Tuar Dal Khichdi / Lentil Rice

Khichdi is my favorite comfort food.. Especially when cooked in a pressure cooker till the consistency is like a mashed up khichdi.. Just add a dollop of ghee on it and you have a complete one-pot meal. There are many ways to make khichdi. Some like it spicy while others prefer it to be plain. Also different kinds of lentils can be used to prepare your own version of khichdi. My hubby likes having lentils or legumes for dinner at least once a week. So, I am always on lookout for new lentil recipes. I learnt this khichdi from a Punjabi friend in Chennai 'S'.. It's quite simple and easy to make too. Hope you guys like it.

Ingredients:-

• 1½ cups rice
• ¾ cup tuar dal / split pigeon pea
• 2 onions (sliced)
• 3 cloves of garlic (finely chopped)
• 2 tbsp clarified butter / ghee 
• 1 tbsp coriander pdr 
  
• 1 tsp crushed red chillies
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• ½ tsp turmeric pdr
• pinch of asafoetida / hing
• salt to taste

Method:- 

• Wash the dal and rice well and pressure cook along with salt, turmeric pdr and 4 cups water.
• Heat ghee in a wok and add onions, garlic and cumin seeds.
• When onion turns golden, add red chillies, coriander pdr and asafoetida.
• Meanwhile, mix the dal-rice mixture well and add to the wok.
• Mix thoroughly. and serve with an extra dollop of ghee and curds.

Notes:-

• You may add some cubed potatoes along with the rice while boiling if you want.
• Adjust the water as per the consistency of the khichdi you like.

Happy Cooking!!

Sending this to :- WTML & Gayathri’s Announcement Page

 

Tadka Chana Dal / Tempered Split Bengal Gram

Chana dal is low in fat and high in fiber content. I had this dal at one of my Punjabi friend's house and I absolutely loved it.. I tried this recipe yesterday night for dinner along with hot chapatis and it was immediately liked by all. It is very easy and simple to make for everyday cooking.

Ingredients:-

• 1 cup chana dal / split bengal gram
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 tsp red chilli pdr
• ½ tsp turmeric pdr
• salt to taste

Ingredients for Tempering:-

• ¼ cup ghee / clarified butter
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• ½ tsp red chilli pdr
• ½ tsp coriander pdr
• ½ tsp all spice pdr
• ½ tsp amchoor pdr / dry mango pdr
• 1 onion (finely chopped)
• 1 tomato (finely chopped)
• 1 green chilli (slit)
• salt to taste
• coriander leaves (for garnishing)

Method:-

• Clean, wash and soak chana dal for 10 - 15 minutes.
• In a wok, add dal along with 4 cups water, oil, red chilli pdr, turmeric pdr and salt.
• Boil it till it becomes soft and tender but the grains should be whole and not mushy. 
• In a pan,  heat ghee and add onion and cumin seeds. Fry till onions turn golden.
• Add tomato, red chilli pdr, coriander pdr, all spice pdr, dry mango pdr, green chilli and salt.
• Saute till tomatoes are tender.
• Pour this tempering over the dal. Mix well.
• Garnish with coriander leaves
• Serve hot with roti or paratha.

Notes:-

• You can add finely mined garlic while tempering along with onions if you like.

Happy Cooking!! 

Sending this entry to :- Srivalli's Side Dish Mela and Shruti's Bachelor Cooking Event and  Lisa's MLLA announcement page, Spicy Foood's MLLA announcement and to Susan the beloved creator of MLLA and Asiya's WTML Event and Gayathri's Announcement page