Khichdi is a tasty and healthy one-pot wholesome Indian meal. It is a fiber-rich and easy-to-digest meal. Traditionally Khichdi is prepared with Dal, broken wheat, and a few other ingredients. This healthy Khichdi can be served for breakfast, lunch or dinner along with raita.
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What is Khichdi?
Khichdi is a traditional and simple one-pot meal usually made with dal and broken wheat(Dalia). It is a healthy and refreshing meal that is very light and helps in digestion. And it is an overall package of nutrition, minerals, and vitamins that require for our body for a healthy life. And it can be prepared in under 30 minutes.
You could also find similar light meals below.
How to make Khichdi?
Even though it is traditionally made with Dal, I have used tomato to prepare the Khichdi shared here in this post. This is one of my favorite recipes and my family loves it a lot each time I make it. And here in this part, let see how to make/prepare this delicious dish.
To make this khichdi, initially, in a pressure cooker with medium heat I poured oil and added the Indian whole spices and green chilies mentioned in the recipe card below. Then I allowed the spices to turn aromatic without burning them which helps the dish to be super flavorful and delicious.
After that, I added the onions and was allowed to cook until it turns soft. Then I included ginger garlic paste, turmeric powder, salt and gave a sauté until the raw aroma has left. Subsequently, I have added the chili powder and gave a good mix.
Afterward, I added the tomatoes and allowed them to turn mushy. Then I added the mint leaves and gave a quick sauté. After that, I added the Dalia/broken wheat and gave a good mix (at this stage, you can also add moong dal). Then I poured the water, coriander leaves and gave a final mix.
Following that, I closed the lid of the pressure cooker and allowed it to cook for 4 whistles. Then opened the lid and gave a gentle mix. Here I have used the pressure cooker for speeding up the cooking process of Dalia khichdi. But you could also go with a pan or pot which might take a little longer time. Finally, served this delicious healthy khichdi with curd raita.
Tips
The key to getting a tasty and flavorful daliya khichdi is to sauté the whole Indian spices in medium heat without burning them. I suggest you follow the same to enjoy a bowl of aromatic khichdi. Even though it is uncommon to add mint and coriander leaves, I love to add them in my khichdi which gives a fresh flavor similar to the biryani. I would recommend the same to enjoy its rich taste and I believe you will not regret it!
When it comes to washing daliya, I would suggest you wash it in a fine strainer and you could use it for cooking directly. Another option is to bulk wash it in a fine strainer and sundry it. By doing this, you could add it instantly whenever you make a dish out of Dalia.
This cracked wheat khichdi is an easy and healthy one-pot meal that suits for weekday or weekend meal plan. And I hope you will try and enjoy this dish with your family and loved ones.
Serving Suggestions
This delicious cracked wheat khichdi prepared in a pressure cooker tastes great on its own but you could also serve it with curd raita and vegetable salad for a complete nutritious meal.
Related Recipes
You could also find similar recipes below and more at Breakfast Recipes.
Looking for easy breakfast recipes to kick start your busy mornings? Then you could also check this collection of Indian Vegetarian Breakfast Recipes and Indian Vegetarian Lunch Recipes to plan your day and enjoy with your family and loved ones.
Khichdi recipe video
I have also shared a video of this khichdi recipe and I believe it will help you to make a flavorful and tasty khichdi at home. For a quick reference, you could also find the recipe in story format.
📖 Recipe
Khichdi
Ingredients
- 1 cup Broken Wheat, daliya
- 2 Bay Leaves
- 1 Star Anise
- 5 Cardamom
- 3 Cloves
- 4 Cinnamon Stick, small
- 1 tsp Fennel Seeds
- 3 Green Chili, slited
- 2 Onion, sliced
- 2 tsp Ginger Garlic Paste
- ½ tsp Turmeric Powder
- 1½ tsp Chili Powder
- Salt, as needed
- ¼ cup Mint Leaves
- 3 cups Water
- ¼ cup Coriander Leaves
- ¼ cup Oil
Instructions
To prepare Khichdi
- In a pressure cooker with medium heat, pour oil and add bay leaves, star anise, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon sticks, fennel seeds, green chili, and saute until it turns aromatic
- Add onions and saute until it turns soft
- Now add the ginger-garlic paste, turmeric powder, salt, and saute until the raw aroma leaves. And then Add chili powder and give a nice mix
- Now add the tomatoes and saute until they turn mushy
- Add the mint leaves and give a quick saute
- Now add the broken wheat/daliya split and give a nice mix
- Add water, coriander leaves, and give a final stir
- Close the lid of the pressure/rice cooker with the regulator on and cook for 4 whistles. Switch off the heat and allow the pressure to release naturally
- Open the lid and fluff gently. Now the tomato khichdi is ready for you to taste and enjoy
To Serve
- Serve the delicious daliya tomato khichdi with curd raita or as it is
Video
Notes
- The key to getting a perfect aroma-filled broken wheat tomato khichdi is to saute the whole Indian spices in medium heat. Burning them would give a bitter taste to the khichdi
- The recipe is made without vegetables but you could also use beans, carrots, green peas to make it extra nutritious
- I have used oil for making this khichdi but you can also add ghee for rich flavor and taste
- Even though I prepared this khichdi in a pressure cooker, it can be easily made in an Instant pot too
Nutrition
FAQ
Cracked or broken wheat is nothing but the coarse form of whole wheat grain. The whole wheat grain is cracked or broken into fine kernels without undergoing any refining process. It is also called daliya, samba, or godhuma Rava in other Indian languages.
Yes, Khichdi is a healthy dish for its rich fiber content, nutrients, and iron. It is also light which helps for easy digestion and makes a comforting meal.
The quick and easy way to cook the broken wheat is by pressure cooker method with a 1:2 wheat and water ratio. Similarly, we can also cook it in one pot method with 1:3 Rava water ratio in low medium heat and until broken wheat absorbs all the water.
Yes, this broken wheat khichdi is a perfect vegan-friendly dish.
I really hope you enjoyed the recipe that I have shared here and I would love to hear from you on how it turned out for you. Please let me know.
If you have any other questions, feel free to post them in the comment section below and I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
Happy Cooking!
Radhika Sharma.
I feel that many of us dislike this Indian dish since we take it mostly when got sick but the way you explained its ingredients especially adding the tomatoes and saute never came to my mind. I am sure it could turn out to be the most delicious food if cooked your way.
Recently, I ate this khichdi at one of the restaurants & It was really fine in taste.
Sangeetha Vel
Hi Radhika,
Thank you for your kind feedback and I am very glad that you liked way the dish was prepared 🙂