Thursday, August 9, 2012

Dalia Khichdi (Broken wheat and Lentil medley with loads of vegetables)

The recipe that am going to share today always transports me back to my childhood. I can visualize Maa standing in our tiny kitchen prepping for this dish. Chopping loads of vegetables in her unique Bonti which is clasped on the countertop to spare her from sitting on the floor to use it. With every deft movement of her hands her bangles making a jingling sound. Some stray hairs sticking to the sweat on her forehead, the way she uses the back of her hand to remove it falling in her eyes. The sizzling sound of spices in hot oil, that pungent aroma of spices…almost seems surreal.

I loved watching her in the kitchen. She is a multi tasker in all its true senses. Was married at 18 and by 23 she had 3 kids to manage the whole family and a very busy husband with a much demanding job. Still she managed to finish her studies and did her masters. Life for her has always been tugh and there was never enough time for herself but she never let that come in her way and managed to do everything she wanted to. Today we are proud to have a Mom who is a well-known Entrepreneur in her own rights. Today when TV Channels take her interview for documentery on successful women entrepreneur I feel proud. But what they don’t get to see is the sweat and determination that she ahd to put in in this long journey.

As a mother of a 3 year old I know how easy it is to call it quits when the going gets tough. But she never considered that as an option. I can still remember those days when she fed all three of us, packed lunch and send us all of to school and then went for her art classes in the renowned Kalabhawana of Visva Bharati university. She used to wake up at 4 AM to do her art works and finished the course as a batch topper. The beginning of her business journey wasn’t easy at all. Scarcity of resources and time both deterred her at every step but she took everything on her stride and today she has a small set up where almost 300 village women work for their livlihood. When we visit her centers and workshops it feel like another home, almost like an extension of our own family. That’s the kind of bonding she has with those women.

When I look back I can see the type of pressure, problems and hardles she had to go through. But what amazes me is not the strength but the tenacity. There were times when people made remarks, stole her work and duped her money. It was easier to break down at those moments but that’s not my mom, she simply overlooked everything and when required started it from the scratch. That’s a rare quality found in very few people and am proud to know someone who is al close as my Maa…

Dalia khichri is a childhood favourite and we love it the way she prepares it, that is with loads of veggies. some usual ones like beans and carrots and some not so usual ones like pointed gourds, pumpkin, banana stem, spinach etc. she used to make this for our weekend laidback breakfast. Though we love luchi but she never gave into refined flour and deep fried goodies on a regular basis, so dalia khichri and idlis were made on most of the days. I often prepare this for dinner and Hubby and the little boy love it as much as I do.

Dalia Khcihuri (Broken wheat and red lentil medley with vegetables)
(Serves 3)

Ingredients:
Dalia: 1 cup
Red lentil (Mussor dal): ¾ cup
Onion: 1 big
Ginger-garlic paste: 1 tbsp
Tomato: 1 big
Tomato puree: 2 tbsp (or 1 more tomato)
Coriander powder: 1 tsp
Red chili powder: 1 tsp (or as per your heat quotient)
Turmeric
salt
Oil: 3 tbsp

For tempering:
Cumin seeds: ¾ tsp
Cloves: 2 pieces
Cinnamon: 1” stick
Black pepper: 7-8 pieces
Green chillies: 2 pieces (chopped in small pieces)

Vegetables:
Add any vegetable of your choice: 3 cups (add more if you like)
I prefer to add potato, carrot, beans, yard long beans, squash, spinach, peas, pointed gourds, banana stem, jackfruit seeds, raw papaya etc. whatever you use cut in small cubes and steam or boil them separately.

Coriander greens: handful. Washed and chopped.

Method:
Wash the dalia and red lentil under running water. Pressure cook on medium heat with little turmeric, water and a pinch of salt for two whistles. Open the lid and keep aside. The Dalia I use here is quite grainy which I prefer, as it does not get mushy after cooking and still provide some texture in the final dish. And for that reason I always cook dalia and lentil separately. You can do it together also. Nothing would be lost.

