Dal khichdi(vegetables) in cooker

How to make vegetables Dal khichdi

Vegetables Dal khichdi recipe is one of the best and healthy comfort food one should try once in a week. Dal khichdi is one of the first solid food that babies eat in India.

The rice and lentil(moong Dal) combination in khichdi helps give the right mix of carbohydrate, dietary fiber and protein. It is gluten free vegetarian meal and has all 10 essential amino acids making it a complete protein source.

In this recipe Dal khichdi is made by using green peas, potato, soya beans, moong Dal and toor Dal.

Traditionally it is made with moong Dal( yellow lentils) with rice. But in restaurants Toor Dal is also mixed with moong Dal to make it.

Sometimes Dal khichdi is topped with a tadka. Which is made by using red chilli powder,jeera(cumin) and chopped garlic in hot oil.

Dal khichdi can be made by adding different types of vegetables of your choice.  Like beans , carrot , potato, soya beans and cauliflower. Adding vegetables make it more nutritious and healthy.

If you making Dal khichdi for babies then use only moong Dal and rice.  Don't use spices like red chilli powder, ginger garlic paste and cumin powder.

Preparation

Soak the rice and Dal together in water for 15 to 30 minutes. Peel the potato and cut into small pieces. Similarly soak the soya chunks in water preferably in hot water.

Heat 1 spoon oil with 1 spoon ghee in a pressure cooker and fry the sliced onions and till light brown. Add ginger garlic paste and fry for 30 seconds or till raw smell goes off.
Then add green chilli, cumin powder,Hing powder and turmeric powder and fry. Pour little water and fry the masala for 1 minute.


Add the sliced tomatoes and fry them till soft. After that add the pre soaked Dal and rice with potatoes and green peas . Give them a fine mix.

Wash the soya chunks and remove any excess water by pressing them. Mix with the Dal rice mixture in the pressure cooker.


Pour water into the cooker approximately up to 1 inch above the rice vegetables mixture. Add salt and close the cooker with the lid.


Cook the khichdi for around 10 minutes or up to three whistles in high flame. Switch off the flame and remove the pressure cooker from the gas. Let the pressure goes naturally then open the lid of the cooker.


Remove the khichdi in a plate and serve hot pouring 1 teaspoon of pure ghee over the khichdi.

It can be served to persons who are recovering from illness.  You can add nutritious vegetables in khichdi for them.

You can more recipe made using moong Dal like How to make moong Dal halwa .

Health benefits of moong Dal khichdi

•  Khichdi is good for stomach

It is considered as one of the easy and quick comfort food which is fully nutritious. Moong Dal is rich in protein and low in carbohydrate and is one of the most recommended vegetarians super food . Light and easy to digest.

• Khichdi help in weight loss.

Moong Dal (yellow lentils) is considered to facilitate weight loss. As it is packed with fiber and plat based protein which are known to help with weight lose.

• Moong Dal are rich source of dietary fiber, vitamin C, magnesium, potassium,. Phosphorus and calcium.

• Detoxifies your body.

Khichdi is a perfect detox food. It is tridoshic that means it helps balance the doshas basic elements such as earth, water and fire in our body.  Increase overall energy and immunity levels while stimulating the digestive enzymes.

• Anti-inflammatory

Turmeric is used in Dal khichdi which has natural anti inflammatory effect.

• Reduce blood sugar levels

• Boost heart health

If you love the recipe of vegetables Dal khichdi then I am sure you would love the recipe of Classic veg biryani recipe as well.

To cook vegetables Dal khichdi or simply Dal khichdi in a pressure cooker we need 2 to 3 whistles in high flame . And it take around 10 minutes. You should add water approximately 1 inch above the rice mixture surface.

Serving Suggestions

Dal khichdi is best served hot with:

• ghee, papad, pickle, and curd (the classic “चार यार” combination).

• roasted papad or masala fryums for crunch.

• kadhi or raita as a side dish.

Variations of Khichdi

• Vegetable Masala Khichdi – add garam masala, ginger, and green chili for a spicy version.

• Palak Dal Khichdi – add pureed spinach for extra iron and nutrition.

• Gujarati Khichdi – keep it simple with just moong dal, rice, and ghee.

• Protein-packed Soya Khichdi – like yours, with soya chunks for complete protein.

What is Kichari ?

Kichari is a traditional dish from Indian subcontinent. It is mainly a Ayurvedic dish. Kichari is known for its ability to detox the body and balance all three doshas, namely vata, pita and kapha.

It provides ample nutrients while pushing the junk out of our body.

These Kichari is made with moong Dal, rice and vegetables with spices and ghee.
Moong Dal ( yellow lentils) has the ability to remove toxic from body like pesticides and insecticides.

Vegetable Dal Khichdi Recipe

A wholesome and protein-packed khichdi made with rice, moong dal, peas, potatoes, and soya chunks. Comforting, nutritious, and gluten-free.

Prep Time: 15 min Cook Time: 10 min Servings: 2 Author: Mobasir Hassan

Ingredients

• 1 cup rice
• 1/2 cup moong dal
• 2 medium potatoes (optional)
• 2/3 cup green peas
• 1/2 cup soya chunks
• 2 medium onions (sliced)
• 1 tomato (sliced)
• 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/4 tsp asafoetida (hing)
• 1 green chili (slit)
• 2 tsp ghee
• 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
• Coriander leaves for garnish

Instructions

1. Soak rice and dal for 15–30 minutes. Soak soya chunks in warm water for 10 minutes.
2. Heat oil + 1 tsp ghee in a pressure cooker. Fry onions till golden, add ginger-garlic paste.
3. Add cumin, hing, turmeric and sauté with a splash of water. Add tomatoes and cook till soft.
4. Mix soaked rice, dal, potato, peas, and squeezed soya chunks.
5. Pour water 1 inch above the rice mixture. Add salt, cover and cook for 3 whistles (10 min).
6. Let pressure release naturally. Serve hot with 1 tsp ghee on top.

Serving Tips

In India there’s a saying – “Khichdi ke chaar yaar: Dahi, Ghee, Achar, aur Papad.” Serve khichdi with curd, pickle, papad, and an extra drizzle of ghee.

Nutritional Value (per serving)

• Calories: 264 kcal
• Fat: 13 g
• Carbs: 29.8 g
• Protein: 7.8 g
• Fiber: 4.8 g
• Cholesterol: 0 g

Chef Notes

• If skipping vegetables, increase dal to 1 cup for a richer taste.
• Can add carrots, beans, or cauliflower instead of potatoes.
• A teaspoon of ghee before serving enhances flavor and aroma.

FAQ

Q. Which dal is best for khichdi?
Moong dal is the healthiest and easiest to digest, making it perfect for khichdi.

Q. Can I make khichdi without a pressure cooker?
Yes, cook in a pot with enough water until rice and dal turn soft, though it will take longer.

Q. How to make khichdi healthier?
Add more vegetables, use brown rice or quinoa, and finish with a drizzle of ghee.

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                    Recipe notes

•  In this recipe I have taken half cup Dal(lentils) as I am using different types of vegetables. If not using vegetables then take  same amount of dal as rice (1 cup). You will get a much tastier khichdi.

• You can use vegetables like carrot, beans, cauliflower. I have used Soya beans, which provides protein.

• Use of potato (aloo) is totally optional.

•  Before serving khichdi topped with one teaspoon of ghee.

You can read more healthy homemade recipes :-

• Veg biryani recipe in cooker

• Healthy palak recipe jeera Methi Palak

• Homestyle jeera aloo recipe