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Monday 13 November 2017

Bajra Khichdi


Bajra Khichdi is a delicious and healthy variation to the usual rice and dal (lentil)  khichdi in which rice is replaced with pearl millet (Bajra). Bajra khichdi is popular in the Indian states of Haryana and Rajasthan. A wholesome yet light food option, this khichdi is creamy in consistency , is delicious and a great source of protein , iron and folic acid which makes it a perfect food for pregnant women too. Usually served with plain curd or raita and some salad, this makes a comfort food during winters. The khichdi is Onion-garlic free,  mildly spiced and has a unique taste . The traditional recipe does not use any spice powders except the turmeric powder and whole cumin seeds. It does not have any veggies too. I have slightly modified the recipe and added spices and vegetables to suit the taste of my family. A very easy one pot meal which can serve as a breakfast, lunch or brunch.

                                

What is Khichdi?
Khichdi or khichri needs no introduction in India. It has its roots in South India and is cooked in most households in the country. Prepared using rice and lentils (dals) it is mostly fed to small babies as their first solid food. Khichdi is also a comfort food for most of us owing to the convenience of being able to cook the dish in a single simmering pot. There are many variations to khichdi and it becomes a wholesome food and a complete meal by itself when paired with fresh vegetables and spices. 


Khichdi  as Indian Super Food

In 2017, this humble dish (Khichdi) came into news as Indians set the world record by cooking about 918 kg Khichdi dish at the World Food Indian event in Delhi. The dish was prepared using multi-grains, rice, pulses , coarse cereals and vegetables. The move was an attempt to promote the dish as Brand Indian Super food. The traditional dish - relished by both rich and poor , has been selected because it symbolizes the country's unity in diversity. Source

Source: Network18Creative

 Khichdi has a story in my life too. When Kiran and i met for the first time after our engagement, out of curiosity,  i asked him his favourite dish and guess what ..? he spontaneously answered khichdi ! I was like ..what ?? How can khichdi be anyone's favourite dish ? I being a foodie and the fact that i love cooking to the core would learn and cook any dish of the world for him and he just craved for a humble khichdi. The story does not end here. After my marriage , to my surprise, not only he (kiran) alone but everyone in my in-laws family loved khichdi and had it daily for dinner. And the khichdi was mildly spiced and without any vegetables. Poor me..in my parents home we had khichdi only when some one was unwell and hardly once in a month and that too when served with our favourite sweet kadhi. I had no option, until 2 years after marriage, i cooked khichdi for him and Varan Bhat (dal-rice) for me as we both were not in a state to sacrifice our comfort food for each other until then. Then as it happens in most of the arrange marriages, we starting caring for each other's likes slowly and steadily and today after 14 years of marriage, we have khichdi for our dinner twice a week , my favourite Varan Bhat twice a week and on remaining 3 days, we have Jeera RiceFried-rice or Pulao which is our son's favourite :) Now over the years our khichdi too has got a make over. Instead of having a bland khichdi without veggies, now i cook a multi grain khichdi with loads of fresh vegetables, especially green peas, coriander , carrots, potatoes . It has lots of garlic in it and peanuts for a crunch. I some times even adds sprouts and soya chunks to it.

                                   

Video Recipe for Bajra Khichdi

                    


What goes into this Bajra Khichdi - The Ingredients:
  • Bajra / Pearl Millet : Use good quality pearl millet, preferably an organic one. Bajra needs time for cooking and it is therefore necessary to soak the bajra overnight.
  • Skinned and split Green Gram / Moong Dal : I have used both moong dal and bajra in the ratio 1:1.You may add moong dal a bit less if you want a prominent bajra taste to the khichdi.
  • Vegetables:  Traditionally made bajra khichdi does not have any veggie but i have added carrots, green peas and coriander to my khichdi to suit the taste of my family. You may add more veggies or skip it altogether as per your wish. The khichdi is Onion-garlic free though
  • Spices:  Bajra Khichdi is mildly spiced. I have used basic spices like whole cumin seeds, asafoetida, turmeric powder, red chili powder and garam masala. You may skip use of asafoetida for a gluten-free version.
  • Ghee : Bajra Khichdi is typically made in ghee but you may use any cooking oil instead for a vegan version.
  • Salt to Taste.

