Niramish Khichuri (Medley of rice, lentils and vegetables)

Khichuri cooked with Gobindobhog rice and dry roasted yellow lentils, dotted with colourful winter vegetables, flavored with ghee and whole garam masala is a dish that is very close to my heart. If you are a regular reader, by now you must have known how all food that I cook are connected to some of my memories. But this niramish Khchuri has a special place in all Bengali’s Memory of Saraswati Puja (Goddess of education and arts). The somewhat runny variety of this dish served at the schools and colleges during the puja gathering with bandhakopi’r ghanto (dry cabbage dish) and watery tomato chutney (tomato chatni) is something every Bengali has tasted and has some sweet n sour memories associated with it.

Saraswati, the Hindu Goddess of wisdom and knowledge is worshipped on Vasant Panchami or the fifth day of Bengali month ‘Magh’. This is considered as a very auspicious day and children are taught to write their first words in front of the Goddess, this custom is known as ‘Hatekhori’ where kids write the spiritual word ‘Om’ in front of the Goddess on slate and chalk.

The puja is a part of social celebration and are mostly organized by the schools and colleges.The student community celebrates this festival with great enthusiasm. One obvious reason is to worship the goddess to score better marks in exams but another not so obvious reason is on this day they get that, much required freedom to mingle in the pandal area… often this puja is beckoned as the Bengali version of Valnetines day with so many would be couples getting chance to go for an outing and for others it plays as the perfect breeding ground for their budding love stories.

Students also place their books in front of the goddess statue and reading is not allowed on this day. That makes it a very special one for the kids. Yong girls wearing yellow or Basanti sarees and boys clad in Kurta pajama are seen in the school campus, offering Puspanjali or mass chanting of Mantras and offerings of flowers to the Deity or enjoying the day with each other. Often cultural programmes are arranged at night and the Goddess is worshipped with devotion.

This niramish khichuri or vegetarian version (without even onion and garlic) of khichuri or khichri is also called Bhoger khichuri as this is prepared and offered to the Goddess and are made at each and every household and puja pandals. Everyone in our family is a fan of this simple dish especially if prepared by Baba (father). He has this amazing talent of making awesome khichris even with leftover rice. His bhuni khichri (dry khichri) is to die for. Here hubby and I are both khichuri buff, we make it quite often as it is mildly spiced and does not require much side dish. I recently have come to know that according to Ayurveda this light khichuri is also known to prepare one’s body for detoxification or cleansing. Even during detox process also this food is consumed in moderation. In the process of Panchakarma or Ayrvedic cleansing and rejuvenation plan it is said that whole grains and vegetables create a more alkaline (vs. acid) environment in the body, which supports the cleansing and detox process. For more information see HERE And HERE 

 Niramish Khichuri (serves 2)

Ingredients:

Gobindobhog rice or any fragrant rice: 11/4 cups

Yellow lentil: 3/4 cup

Vegetables like green peas, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, beans etc cut in big chunks

Tomato: 1 big

Ginger: 2” Piece

Cumin powder: ¾ tsp

Coriander powder: ¾ tsp

Green chillies: 2 pieces (optional)

For Tempering:

Ghee: 1 tbsp

Bay leaf: 1

Dry red chilli: 1 piece

Cumin seeds: ½ tsp

Cardamom: 2 pieces

Clove: 2 pieces

cinnamon: 1" piece

Garam masala powder: ½ tsp

Method:
In a big pan or kadhai dry roast the yellow lentil till they are very lightly browned and release a nice roasted aroma. Wash the lentils 2-3 times and let it boil with sufficient (6-7 cups) water, turmeric, green chillies and ½ inch grated ginger. Don’t add the salt at this stage as that will slow down the process of boiling.

Once the lentils are half boiled add the whole tomato, salt and other vegetables. Let it cook on slow for another 7-8 minutes.

Wash the rice and add it to the boiling lentil. Mix well. Check seasoning and let everything boil together till it’s soft and done.

When the Lentil and rice mixture is done heat the ghee or oil in a small pan. Temper with cumin seeds, dry red chilli, whole garam masala and bay leaf.

When it releases the aroma add in the ginger paste, cumin-coriander powder mixed in 2 tbsp of water. Cook the masala till oil separates at the sides.

Mix this masala to the lentil mixture and stir to mix everything. Cook for another 5 minutes, sprinkle the garam masala powder and the tasty khichri is ready.if you like sprinkle some extra ghee and roasted kaju on top.

Serve this with fried potatoes, Raita, papad or any other side dish of your choice.

We had ours with some fried potaoes (with skin) with salt and turmeric, flavored with a pinch of nigella seeds, green chillies and sprinkled with poppy seeds at the end to give it the extra crunch. Yummy.

A Homemaker's Tips:
instead you dont get Gobindobhog rice use aromatic Basmati and use more bay leaves.

Never cook this khichuri in pressure cooker or you will end up with a thick mass of overcooked rice.

Events:

This healthy and tasty Khichuri goes to Anita's APS: Rice.


Have a great week friends!

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