Steam/ microwave (for 5 minutes) or boil the veggies till just cooked. Keep aside. Chop the onion finely.

Heat the oil and once its hot add the ingredients under tempering. Let them splutter (hardly a min) on medium heat and then add the chopped onion.

Cook it for 4-5 minutes with a pinch of salt till they change colour to a very light golden. Add the ginger garlic paste and cook till the raw smell is gone. In the mean time mix turmeric, coriander and chili powder in ¼ cup water. Once the garlic is cooked add theis spice paste. Cook till oil starts to surface (approx. 2 mins.).

Throw in the tomatoes, mix and cover. Let them soften on medium heat then mash it with your spatula. Add in the tomato puree if using. Again cook for a couple of minutes till oil start to suarface.

Add the vegetables and fry with the masala for 3-4 minutes. Finally mix in the boiled dal and broken wheat. Give everything a good mix. Add 2 cups of warm water and cook on medium heat.

Adjust the seasoning and stir occasionally to stop it from sticking at the bottom. Cook for 10-12 minutes for the flavours and taste to mingle. Once you are happy with the consistency add chopped coriander.

Serve hot with some fries. We love it with Sharmila’s crispy fried pointed gourd (Parwal/patol) and Potato masala fry deshi style. Will share the recipe soon.

A Homemaker's Notes:
I generlly add double the amount of water while boiling the dalia or the lentils.

Events:
sending it to my own event JCO: Monsoon. Originally started by Jagruti of JCO fame.


Tags:
Broken wheat, broken wheat recipes, broken wheat recipe, broken wheat upma, dalia, dalia khichri, khichri recipe, recipe khichdi, khichdi, khichdi recipe, dal khichdi, dal khichdi recipes, khichuri recipe, bhuna khichuri, Bengali khichuri recipe, how to cook khichuri, bengali khichudi recipes, sobzi khichuri, broken wheat khichri, dalia khichudi, easy khichdi recipe, rice and lentil medley, one pot rice and lentil recipe, indian rice and lentil recipes, dal chawal, one pot dal chawal recipes, how to cook medley of rice and lentil.

35 comments:

  1. No doubt This is such a healthy version with dalia...I absolutely loved the recipe and your awesome clicks..Yum!

    ReplyDelete
  2. this is a very very healthy food.. kintu chele khaote parle toh!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such a lovely write up. Hats off to your Maa - she is a super woman ! And I'm sure you've got her genes, managing so much yourself !
    Dalia khichdi known as fada ni khichadi is very popular in Gujarat too..Loved the clicks.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Khub bhalo laglo lekha ta pore, Kakima r kotha jene..Recipe tao darun..Korbo kokhono.Bhalo theko !

    ReplyDelete
  5. love the color... i am sure it tastes great too

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dalia khichdi looks delicious...and loved ur clicks..They make the fud look very tempting...

    ReplyDelete
  7. Loved the sweet post.lucky to have such a great mom!! and loved your daliya recipe too:)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Eto toribati kore Dalia-r khichudi? Fab! It rained a lot and traditional bong khichudi has been made at home - took loads of photographs:)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Shottyi tomar Ma holo giye prerna'r source..Eto uplo boish -e biyer por etu kichu korlen Life e..Ar amra ektu tei ha hutash kori..Pronam janio amar Mashima ke..
    Kichuri looks so yummy and love the way you have served it with bhaja

    ReplyDelete
  10. @Deepasri, anek thanks tomar comment er jonyo. maa ke bolle khub khushi habe.

    ReplyDelete
  11. The photos are amazing...want to have a bowl of Dalia Khichuri right now :)..

    I get amazed just thinking about how efficient our mothers used to be even when there were no luxuries of all the electronic gadgets in their lives. Please pass on my regards to Aunty :)

    Lovely post :)

    Sohini

    ReplyDelete
  12. What an amazing role model to have Sayantani.