Related Event: 
                                  
This is an old post that i had published in 2017. I have updated this post Today with new pics and written content, the recipe remains unchanged though. I have many such old posts where, i feel the photography is dull and not appealing or the recipe is not up to the mark( at times, we keep changing our own recipes to make a better version of it). Such posts needs to be updated. All thanks to my dear friend and a fellow blogger, Renu who came up with a Facebook gourmet group, Foodies_Redoing Old posts, where in a bunch of like minded food bloggers can update their old posts with new pics and written contents every 2 week. This is my 25th entry into the event (27th November). The pic below is my old pic of Bajra Khichdi. You can make out the difference between old and new photographs and the food styling techniques.


#Khichdi is the theme for our #118th FoodieMondayBlogHop and this healthy and nutritious bajra khichdi is my contribution towards it. Do check my fellow bloggers post for some more variations of this humble dish.


Dietary Notes:
  • Vegetarian
  • Onion-Garlic free (Jain Recipe)
  • Healthy Winter food
  • Diabetic friendly
  • For a Vegan version, replace ghee with oil
  • For a gluten-free version, skip adding asafoetida (Hing)


Preparation time : 8 hours
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Serves : 4

Ingredients: Measurements used 1 cup = 240 ml
  • 1/2 cup black millet / pearl millet / Bajra
  • 1/2 cup skinned and split green gram / dhuli moong dal
  • 1/4 cup fresh green peas
  • 1 carrot finely chopped
  • 2-3 tablespoon fresh coriander leaves, finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon garam masala (optional)
  • 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds / jeera
  • Pinch of asafoetida / hing
  • 2 teaspoon ghee
  • Salt to taste
Method:
  1. Wash and soak the black millet / bajra in enough water for 6-8 hours / overnight. 

2.  Drain and rinse it in a colander , keep aside. Rinse the green gram well in water .


 3. Heat a pressure cooker and add ghee to it. Add cumin seeds . Once the seeds crackle, add green peas followed by carrot, asafoetida and turmeric powder.


4. Now add green gram and pearl millet and stir fry for 1-2 minutes. Add spice powders ( red chili powder and garam masala ) if using and mix well.



5. Now add 4-5 cups of water depending upon how you like the consistency of your khichdi to be. Garnish its with coriander leaves . Lastly add salt to taste , give a quick stir and put on the lid of the pressure cooker.



6. Pressure cook the khichdi for 5-6 whistles and then simmer for 10 minutes. Put off the flame. Open the lid of the pressure pan, once all the steam has been released .


  7. Creamy delicious Bajra khichdi is ready to serve! Serve it with some raita or plain curd or some salad.


   Recipe Notes:
  • I have used black millet and green gram in 1:1 proportion, you may use 1/2 cup of green gram to 1 cup of black millet if you like the taste of black millet to be prominent.
  • Adding vegetables is purely optional but iwould recommend as it makes the khichdi more wholesome, fiber-rich and delicious.
  • The khichri thickens further as it cools down. 
  • Bajra Khichdi is traditionally served topped with desi ghee.
Would Love To Hear From You !

I hope you would love trying out this healthy and delicious Bajra Khichdi a try. If you do so, feel free to share your feedback with us in the form of likes and comments in the section below this post.

All your suggestions are more than welcome. If you like my work and feel it is worth following, do hit the follow button at the top right corner of this blog. Your appreciations means a lot to me. It gives me the inspiration and motivation to keep doing my work and give my best each time.

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See you soon with yet another healthy creation from my Kitchen. Till then take care and eat right !

