Masala Khichdi is a wholesome, vegetarian, one-pot Indian meal . The spicy, sizzling hot tadka (tempering) is the highlight of this khichdi recipe. Be sure to watch the video!
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
- What is Khichdi?
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- Watch Masala Khichdi Video
- Serving Suggestion
- My Tried and True Tips
- Masala Khichdi Recipe
What is Khichdi?
Khichdi is a popular Indian one-pot meal. It is a wholesome, vegetarian meal of lentils and rice. There are many types of khichdi recipes followed across India. In certain regions, it has a porridge-like consistency; in others, it is more like a pulao.
Masala Khichdi is one of the many traditional dal khichdi recipe versions. It has lentils, rice, and colourful vegetables. The USP of the masala khichdi is the spicy, sizzling, bold red tadka, which is poured over the warm khichdi before serving.
I love khichdi so much that I have included some recipes in my debut cookbook .
Why You’ll Love This Khichdi
- instant pot friendly
- gluten and nut-free
- easy to cook and digest
- wholesome and vegetarian
- cooking time is under 30 minutes
- a complete, nourishing one-bowl meal
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Rice: Short to medium grain with starch is perfect. I never recommend long-grain rice like basmati for making any khichdi.
- Lentil: I mix pink lentil (masoor dal) and mung bean (yellow moong dal). You can add Bengal gram (chana dal) or Pigeon Peas (toor dal) as well.
- Vegetables: Onion, Tomato, Carrot, French Beans, Green Peas , and Potato are my favourite vegetables in a masala khichdi. You can add pumpkin, zucchini, spinach, cauliflower, or any other easy-to-cook vegetables.
- Spices: Red Chili Powder, Turmeric Powder, Coriander Powder, Garam Masala , Asafoetida (hing), Cumin Seeds , and Salt.
- Cooking Oil: A khichdi tastes best when cooked in ghee (clarified butter). Substitute it with unsalted butter or vegetable oil. Or you can use refined vegetable oil for cooking and ghee for tadka (tempering).
- Other Ingredients: Ginger and Garlic Paste , Dried Red Chili, Garlic Cloves, Water.
Watch Masala Khichdi Video
Serving Suggestion
As mentioned above, masala khichdi is a wholesome, satisfying one-pot meal. It does not require side dishes.
However, here are a few of my favourite Indian condiments I enjoy with my bowl of khichdi – kachumber salad , mango pickle , fried papad, and plain curd .
My Tried and True Tips
- I love vegetables in my masala khichdi: green beans, carrots, green peas, cauliflower, zucchini, capsicum, potato, and spinach. You can also add broccoli, yellow pumpkin, or green leafy vegetables.
- The consistency of a khichdi can be like pulao or like porridge. Hence, adjust the amount of water accordingly. I am sharing a porridge-style khichdi recipe.
- It is a pressure cooker-friendly dish. You can use an instant pot, multi-pot, electric pressure cooker, or a traditional stovetop for cooking this khichdi.
- The tadka of masala khichdi is medium spicy. Reduce the number of chillies according to your taste preference.
More Indian Khichdi Recipes
- Dal Khichdi
- Oats Khichdi
- Millet Khichdi
- Urad Dal Khichdi
- Sabudana Khichdi
- Chana Dal Khichdi
- Lehsuni Palak Khichdi
- Vegetable Dalia Khichdi
Ingredients
- ▢ ½ Cup white rice (short to medium grain)
- ▢ ¼ Cup yellow moong dal
- ▢ ¼ Cup pink masoor dal
- ▢ ⅛ Cup vegetable refined oil
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon hing (asafoetida)
- ▢ ½ Cup onion, finely chopped
- ▢ 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste ( see recipe )
- ▢ ¼ Cup tomato chopped
- ▢ 1 teaspoon red chili powder
- ▢ 2 teaspoon salt or to taste
- ▢ 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- ▢ 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- ▢ ¼ Cup carrot, diced
- ▢ ¼ Cup French beans, diced
- ▢ ¼ Cup green peas
- ▢ ¼ Cup potato, diced
- ▢ 4 Cup water, at room temperature
- ▢ 1 teaspoon Garam Masala ( see recipe )
Ingredients For Tadka
- ▢ 2 tablespoon ghee (clarified butter)
- ▢ 1 teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)
- ▢ 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
- ▢ 2 dried red chilies
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon red chili powder
Instructions
- Combine rice and lentils in a bowl. Rinse with water 2 – 3 times. Soak in clean water for 15 minutes.
- Set the SAUTE mode of the instant pot for 10 minutes.
- Add ghee to the inner pot. Once the ghee is hot, add asafoetida and chopped onion. Fry onion till it becomes light golden. This takes 3 – 5 minutes.
- Next, add ginger garlic paste, tomato, red chili powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, salt, and cook for 2 minutes to break down the tomato.
- Drain all the water from the soaked lentils and rice. Add them to the inner pot along with the vegetables. Saute until the set timer beeps.
- Add 4 cups of water, garam masala, and stir to combine. Seal the lid of the instant pot. Set the steam valve to the SEALING position. PRESSURE COOK for 5 minutes.
- After 5 minutes, you can either wait for the natural release of steam or do a quick release. I prefer natural release.
- For tadka (tempering), heat ghee in a small pan over the stovetop. Add cumin seeds, garlic, red chilies, and powder. Cook for less than 1 minute. Turn off the heat. Pour this tadka over the piping hot khichdi.
- Serve masala khichdi warm with pickle and curd.
Recipe Notes:
- You can cook this masala khichdi in a pressure cooker as well. It takes 2 whistles over medium heat.
- Adjust the quantity of water according to the desired consistency of the khichdi.
