This dish brings back so many special childhood memories for me. It’s a lentil and rice mixture topped with a yogurt gravy. Similar to porridge in texture, this dish is hearty and is definitely a comfort food suitable for all ages. This is how my mom makes it and to me, it’s perfect. While spending time together in quarantine, I documented her method and wanted to share it with you all.
Khichdi & Kadhi (Lentil Rice & Yogurt Gravy)
A comfort food vegeterian friendly hearty porriage-like dish. Often used as a baby's first introduction to solids, this dish is perfect for all age groups. I have many fond memories of my mom making this dish once a week during my childhood. My father always made a circular moat with the Khichdi and filled it with the Kadhi, saying it was a swimming pool.
Ingredients
Khitchdi Ingredients
- 1 cup Masoor daal (orange lentil) or split Moong daal
- 1 cup rice
- 3 cups water
- 1 piece cinnamon
- 1 piece star anise
- 3 pieces cardamon (break open)
- 3 pieces whole clove
- 1/2 tsp whole black pepper
- 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp crushed garlic
- Salt to taste
- 1-2 tbsp cooking oil of choice
Kadhi Ingredients
- 2 cup yogurt
- 1 cup water (adjust accordingly to the thickness of yogurt used)
- 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- Salt to taste
- 1 tbsp oil of choice
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 small onion (diced)
- 1 tsp crushed garlic
- 2-3 tbsp chopped cilantro
Instructions
Khitchdi Method
- Soak rice and lentil in water for 30 minutes- 1 hour prior to cooking.
- Heat oil in a pan on medium heat.
- Add cinnamon, star anise, cardamon, clove, black pepper, cumin, tumeric and garlic to heated oil.
- Once the spices are fregrant, add water and salt. Allow the water to come to a boil.
- Drain the water from the soaked rice and lentil and add it to the boiling water. Allow water to boil off, then lid and simmer for 10-15 minutes. Check periodically and remove from heat when lentil rice is cooked. The texture of the mixture will be mushy, like a porriage.
Kadhi Method
- Wisk yogurt with water in a bowl
- Add turmeric, red chilli powder, and salt to the mixture
- Heat oil in a pot. Add mustard and cumin seeds to heated oil. Once the spices pop, add onion and garlic. Allow the onion to cook for 1-2 minutes until it becomes transluscent.
- Add yogurt mixture to the pot and sitr continuously. This step is very crutial as the yogurt with curd if you stop stirring. Once the mixture boils, turn off heat and top with cilantro.
Plating Method
- Add Khichdi and Kadhi to a bowl and enjoy! Or if you want to try my father's method, use a plate instead of a bowl and make your own swimming pool!