Khichdi/khichdee/Kedgeree/Kitchree (and many other variants) is  the one-pot meal that sees a medley of rice & lentils thrown with some veggies. There are different ways the dish is cooked and our very own pongal & bisibele bhaat is but a version of this Khichdi. Forgetting the usual veggies like cauliflower, carrots & beans , I used the bland gourd and it gelled well with the rice & lentils to give a satisfying dish.

• Rice – 1 Cup
• Moong Dal – 1/2 cup
• Bottle Gourd – 1/2 cup – washed,peed,chopped in to chunky cubes
• Fresh Green peas – a fistful
• Olive Oil – 1 to 2 tbsp
• Mustard Seeds – 1 tsp
• Asafoetida – a pinch
• Turmeric Powder – 1/2 tsp
• Water – as required
• Black Pepper – 1 tsp
• Cinnamon – 1 or 2 small stick
• Salt – to taste
• Jalapenos or Green Chillis – 3 to 4 – to taste – chopped
  
• Water – 4 1/2 cups – as required

Wash the rice & lentils thoroughly and set aside. In a heavy bottomed pan, warm the oil and let the mustard seeds crackle & sizzle. Add turmeric powder and gently roast the rice & lentils till it turns a magical golden. Take care not to brown them by leaving it unattended. Now add the chopped gourd & the green peas.

Enjoy !


It’s off to Kalyani’s Magic Mingle # 1 & Priya’s Veggie of the month – Bottle Gourd, hosted by Raji;also to Radhika’s Let’s Cook : Rice & to Vardhini’s New U