Vegetable Khichdi

Recipe: Vegetable Khichdi

Vegetable Khichdi is a wholesome, nutritious, healthy one pot meal. Served with some roasted papad, pickle and plain yogurt or raita it is comfort food. This recipe is versatile as you can add vegetables of your choice, use any dal or lentil and doesn’t need to be served with kadhi.

Memories

Every time my father in law would come back from Vrindavan, he couldn’t stop praising the khichdi that is at the ISKCON Temple to the devotees as breakfast. I use to wonder what is so special about that khichdi. Well I must admit, that prasadam from any temple always tastes so good. However, realized the difference when my mother in law started making a Vrindavan Khichdi version at home. She added more vegetables and sometimes any leftover sabji  cooked or raw went into the khichdi. Most certainly, the best comfort food and super delicious. Vegetable khichdi is a popular dish with my family.

Some More Khichdi Recipes That You May Like

FARALI KUTTU KHICHDI/BUCKWHEAT KHICHDI

Farali Kuttu Khichdi or Buckwheat Khichdi is a gluten free, vegan and healthy meal to enjoy as lunch or dinner.

Check out this recipe

SABUDANA KHICHDI

Sabudana Khichdi is a popular Indian dish made from tapioca pearls, potatoes, spices and peanuts or other nuts. An ideal dish to prepare for fasting or vrat days.

Check out this recipe

MOONG DAL KHICHDI

Moong Dal Khichdi is a wholesome, comforting and nutritious meal. Enjoy it with some vegetables, kadhi, papad and sliced onion.

Check out this recipe

Buckwheat And Brown Rice Khichdi

Bajri And Moong Dal Khichdi

Tuvar Dal Khichdi

Kodo Millet Pongal

Ingredients Required For Vegetable Khichdi

Rice

Use any rice you have in your pantry. I have used short grain rice, long grain rice like basmati and also brown rice. All turn out good. I prefer to use less rice compared to the lentils or dals. But feel free to use equal amounts.

Lentils Or Dal

Use green moong dal (split moong with husk), yellow moong dal, toor dal, chana dal, urad dal with husk. Or you can use a mixture of the dals. I usually use a mixture of dals or the green moong dal for this recipe.

Vegetables

Any vegetables of your choice. I like to use peas, carrots, green beans, potato, brinjal, ridge gourd, zucchini, pumpkin, tomato, bottle gourd. Can use a combination of any of the vegetables you have at hand. I use whatever I have in the fridge. Sometimes I use frozen mixed vegetables. For a healthier and more nutritious khichdi I add quite a bit of vegetables.

Spinach

Known as palak also. Chop the spinach along with the tender stems. Add it at the end when the khichdi is cooked. This way you don’t over cook the spinach.

Onion

Peel and slice or dice the onion. I like to use red onion for khichdis. However, feel free to use any onion you have at home. Can omit onion if you don’t eat onion and garlic.

Garlic

Peel and slice the garlic or mince it. Use according to your taste. Usually 2-3 big cloves of garlic are sufficient.

Ginger

You can either cut the ginger into thin strips or grate |mince it. I like to either. If I don’t have fresh ginger then I use frozen minced one. I always have minced ginger and green chillis in my freezer.

Green Chillis

Depends on how spicy you want the khichdi. Split the chillis lengthwise and add to the khichdi or use minced. I usually add about 1 tsp minced.

Oil | Ghee

I prefer using ghee for khichdi. For vegan version use oil.  Can use a mixture of both.

Mustard Seeds

Rai, sarson ke dane. Use black mustard seeds.

Cumin Seeds

Jeera, jeeru.

Carom Seeds

Ajwain, ajmo, bishop’s weed. Carom seeds adds a unique flavour to this khichdi. And it is good for your tummy.

Asafoetida

Also known as hing in Hindi. Adds a lovely flavour to the khichdi. For gluten free version omit asafoetida as it contains wheat flour. Alternately, use a pure form of asafoetida.

Turmeric Powder

Haldi, hardar.

Salt

Add according to your taste.

Garam Masala

Add at the end. This way you will get the full flavour of the spice mixture. This is an optional ingredient. If you making it it for someone recovering from an illness then omit it.

Why And When To Make Vegetable Khichdi

• Perfect as a lazy day meal. Add everything to one pot and the meal is ready.
• When you need a comforting, filling hot meal especially during the cold season.
• When someone is recovering from an illness. Add less or no green chillis and garam masala.
• For toddlers and young kids it is a nutritious meal.  You can mash up the vegetables.
• As a quick meal. Add everything in a pressure cooker. Cook for 2-3 whistles. Don’t need to soak the dal and rice. Usually, in this case I use the yellow moong dal or masoor dal as it cooks fast and doesn’t need any soaking.
• It is a healthy gluten free meal if you don’t add any asafeotida.
• Make it a vegan meal by replacing ghee with oil.
• Can add any combination and quantity of vegetables.
• Try the khichdi with any choice of lentil or dal. Can mix them too.
• If you want to use brown rice.