Bengali Khichuri

Bengali Khichuri

Bengali Khichuri

Veg

Bhuna khichuri — Bengal's version of the rice-lentil porridge, golden from turmeric and fried in ghee before water is added, finished with whole spices. Eaten on rainy days with begun bhaja and papad.

Cuisines

Bengali

Best for

Lunch Dinner

Build a full meal around Bengali Khichuri

Get a matched combo of sides and accents

Recipe

Prep: 20 min Cook: 40 min Total: 60 min 2-3 servings

Ingredients

basmati rice 1 cup Basmati rice
Moong Dal 1/2 cup Moong Dal , yellow
mustard oil 2 tablespoons Mustard oil
Cumin 1 teaspoon Cumin , seeds
turmeric powder 1 teaspoon Turmeric powder
Ginger 1 teaspoon Ginger , paste
Mixed Vegetable 1 cup Mixed Vegetable , like potatoes, peas, carrots
Bay Leaf 2 pieces Bay Leaf
Green Chili 2 pieces Green Chili , slit
cinnamon stick 1 inch Cinnamon stick
Clove 3 pieces Clove
Cardamom Pod 3 pieces Cardamom Pod
salt Salt , to taste
water 3 cups Water
ghee 2 tablespoons Ghee
Cilantro 1/4 cup Cilantro , chopped

Instructions

  1. 1 Wash the basmati rice and moong dal together under running water until the water runs clear.
  2. 2 Soak the rice and dal mixture in water for 20 minutes, then drain.
  3. 3 Heat mustard oil in a heavy-bottomed pan. Add cumin seeds, bay leaves, cinnamon stick, cloves, and cardamom pods. Sauté until fragrant.
  4. 4 Add the ginger paste and slit green chilies, and sauté for another minute.
  5. 5 Add the mixed vegetables and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
  6. 6 Add the drained rice and dal mixture to the pan and stir well to coat with the spices.
  7. 7 Add turmeric powder and salt to taste, and mix well.
  8. 8 Pour in 3 cups of water and bring it to a boil.
  9. 9 Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and let it simmer for about 20-25 minutes, or until the rice and dal are cooked and the mixture is creamy.
  10. 10 Once cooked, add ghee and mix gently.
  11. 11 Garnish with chopped fresh coriander leaves before serving.

Tips

For extra flavor, roast the moong dal lightly before washing to enhance its nutty aroma.