Happy Cooking!
Happy Eating!

Regards
Poonam Bachhav


For more khichdi recipes do check out the following posts from this blog


53 comments :

  1. Bajri Khichdi is THE khichdi for winter. Warming and nutritious.

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  2. After seeing this version, m going to include in weekly diet plans 😊

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  3. Now I know just what to do with the bajra I have at home. This is so tempting! :)

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    1. Thank you Priya. Do try out and share your feed back with us

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  4. I love making bajra khichdi and I too love adding veggies to khichdis to make it into a one pot meal. Lovely share for the theme, Poonam. Thanks for choosing the theme for us.

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    1. Yes di adding vegetables to the khichdi makes it so wholesome and filling. Thank you

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  5. What a delicious Nd nutritious khichdi... loveky shots

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  6. Poonam what a healthy share. Loved it. Khichdi looks super tempting. So comforting and yummy.

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  7. What a healthy,delicious Khichdi!Beautiful share!

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  8. Comforting yet rich in fibre.. Lovely

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  9. Innovative recipe !! Bookmarking it.

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  10. This is a delicious khichdi. Looks very inviting!!

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  11. Thanks for sharing keep bringing more.
    I have recently tried it with organic millet , you can see, it was very tasty and healthy.
    bajra dalia online
    "

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  12. Love these sort of whole grain dishes. Lipsmacking Bajra khichdi, inviting and super nutritious dish definitely.

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  13. I have heard of bajara khichdi but never made it at home, its an excellent choice instead of rice in khichdi will try your flavourful recipe soon.

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    1. Thank you Soma. If you have not yet tried this Winter Delicacy, you should give it a try. I am sure you will love it as much as we do.

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  14. Here I have something common with your husband. I too love khichdi. In my in laws home, it used to be considered as a food for sick, so whenever I used to go my parents home, my first demand would be khichdi. Now things have changed . I too have started making it weekly and my family knows that there is something special too in khichdi beyond that blandness.

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  15. This is a healthy grain .. I use the flour but never tried bajra seeds/grains. I will make this khichdi.

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    1. Thank you. This bajra khichdi is indeed wholesome and nutritious. Just perfect food for winters.

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  16. Beautiful and healthy share! I love one-pot dishes, especially when they look so gorgeous too! Khichdi is one my favorites; will try with bajra soon :) Thanks for sharing dear!

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    1. Glad that you liked it. Please do give it a try.

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  17. Khichdi with bajra sounds interesting and healthy. Looks so flavourful and delicious. Lovely share Poonam.

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  18. That's an awesome story behind the kichidi Poonam..Similar to this happens in every marriage I believe..The kichidi looks delicious though..with the vegetables,it's a comfort food on cold weather days

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  19. Bajra khichri is one healthy dose of one pot meal. thanks for the detail explanation.

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    1. Absolutely Renu ! Do give it a try, I. Sure you would love it.

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  20. Bajra khichdi sounds hehealthy and delicious. Perfect for chilled winter days. I would love to have this comforting and yummy khichdi anytime.

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  21. This is a healthy twist to the usual khichdi. Loved your narration about this humble food Poonam.

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  22. One of my favourite khichdi of all time and I make it so often and specially during winters. Khichdi looks delicious and I love your presentation.

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  23. winter made extra special with this bajri khichdi.. my husband is a huge khichdi fan & i will try this soemetime..

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    1. You are right Kalyani. Winters and bajra khichdi g hand in hand. Do give it a try and share your feedback with us.

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  24. :D read your khichidi story! In any marriage you need to compromise. The bajra khichidi looks delicious and I want to grab the plate just for myself.

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    1. Thank you.This bajra khichdi is a soulful food indeed and i can have it anyday.

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  25. Bajra khichdi sounds so comfort and very healthy. I would love to add this on my meals, khichdi looks so delicious and loved your beautiful clicks.

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