot, heat the oil and sauté the onions till they turn translucent
Now temper the oil by adding the green chillies and whole spices including the cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, carom seeds and bay leaf
As the oil turns fragrant add the washed rice and moong dal (without water) and give the ingredients a good mix gently with a ladle
Add the turmeric, salt and 4 1/2 cups of water using the same measure as used for measuring out the rice.
Note we have used 2 cups rice and 1 cup Daal, so we need to add water for 3 cups, using the formula for every 1 Cup of rice, we add 1 1/2 cups of water.
The rice to water ratio always stands at 1:1.5
If you prefer the rice soft, than add additional cup of water ( thi is to make it unique to taste)
Cover the pot with a lid and leave the rice to cook on a medium flame for 15-20 minutes
Once the rice has cooked garnish it with coriander
Bhuni Khichdi is best enjoyed by drizzling in a few dollops of desi ghee (clarified butter ) onto the rice or eaten alongside with fresh creamy yoghurt!!