Valachi Khichdi

Name: Valachi Khichdi
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: maharashtrian
Ingredients: 1 cup val beans (dried, soaked overnight and sprouted); 0.75 cup rice (short grain or regular, washed); 1 pcs onion (medium, finely chopped); 1 pcs tomato (medium, finely chopped); 2 pcs green chili (slit); 1 inch ginger (grated); 4 pcs garlic (cloves, crushed); 2 tbsp oil; 0.5 tsp mustard seeds; 0.5 tsp cumin seeds; 1 pinch asafoetida; 1 pinch turmeric powder; 1 pinch red chili powder; 1 tsp goda masala; 6 pcs curry leaves; 2 tbsp fresh coconut (grated); 2 tbsp cilantro (chopped); 1 tbsp lime juice; 0.5 tsp salt; 3 cup water; 1 tbsp ghee (for finishing)

RATING

4.2/5(32)

TASTE SCORE

7/10

A comforting Maharashtrian khichdi made with rice and sprouted val beans, gently spiced and cooked until soft. It is homely, filling, and especially good with a spoon of ghee and a squeeze of lime.

PREP

20m

COOK

30m

SERVES

1 KATORI

429 cal

SERVINGS

METHOD · 9 STEPS

prep · ~1 min
Soak and sprout the val beans.
Wash the dried val beans and soak them in plenty of water overnight. Drain, tie them in a cloth or keep covered in a sprouting container for 10 to 12 hours, until short sprouts appear.
TIPShort, fresh sprouts give the best texture and mild sweetness.
prep · ~10 min
Rinse the rice and ready the vegetables.
Wash the rice until the water runs mostly clear. Chop the onion and tomato, slit the green chilies, crush the garlic, grate the ginger, and keep the coconut and cilantro ready.
temper · ~2 min
Make the tempering.
1.Heat oil in a pressure cooker over medium heat.
2.Add mustard seeds and let them splutter.
3.Add cumin seeds, asafoetida, and curry leaves.
4.Stir for a few seconds until fragrant.
TIPKeep the heat medium so the spices bloom without burning.
saute · ~7 min
Cook the onion and aromatics.
1.Add the chopped onion and cook until soft and light golden.
2.Add green chilies, ginger, and garlic.
3.Sauté for 1 minute until the raw smell fades.
saute · ~5 min
Add tomato and spices.
1.Add the chopped tomato and cook until soft and pulpy.
2.Add turmeric powder, red chili powder, goda masala, and salt.
3.Mix well and cook for 1 minute.
mix · ~2 min
Mix in the val beans and rice.
Add the sprouted val beans and rinsed rice to the cooker. Mix gently so the grains stay whole and get coated with the masala.
pressure cook · ~15 min
Pressure cook the khichdi.
Pour in the water and stir once. Close the cooker and cook on medium heat for 3 whistles, then let the pressure drop naturally before opening.
TIPFor a softer khichdi, add an extra 0.5 cup water.
garnish · ~2 min
Finish with coconut, cilantro, lime, and ghee.
Open the cooker and fluff the khichdi gently. Add grated coconut, cilantro, lime juice, and ghee, then mix lightly.
serve · ~1 min
Serve the valachi khichdi hot.
Spoon into katoris and serve hot on its own or with yogurt, pickle, or papad.

PRO TIPS

What to keep in mind.

7 tips from the recipe — small details that make a real difference to the final dish.

1
Use only short sprouts for val; long sprouts can turn slightly bitter and mushy in the cooker.
2
Sauté the onion until just light golden, not dark brown, so the khichdi keeps its soft homely flavor.
3
Cook the tomato down until pulpy before adding rice and val, or the masala can taste raw.
4
After adding rice, stir gently only once or twice so the grains stay whole and not pasty.
5
Let the pressure release naturally; quick release can leave the val beans unevenly cooked.
6
Add lime juice only after cooking, once the pressure cooker is open, to keep the beans tender.
7
If reheating leftovers, loosen with a splash of hot water and finish again with a little ghee.