Simple Moong Dal Khichuri / Mug Daler Khichuri

Love khichdi??? Then you must love this basic recipe. A simple moong dal khichdi with rice and just turmeric powder. Use sugar if you are inclined towards sweetness...and do not ever skip the potatoes. The potatoes provide the essential starch to the khichdi giving it a little sticky gravy and something to mix your rice with. Get some chilli or garlic or the very Bengali tomato chutney and some wafers or more traditional papad...and your rainy day is as perfect as it ever can be.

Simple Moong Dal Khichuri / Mug Daler Khichuri

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

½ cup of yellow moong dal / mug dal

¾ cup of basmati / gobindobhog rice

2 medium potatoes – peeled and halved

1 and ½ tsp whole cumin seeds

2 medium bay leaves

2 tsp turmeric powder

2 green chillies – slit

1 tsp minced ginger

Salt

A pinch of sugar

¼ cup of mustard oil / white oil

1 tbsp ghee

A handful of fresh coriander leaves – chopped

Method:

Wash the lentils and rice until clear water runs out. Drain the water and keep aside.

Take a heavy bottomed saucepan / dutch oven or a pressure cooker preferably.

Heat the oil and temper the oil with cumin seeds and bay leaves.

As they start to splutter add the moong dal and rice in it.

Ready to build your muscles and stir the rice and lentils continuously until the grains become very dry and they start to make a very husky sound.

Stop there and add in 4 cups of water.

Add the turmeric powder, salt, sugar, minced ginger and green chillies.

Give a good stir.

Cook the rice and lentils until they are all cooked and mish-mashed with each other. Or if you are using pressure cooker, cook until the cooker blows 4-5 whistles.

Let the pressure vent out naturally.

Open the lid and pour the ghee into the khichuri.

Put the pressure cooker on low to medium flame.

Take a wire – whisk or a more traditional way, use the dal-ghutni and give a good whisk.

Sprinkle the chopped coriander leaves over the khichdi.

Taste and adjust the seasonings.

Serve hot with papar and chutney.