What you are seeing is a wonderful Moong Dal Palak Khichdi that is cooked entirely in buttermilk. Over the past month I have been making as many one-pot meals as possible. This is because my father has 9 stitches to the middle finger of his right hand; trophy of a minor accident during home repairs. As a result, he cannot eat with his fingers and uses a spoon.
Also, this past Saturday, the heat finally let up and Mumbai was cloudy heralding the monsoon. It was in my opinion the perfect Khichidi weather. I had a lot of Palak at home and so I decided to make Moong Dal Palak Khichidi. If I did it my way, I would have just added Palak to the regular Khichdi. Then I came across this recipe Hare Moong ki Khichdi with Palak on Chef Sanjeev Kapoor‘s site and decided to try that. I was intrigued by the use of buttermilk as a cooking medium. The way I saw it it was Kadhi-Khichidi in one!
This Moong Dal Palak Khichdi turned out to be a delight with a slightly tangy taste from the buttermilk and is now on its way to being a staple in my home.
How to Make Moong Dal Palak Khichdi
Serves: 4
Soaking Time: 60 Mins
Cooking Time: 45 Mins
Ingredients
- Rice – 1.5 Cups
- Whole Moong or Split Moong (with Skin) – 3/4 Cup
- Finely Chopped Palak or Spinach – 3 Cups
- Buttermilk – 5 Cups
- Green Chillies – 3
- Cloves – 6
- Cumin – 1.5 tsp
- Ghee – 2-3 tbsp
- Turmeric – 1/4 tsp
- Salt to Taste
Preparations
- Soak the Moong Dal in 2 Cups water for 1 hour.
- Drain the water.
- Set aside
- Soak the rice in water for about 15 minutes.
- Drain the water.
- Set aside.
- Slit the green chillies.
To Make Moong Dal Palak Khichdi
- In a pressure cooker or a heavy bottomed vessel, heat 2 tbsp ghee.
- Add the cumin and cloves and stir-fry till the cumin starts to change colour.
- Add the drained dal and rice.
- Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes.
- Turn the heat to low.
- Add the spinach, turmeric, green chillies, and salt.
- Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the buttermilk and 3/4 tsp salt.
- Mix well.
- Over medium heat, pressure cook for 4 whistles.
- Do not open the pressure cooker for at least 10 minutes.
- Open the pressure cooker.
- Mix well.
- Add salt, if required, and mix well.
- Serve hot topped with a generous dollop of ghee!
Tips
- I had split green moong at home and I used it to make this khichdi.
- Be sure to turn the heat to low before adding the spinach etc. in step 6. This allows the temperature to come down so that when you add the buttermilk it will not curdle.
- In my opinion, the Moong Dal Palak Khichdi does not even need papad or achar as a side. I just washed it down with some Masala Chaas.
I love khichdi! Never tried cooking it buttermilk though. Sounds yum 😀
Do do, Garima. It is awesome.
Have to!
Khichdi and buttermilk both being favourites, this needs to be tried 🙂
Khichdi cooked in buttermilk is new to me. Sounds so interesting, can’t wait to try.
I had this in an restaraunt recently and wondered what was different now I figure out. Khichdi, though I prefer pongal 🙂 southie in me I guess is an comfort food.
I guess the buttermilk imparts a slightly different flavor to the dish. Going to try it ! 🙂
Absolutely!
Cooking khichdi in buttermilk is going to be totally new to me, will try this for sure! 🙂 Hope your dad is feeling better now 🙂
Oh your poor father – sounds like mine with his DIY. I’m sure he must be happy wth the lovley meals you are reparing if they are all like this….delicious!
Can we cook it with water
Yes, you can. The taste will be different.:-)
Bookmarked to try, very interesting 🙂
Reblogged this on MAXIMUSOPTIMUSDOMINUS.
Very tasty we make this at home with out the butter milk or curd.sothat the dish is parve(not meat or dairy). Must try once
I love this khichdi but never cooked in buttermilk. Must be rich and delicious. Will try it this way next time.
It is a cloudy rainy day here today Aruna and that khichadi is just the perfect comfort food I need! Yummy!
I was about to type a comment while scrolling I released all my blog friends also told it:-) cooking kichadi with buttermilk is new to me as well.. With green and dal sounds a grt protein packed dish
wow love the addition of buttermilk.. These one pot meals are life savers.. 🙂
Khichidi cooked in buttermilk, sounds interesting… looks delish Aruna. …
This looks delicious! I love all the good stuff going into this easy to eat dish. Hope your dad gets well soon!
I love the idea of buttermilk. Scrumptious.
Have a super day.
🙂 Mandy xo
NIce dish. Simple question: How can I prepare buttermilk? Can it done by adding water to curd and churning it for sometime?
Absolutely. Just mix 1 part yogurt with 1part water.
Thank you. I will definitely prepare this dish. 🙂
Thank you
delicious and healthy