Wholesome and delicious are the two words to best describe this very easy-to-make dish. It combines the goodness of red meat, lentils, rice and vegetables all into one dish. Talk about convenient!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Basmati rice
- 1 cup Saboot Masoor daal (whole red lentils)
- 2 cups chopped mixed vegetables of your choice (I use the frozen variety for convenience or when I'm in a hurry!)
- 500 gms minced meat (beef, lamb, chicken...)
- 3 tbsps vegetable/ canola/ sunflower cooking oil
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 large onion chopped fine
- 1 tsp ginger paste
- 2 tsps garlic paste
- 2 large tomatoes chopped fine
- 2 tsps coriander powder
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tbsp garam masala
- 2 chicken stock cubes
- Salt to taste
Preparation:
- Wash and soak the rice and lentils in separate bowls and keep aside.
- Heat the oil in a pressure cooker, on a medium flame, till hot. Add the cumin seeds and cook till they stop spluttering.
- Add the chopped onions and fry till transparent.
- Add the ginger and garlic pastes and fry for a minute. Now add all the powdered spices and mix well. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add the tomatoes and cook till the oil begins to separate from the masala and the tomatoes are pulpy.
- Add the minced meat and lentils. Cook till the meat is browned well.
- Add the vegetables, rice, stock cubes and 4 cups of water. Taste and season with salt if necessary. Mix well. Cover the pressure cooker and cook till you hear the first whistle/ pressure release. Simmer and cook for two more whistles/ pressure releases.
- Turn off the fire and allow the Khichdi to rest (without removing pressure cooker lid) for 10 minutes. Now remove lid and mix well. The Khichdi should be fairly wet and porridge-like in consistency.
- Serve piping hot with any yogurt side dish.
