Khichuri

Khichuri is a quintessential Indian comfort food, eaten often when you feel sick or on rainy days. Households across India prepare this dish in different ways, but this is how my family likes it. I already know this is going to become a staple for me back home!

For the recipe video, visit our Instagram @thakurmaskitchen.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup rice, soaked and drained

• 1 cup mixed red and yellow lentils, soaked and drained

• 1 small red onion, diced

• 2 small tomatoes, diced

• 1-2 green chilis, halved

• 3 tbs ghee mixed with neutral oil (or to make it vegan, just use oil)

• 1 tsp cumin seeds

• 1.5 tsp turmeric powder

• 1/2 tsp Kashmiri chili powder

• 1/2 tsp garam masala (optional)

• 2 tsp salt, or to taste

• Pinch of sugar (secret ingredient!)

• Boiling water to cover

Directions

1. Soak lentils and rice together until the lentils are soft enough to pierce with your nail (30 minutes to an hour).

2. Heat ghee/oil mixture in a pressure cooker on medium-high flame until shimmering. If using an InstantPot, select “Saute” function.

3. Splutter cumin seeds with green chili in ghee/oil. Reduce the flame to keep the cumin seeds from burning.

4. Add red onion, stir to coat, and cook until softened.

5. Add tomatoes and stir to coat.

6. Add 1/2 tsp salt to help release moisture from the onion/tomato mixture. Increase the flame to medium-high.

7. Add 1.5 tsp turmeric and 1/2 tsp Kashmiri chili powder.

8. When tomatoes have softened, add the rice/lentil mixture and 1/2 tsp garam masala, and stir to coat. Fry until fragrant.

9. Add enough boiling water to cover the mixture by an inch.

10. Add the remaining salt (1.5 tsp, or to taste), and pinch of sugar.

11. Bring the contents to a boil. When it reaches a boil, seal the pressure cooker and wait until the first whistle.

12. After the first whistle, reduce the flame to medium and set a timer for 3 minutes. If using an InstantPot, seal the InstantPot and select pressure cook on high for 3 minutes.

13. After 3 minutes, turn off the flame and wait for the pressure to subside. You can tell a pressure cooker is ready to be open when there is no sound when you move the whistle.

14. Open the cooker and stir to ensure desired consistency. If the mixture is too thick, add some hot water to taste.