- This is a medium spicy khichdi recipe. Reduce or increase the level of spiciness accordingly.
Nutrition
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Masala Khichdi Recipe
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- ½ Cup white rice (short to medium grain)
- ¼ Cup yellow moong dal
- ¼ Cup pink masoor dal
- ⅛ Cup vegetable refined oil
- ¼ teaspoon hing (asafoetida)
- ½ Cup onion, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste ( see recipe )
- ¼ Cup tomato chopped
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder
- 2 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- ¼ Cup carrot, diced
- ¼ Cup French beans, diced
- ¼ Cup green peas
- ¼ Cup potato, diced
- 4 Cup water, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon Garam Masala ( see recipe )
Ingredients For Tadka
- 2 tablespoon ghee (clarified butter)
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)
- 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
- 2 dried red chilies
- ¼ teaspoon red chili powder
Instructions
- Combine rice and lentils in a bowl. Rinse with water 2 - 3 times. Soak in clean water for 15 minutes.
- Set the SAUTE mode of the instant pot for 10 minutes.
- Add ghee to the inner pot. Once the ghee is hot, add asafoetida and chopped onion. Fry onion till it becomes light golden. This takes 3 - 5 minutes.
- Next, add ginger garlic paste, tomato, red chili powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, salt, and cook for 2 minutes to break down the tomato.
- Drain all the water from the soaked lentils and rice. Add them to the inner pot along with the vegetables. Saute until the set timer beeps.
- Add 4 cups of water, garam masala, and stir to combine. Seal the lid of the instant pot. Set the steam valve to the SEALING position. PRESSURE COOK for 5 minutes.
- After 5 minutes, you can either wait for the natural release of steam or do a quick release. I prefer natural release.
- For tadka (tempering), heat ghee in a small pan over the stovetop. Add cumin seeds, garlic, red chilies, and powder. Cook for less than 1 minute. Turn off the heat. Pour this tadka over the piping hot khichdi.
- Serve masala khichdi warm with pickle and curd.
Video
Notes
- You can cook this masala khichdi in a pressure cooker as well. It takes 2 whistles over medium heat.
- Adjust the quantity of water according to the desired consistency of the khichdi.
- This is a medium spicy khichdi recipe. Reduce or increase the level of spiciness accordingly.
Nutrition
While oats are a common pantry staple, do we know what these healthy grains offer? This Oats 101 guide will let you in on the different types of oats, their benefits, and the best ways to enjoy them!
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
- What are Oats?
- Common Types of Oats
- Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits
- How To Store Oats
- Healthy Oat Recipes
What are Oats?
Oats are a type of cereal grain. Once harvested and hulled, they are called groats, the least processed form of an oat grain. In this form, they are ready for human consumption but are still difficult to digest unless they are soaked before cooking.
Whole Grain Oats go through several processes after hulling, which determines the type of oats that we now see on the shelves of major supermarkets!
The most common types of oats are:
- Steel Cut
- Rolled Oats
- Instant Oats
This oats 101 guide will help you to understand the variety of oats available in the market and pick them wisely for cooking.
Common Types of Oats
- Steel Cut Oats: These are basically groats that are cut into smaller pieces using a steel blade so they cook in less time. They are chewy but not as difficult to digest as groats. You may also find them in stores under the names Scotch oats or Irish oatmeal.
steel cut oats image via Wikipedia
- Rolled Oats are also called old-fashioned oats. The grains are steamed and flattened so they are easier and quicker to cook than steel-cut oats.
rolled oats
- Instant Oats are just like rolled oats , these have gone through hulling, steaming, and rolled into flat kernels. The difference is that they are pre-cooked so all you have to do is add milk or hot water to enjoy them – no cooking required!
instant oats
Difference Between Steel-Cut, Rolled, and Instant Oats?
As explained above, these three types of oats have gone through different processes before hitting the shelves. They differ in appearance, texture, and of course, cooking time.
- Appearance: Steel Cut Oats retain the appearance of whole-grain groats but are chopped into smaller pieces. Both rolled and instant oats have a flat shape, however, instant oats are thinner and lighter because they have been cooked and dried before being packed.
- Texture: Once cooked, steel oats have a chewier texture compared to the other two. Rolled oats are thin and absorb liquid better, so they are easier to chomp on but still have a firm bite into them. On the other hand, Instant oats are soft and become pliable quickly when added to liquids.
- Cooking Time: The more processed the oat, the less time it needs to cook. Steel-cut oats take about 20 to 30 minutes of cook time while rolled oats cook in half the time only. Instant oats do not need cooking at all, steep in hot liquid before eating.
Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits
Did you know that oats are one of the healthiest grains on our planet?
- They are rich in nutrients and minerals which makes them a great addition to our daily meals. Oats are also known to provide our bodies with high-quality protein, fibre, and antioxidants.
- All of these combined can help lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels plus aid our digestive system.
- Since it is loaded with soluble fibre and carbs, it is also known to help maintain a balanced diet and promote healthy gut movement.
Are Oats Gluten Free?
Yes, oats are naturally gluten-free which makes them a great alternative for those with celiac disease. However, it is always prudent to check on the package information first before buying one if you are gluten-sensitive. Some may be contaminated with gluten during the manufacturing process.
How To Store Oats
When stored properly, oats can have a long storage life.
Place your unopened packs in a dry, cool area and they should be shelf-stable for at least a year. Once the package is opened, it is best to transfer oats to an airtight container or glass jar.
Healthy Oat Recipes
- Oats Chilla
- Oats Cutlet
- Granola Bar
- Oats Khichdi
- Overnight Oats
- Vegetable Oats Soup
- Mango Oats Smoothie
- Apple Muffin with Oats Crumble
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