Vegetable Khichdi Recipe: How to Make it Interesting?

Vegetable Khichdi is the most common dish cooked in the Indian subcontinent. Made with fresh veggies, lentils, and rice, it is easy to digest and known for its nutritious benefits and quick prep time. This is why the vegetable khichdi recipe is mostly picked by people who are convalescing or looking for something healthy to eat.

Moreover, when we run out of dinner options, we often turn to khichdi. So, if you’re wondering how to make vegetable khichdi more interesting for your taste buds, you’re at the right place. This blog will provide simple steps on how to make a veg khichdi recipe more delicious. Scroll down.

Vegetable Khichdi Recipe

Scroll down for vegetable khichdi ingredients:

• 1 cup rice (basmati or any type of short-grain rice)
• 1/2 cup yellow lentils or moong dal 
• 1 medium carrot, diced
• 1/2 cup green peas
• 1 medium potato, diced
• 1/2 cup chopped spinach
• 1/2 cup cauliflower florets
• 1 medium tomato, chopped
• 1 small bell pepper, diced
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2-3 cloves garlic, sliced in thin pieces
• 1-inch piece of ginger, grated
• 2-3 green chilies, chopped.

Spices

• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 2-3 cloves
• 1 bay leaf
• 1-inch cinnamon stick
• 2-3 whole black peppercorns
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
• A pinch of asafoetida (hing)
• Salt to taste.

Tempering (Tadka)

• 2 tablespoons ghee or coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 2 dried red chilies
• 8-10 curry leaves.

Garnish

• Fresh coriander leaves (cilantro), chopped.

Method

Here, you will find all the steps to a tasty and healthy vegetable khichdi recipe:

Preparation

1. Rinse the Rice and Dal: Wash the rice and moong dal together under running water until the water runs clear. Soak them together in water for about 15-20 minutes, then drain.
2. Prep the Vegetables: Dice and chop all the vegetables as mentioned.

Cooking the Khichdi

1. Heat Ghee or Oil: Take a pressure cooker and heat around 2 tablespoons of ghee or coconut oil over medium heat.
2. Add Whole Spices: Add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, cloves, bay leaf, cinnamon stick, and black peppercorns. Sauté until the spices splutter and become fragrant.
3. Sauté Onions and Aromatics: Add finely chopped onions, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Sauté until the onions turn golden brown.
4. Add Green Chilies and Vegetables: Add slit green chilies, diced carrots, potatoes, cauliflower, bell pepper, and green peas. Sauté for 3-4 minutes.
5. Add Tomatoes and Spices: Add chopped tomatoes, turmeric powder and coriander powder with a pinch of asafoetida. Cook it till the tomatoes soften, and the spices are well-combined.
6. Mix in Rice and Dal: Add the soaked and drained rice and moong dal. Stir to combine well with the vegetables and spices.
7. Add Water and Season: Pour in 4 cups of water (adjust based on desired consistency). Add salt to taste and mix well.
8. Pressure Cook: Close the pressure cooker lid and cook it on high heat until the first whistle. Reduce the heat to low and cook for another 5-7 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the pressure release naturally.

Tempering (Tadka)

1. Heat Ghee or Oil: Take a small pan and heat 1 tablespoon of ghee or oil.
2. Add Tempering Ingredients: Add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, dried red chilies, and curry leaves. Sauté until the seeds splutter and the curry leaves are crisp.
3. Pour Over Khichdi: Pour this tempering over the cooked khichdi and mix well.

Tips to Enhance the Taste of Khichdi

You can turn the ordinary vegetable khichdi recipe into a mouth-watering delicacy by incorporating the following tips while cooking it:

• You can add chopped roasted dried fruits, such as cashews, peanuts, and walnuts to enhance the taste as well as the protein content of khichdi.
• Squeeze fresh lime on top of cooked and served khichdi to add a sour tinge to it.
• You can put eggs in your khichdi to make it more tantalising and nourishing.
• Add side salad of freshly sliced onions and cucumbers with chaat masala sprinkled on top.
• If you want to enhance the taste of the vegetable khichdi recipe without doing much, then you can add some Maggi masala to it.

Nutritional Content in Vegetable Khichdi Recipe

Around a medium cup of mix veg khichdi (200 g) has the following nutritional value: