Masala Peas Khichdi / Lentile Rice Polenta with Peas

On occasion of Makar Sankranti, in Bihar, we prepare khichdi with seasonal vegetables like peas, cauliflower, new potatoes tec. It is eaten with a variety of accompaniment. Accompaniment recipes are already shared.

It's one of the common recipes which we relish at Saturday lunch.

Let's move to the recipe.

Ingredients -
1. Basmati Rice - Half cup (soak it for 10-20 minutes)
2. Dal mix - Half Cup (Equal amount of Toor, Masur, Moong and Chana dal, soak them for 10-20 minutes)
3. Cauliflower - 3-4 Floret
4. Potato diced - 1 piece
5. Peas - Half cup
6. Onion diced - 1 Piece
7. Carrot diced - 1 small piece (optional)
9. French beans diced  - 2-3 (optional)
10. Tomato diced - 1 piece (optional)
11. Garlic paste - 1 Tbs
12. Ginger paste - 1 tbs
13. Red chili powder - Half Tbs
14. Jeera powder - 1 Tbs
15. Pepper powder - 1 Tbs
16. Garam Masala - Half Tbs
17. Whole Masala for Tadka - (Red chili - 2, Bay leaves - 2, Jeera - 2 Tbs)
18. Ghee - 4 Tbs
19. Mustard oil - 4 Tbs
20. Turmeric powder - 2 Tbs
21. Salt - As per Taste
22. Water - 3 Cups (varies as per consistency)

Recipe -
1. Heat a kadhai, add mustard oil. Once it is hot enough, add Onion diced and saute for a minute and then add diced vegetables and saute for a few minutes. Add the ginger-garlic paste and saute it. Once it turned golden add 1 Tbs of turmeric powder and half quantity of all powder masala except Garam masala. Add little of salt too. Saute it well and keep it aside.
2. Now take a pressure cooker, add washed and soaked dal mix, 1/2 Tbs of turmeric powder and a little salt. Add 2 cup water and pressure cook it till 2 whistles on low flame. Once cooked keep it aside.
3. Heat Pressure cooker and add remaining mustard oil and one bay leave and 1 Tbs whole Jeera and let it splutter for a few seconds till you get a nice aroma. Now add washed and soaked basmati rice and fry it for 2-3 minutes.
4. Add sauteed vegetables and prepared dal and give it a nice stir.
5. Add all remaining powder masala, turmeric, and salt and saute it for 10-20 seconds. Add 2 cups water and Garam Masala. And mix well.
6. Pressure cook it for 1 whistle on low flame. Take it out in the serving bowl.
7. Heat a tadka pan and add ghee. Once the ghee is melted add remaining item for tadka and let it splutter for few seconds.
8. Pour Tadka on top of khichdi in serving bowl before serving.

It's ready to serve. You can accompany it with varieties of Chutney, Bharta, Raita/Curd, Pickle, Papad, and Ghee.

Accompaniment recipe link -

1. Tamatar ki sweet chutney -
https://maakirasoise.blogspot.com/2020/01/tamatar-ki-mithi-chutney-sweet-tomato.html

2. Aloo Bharta -
https://maakirasoise.blogspot.com/2020/01/aloo-bharta-spicy-mashed-potato.html

3. Dhaniya ki chutney
https://maakirasoise.blogspot.com/2020/01/green-coriander-chutney-dhaniya-ki-hari.html

4. Tamatar ki namkeen chutney
https://maakirasoise.blogspot.com/2020/01/tamatar-ki-namkeen-chutney-tomato-salsa.html

Hope you will like this dish.

I will be back with another flavourful recipe very soon, till then

Bye-bye yummy mummies!!