    The plate of food is absolutely tempting, the pickle on the side the potato fry. Is it sweet mango pickle?
    Also looking forward to the potato fry recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Eto kom boeshe biye hobaar por and that too with 3 kids..eyi sab kora onek appreciating job..onni holen amader prerna ..convey my regrads to her...Dalia khichudi banataam jokhon amar meye solids shuro korechilo..onek din hoyeche baniye ..tumar chobi with papad dekhte khide pache ekhon ..hugs

    ReplyDelete
  14. delicious khichdi.......and hats off to your mom......what is her buisness?

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks you everyone for your kind comments. will surely tell my Mom and I she know she would lush like a little girl.

    @Indo, thanks. that is a sweet sour pickle made with pineapple and raw mangoes. will soon share the recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Healthy combo... Would be perfect with those yummy potatoes...

    ReplyDelete
  17. Your Mom really is amazing. One of the kind. Please convey my salutations to her. it really amazes me we speak a lot about the hardships working women face these ladies were the real people who faced the hardships. Right from ridicule to taunts to demands. Nothing was easy for them.

    Dalia is great.
    I am hosting WTML All through August’12. Do send me your entries

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow - what an amazing MOm! Hats off to her! Source of livelyhood for 300 women - thats something...
    Very very inspiring! Write more about her! loved it...
    love the khichidi too...

    ReplyDelete
  19. Wow! Nice write up and your mom seems to be a super woman. Glad to know more about her. Khichdi looks delicious with loads of veggies.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wish I could have the wholesome delicious meal Sayantani.Beautifully prepared and presented.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I was as engrossed in the writeup about your Mom as in the recipe and pics. Wonderful post, Sayantani - hats off to your Mom. The dish looks so yummy and the side of pickle makes it way too tempting.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I was looking for a good recipe to try this dal-khichda. On my recent trip to India, I ate a lot of dal khichda. So glad you posted this recipe. Will surely try it out as this is one of my favorite dishes.

    ReplyDelete
  23. OH! my sayanthani, I am totally drooling over here, your clicks are too tempting, I would love try this out, may be the whole platter, Looks sooooo... delicious I am very hungry now

    ReplyDelete
  24. following your blog for new feeds :)) and tempting clicks...

    ReplyDelete
  25. qixtc [url=http://www.im-mulberrybags.co.uk]mulberry handbags[/url] sdamxl http://www.im-mulberrybags.co.uk oeziz [url=http://www.im-mulberryoutlet.co.uk]mulberry outlet[/url] sbigga http://www.im-mulberryoutlet.co.uk mdbyl [url=http://www.pay-mulberrybags.co.uk]mulberry outlet[/url] hghctt http://www.pay-mulberrybags.co.uk gldj [url=http://www.online-mulberry.co.uk]mulberry outlet[/url] szuirx http://www.online-mulberry.co.uk ptofp [url=http://www.goodcelinehandbags.com]mulberry bags[/url] kdqulf http://www.goodcelinehandbags.com qhtmu [url=http://www.onlinecelinebags.com]mulberry outlet online[/url] ghttoj http://www.onlinecelinebags.com dpqk

    ReplyDelete
  26. kobon [url=http://www.salelouisvuitton-no1.com]louis vuitton handbags[/url] rhjcko http://www.salelouisvuitton-no1.com joekk [url=http://www.get-louisvuittonoutlet.com]louis vuitton outlet[/url] fxmede http://www.get-louisvuittonoutlet.com vwzqs [url=http://www.pick-louisvuittonoutlet.com]louis vuitton bags[/url] xzpqxb http://www.pick-louisvuittonoutlet.com yfsd [url=http://www.foxlouisvuitton.com]louis vuitton outlet[/url] phttfw http://www.foxlouisvuitton.com hclna [url=http://www.lo-louisvuittonoutlet.com]louis vuitton sale[/url] yurdai http://www.lo-louisvuittonoutlet.com ucvzf [url=http://www.locheaplouisvuitton.com]louis vuitton sale[/url] cdmxzo http://www.locheaplouisvuitton.com hbgd

