Low Carb Masala Khichdi

Khichdi is Mac n Cheese of Indian household. It is basically prepared with rice and lentils of your choice. It is the ultimate comfort food and has many variations adapting to the region it comes from. Khichdi was one of the most favorite food items of the Great Mughal Emperor - Akbar and was prepared in 7 variations. 

My favorite version of khichdi is the Masala Khichdi. For me its origin is my mom's kitchen. Back in the childhood days, Khichdi at my home had 2 variations - first when someone had stomach issues and the other indulgent go all out recipe, the Masala Khichdi.  I made my own variations to make it low carb and healthier by adding lots of vegetables to make it join my fit recipes club.

Recipe
Serves 5-6
1/3 cup rice
1/3 cup washed yellow moong daal
1/3 cup split green moong daal
1 Tbsp ghee (clarified butter)
2 green chilies
1/2 cup frozen green beans
1 small onion, chopped
1 medium tomato, chopped
1 small white potato, chopped
1/2 cup frozen peas (optional)
2 1/2 cup water
1/4 tsp cumin seeds
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp ginger paste
pinch if asafoetida

• Heat a pressure cooker on medium flame and add ghee to melt.
• To the melted ghee add, cumin seeds, asafoetida, turmeric powder, green chilies and ginger paste and cook for a minute.
• Now add onion and cook until translucent. Then add all the other vegetables. Saute for 1-2 mins.
• Add rice, yellow moong and green moong. Saute for 2-3 min.
• Add all the water and pressure cook on medium high until one whistle.
• Serve hot with raita.

Note: If you do not have a pressure cooker, use a simple stock pot or slow cooker and follow all the steps above in the same order. Cook until 30-40 minutes until the rice and lentils are cooked. Slow cooking only makes it taste better!