MOONG DAL KHICHDI

Preparation of MOONG DAL KHICHDI : 

                           Moong Dal!!! Khichdi, well according to me it is very healthy.Sometimes we feel "Khichdi".....mmm what a patient meal?But that's not a patient's meal but, a nutritious diet. I have tried to make this Khichdi more interesting n tasty even nutritious.Do you know! moong is an excellent source of folic acid and good source of magnesium,phosphorus and thiamin.Of course it contains protein also.According to my hubby we should have Khichdi once in a week as a compulsory dish.As it is mild for stomach so, it  rejuvenates  stomach after all weekdays spicy, oily fooding. 

      Khichdi means mixture,you can say medley of rice, dals and vegetables.Having so many things in one pot already means it is very healthy.You can make it spicy or simple depending upon your taste and mood,just by doing variation in dals, vegetables and spices.Some Indians prefer Khichdi as compulsory diet on Saturday to get rid of ill effects of Saturn planet also.Whatever you think just try it!!!!

Ingredients: 

•      Rice - 1 cup
•      Yellow moong dal - ½ cup
•      Curry leaves - 4 to 5
•       Dried red chilies - 2-3
•       Garam masala - 1 tbsp
•       Asafoetida - a pinch
•       Turmeric powder - ½ tbsp
•       Ground cumin and desiccated - 2 tbsp
•        Coconut powder
•        Oil - 2 tbsp
•        Salt and sugar to taste
•        Freshly grated coconut and coriander for garnishing

Method:

• Clean and wash the rice and dal and mix them.
• Soak and drain the dal and rice mixture and keep for about 15 mins.
• Heat oil, add curry leaves and dried red chilies and asafoetida.
• Add the soaked and drained rice and dal mixture and add turmeric powder and mix well.
• Add 3 cups of hot water and mix well.
• Now add the garam masala, ground cumin and desiccated coconut powder, salt and sugar and mix well.
• Cook in pressure cooker/rice cooker till done.
• Garnish with freshly grated coconut and coriander.
• Ready to serve.

TIPS:

• You can make watery khichdi or dry khichdi by changing the consistency of water . 
• You can make it more tastier and nutritious by trying seasonal vegetables, different varieties of dals(legumes).
• You can serve it with Butter or desi ghee, papads and pickles.

Do you know:

• Scientific name of Moong dal (Split green gram)  : Phaseolus aureux roxb
• Scientific name of Rice : Oryza sativa
• Moong dal is an excellent source of folic acid and good source of magnesium, phosphorus and thiamin.
• Rice is rich source of fiber and good source of potassium, phosphorus and trace minerals. But milling process removes many of its nutrition during processing.
  
• India is still one of the leading producer of green gram.
• Most of the world's rice is grown in Asia.