Moong dal Khichdi Recipe is a comforting Indian style rice and lentil dish which is simple, easy and so healthy! This humble recipe is perfect for when you want to cook something simple and wholesome.
There are days when all of us want to eat something simple and comforting. For those of us who do the cooking, we definitely appreciate a quick no fuss recipe that is not only simple but also very wholesome and yummy. Whenever I want to cook something comforting and simple, I either make some Rasam rice or pongal or this moong dal khichdi recipe.
Khichdi is very similar to a pongal. They both are rice and lentil based and they are both mushy and comforting in nature. I would say Khichdi is a cross between a sambar rice and a pongal. It is not very flavorsome as a sambar rice but not bland like a pongal either. It has a fine balance between the two!
So what is a Khichdi?
Khichdi is a one pot rice and lentil recipe with or without vegetables, where in the rice and lentils are cooked along with some simple spices and usually served with lots of ghee and a side of yogurt and papad. It is a dish that is usually served when people aren’t feeling well, but that doesn’t mean you should eat it only when you are sick. The simple flavors and spices like tirmeric, cumin etc is supposed to be very forgiving for those who are unwell.
This Moong dal Khichdi is one of the easiest recipes you will make. It is a simple one pot dish that can be done even the novice cooks. All you do is make a simple tadka with cumin, asafoetida and other spices. Cook some onions and tomatoes for few minutes and cook the rice and lentils with the spices and vegetables. It is highly unlikely that you will do anything wrong in this recipe.
Why should you make this Moong dal Khichdi recipe?
This khichdi is
- Comforting
- Simple
- Easy
- Can be made Vegan
- Healthy and wholesome
Changes you can make in this recipe-
You can make this khichdi with Quinoa / brown rice instead of white rice. If you do so, just adjust the cook times accordingly. Quinoa will need lesser time to cook, whereas brown rice will need more.
This dish is very baby / toddler friendly too. If making it for the babies, reduce / omit the green chillies and red chilly powder.
You can also make this dish with red lentils, green moong dal or toor dal.
If you like this recipe, you will like these recipes too which are just as comforting
Let’s see how to do this delicious Moong dal Khichdi recipe
Moong dal Khichdi Recipe is a comforting Indian style one pot rice and lentil dish with spices like turmeric, cumin and tomatoes.
- 3/4 cup rice
-
1/2
cup
Moong Dal 
- 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
-
1/8
tsp
Asafoetida - 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tbsp ginger – garlic – green chilli minced / paste
- 1 bayleaf
- 3/4 cup finely chopped onions
- 1 cup chopped tomatoes
- 1/2 cup green peas
- salt to taste
- 1/2 tbsp ghee / oil (vegans use any neutral tasting oil like avocado oil)
-
Soak the rice and moong dal in water for a minimum of 15 to 20 minutes
-
Switch on the saute mode in your instant pot. When it becomes hot, add the oil/ ghee and add the cumin seeds, bay leaf, turmeric powder, asafoetida and let the cumin splutter.
-
Now add the ginger-garlic-green chillies and saute for 30 seconds. Then add the chopped onions, a pinch of salt and saute until the onions turns soft.
-
When that is done, add the tomatoes, and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Switch off the saute mode.
-
Now add the soaked rice and moong dal, green peas, 3 cups water, salt as needed and cook on manual / pressure cook mode for 12 minutes.
-
Release pressure after 6 minutes or naturally.
-
Serve hot topped with chopped cilantro leaves and ghee.
-
Optional – You can again make a tadka by heating some ghee/ oil in a pan and when it becomes hot, add 1/8tsp asafoetida, 1/3 tsp chilly powder. Add it to the khichdi in the end before serving.
-
Soak the rice and moong dal in water for a minimum of 15 to 20 minutes
-
Heat the pressure cooker and add the oil/ghee. When it becomes hot, add the oil/ ghee and add the cumin seeds, bay leaf, turmeric powder, asafoetida and let the cumin splutter.
-
Now add the ginger-garlic-green chillies and saute for 30 seconds. Then add the chopped onions, a pinch of salt and saute until the onions turns soft.
-
When that is done, add the tomatoes, and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Now add the soaked rice and moong dal, green peas, 3 cups water, salt as needed.
-
Pressure cook for 3 whistles and release pressure naturally.
-
Open and add some chopped cilantro and ghee (optional) and mix.
-
Optional – You can again make a tadka by heating some ghee/ oil in a pan and when it becomes hot, add 1/8tsp asafoetida, 1/3 tsp chilly powder. Add it to the khichdi in the end before serving.
- You can substitute the rice with Quinoa. In that case, reduce the cooking time and cook it only for 6 minutes.
- This recipe can also be done without the onions. If you wish to do so just skip the onions.
- You can also add other mixed veggies like beans, carrots in the recipe along with green peas.
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I am going to try today. It seems very easy. I am new to this Instant pot.