    ReplyDelete
  27. and as for the taste - produce that has been doused with chemicals, picked before its ripe, and shipped around the world, in my humble opinion, tastes like cardboard. In Hamburg, we are all staying at homestays for 4 days. [url=http://www.vs-furniture.ae/Statistics/furlabags.html]Furla bags Sale[/url] PÃ¥ dette tidspunkt en anden vigtig proces er igangsat. obtaining Nova Scottish goose clothes, produced to unfit your unique program really should total the entire Nova Scottish goose program awfully.
    [url=http://www.scada-impact.com/oakleyfrogskins.html]Oakley frogskins sale[/url] The Lilac Shrub was recently selected as one of the Top 10 Wedding ceremony Florists in Queensland in the 2009 Foreign Bridal Industry Awards. 'Runway' obstacle leaves models seeking 'hideous' When "Project Runway" announced prior to the season started how the show would be expanded by an extra 30 minutes, I was excited, considering there'd be more time for Tim Gunn's words associated with wisdom and workroom or runway drama.
    [url=http://www.numberonenet.com/includes/isabelmarantsneakers.html]http://www.numberonenet.com/includes/isabelmarantsneakers.html[/url] A good starting out animal would preferably be a dog. [url=http://www.spayneuteractionprogram.ca/Mkshop.html]michael kors outlet online[/url]
    I however, did not want one in the traditional hat fabrics they usually come in. When 'Bachelorette' star Emily Maynard received the proposal from Jef Holm, she hesitated for about 10 seconds before accepting the ring.
    [url=http://www.cathybailey.com/images/michaelsale.html]http://www.cathybailey.com/images/michaelsale.html[/url] On the very next play forward Jim Brewer was knocked to the floor with a concussion.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I got to see the Lincoln Memorial, and it looks so much better in real life than it doeson the penny! The last thing we did for the day was go inside the Washington Monument. Get your copy here and check out our other eBooks while you're there. [url=http://yearlybible.org/cp/]Windows 7 Professional key [/url] Watta Lake Lodge is a fly-in fishing lodge on Watta Lake, 40 miles west of Yellowknife. In winter and autumn, lots of blueberries and other grains and seeds are available for their food.
    [url=http://sirchin.com/]free windows 7 product key[/url] Let them know what you trying to find and the max amount you are willing to spend. Through very early on within Blink's career, Tom had used a Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier amp head and a Marshall JCM 900 amplifier head along with Mesa Party and Marshall cabs for live shows.
    [url=http://stehliks.com/]windows 7 ultimate cd key[/url] She toured many countries with the Imperial Ballet. [url=http://www.athenseaglewings.org/cp/]cheap Windows 7 Professional SP1 key[/url]
    Vitamin D fortified milk provides essential calcium. Atart exercising .
    [url=http://stolensoap.com]windows 7 home premium serial key[/url] The referee had heard the horn, and seen confusion at the scorer's table.

    ReplyDelete
  29. :). You may be fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of a moose, bea…. [url=http://khuljaasimsimshop.com/cp/] Windows 7 Enterprise SP1 product key[/url] Besides the birds, Orono Bog is home to many different plants, insects, amphibians, and mammals. Oamenii cu tact îl evită cu multă grijă..
    [url=http://www.munciestockade.com/cp/]Windows 7 Enterprise SP1 product key sale[/url] You can genuinely have nice amusing time at Church Street Station, a multi-level buying and amusement center, featuring a large quantity associated with specialty shops, dining establishments, clubs and pubs. One man introduced a dog bed studded along with 95,000 Swarovski uric acid he claimed expense him $20,000, owners said..
    [url=http://stehliks.com/]windows 7 professional upgrade key[/url] A typical flapper dress reached the calves and was typically made from chiffon or silk, two materials that were readily available during the post-war era. [url=http://www.tawarfab.com/cp/]Buy Windows 7 Professional key[/url]
    Yet during the short 5 minutes the mob was at the shoe store, the instruction page told them: "You are on the bus tour through Maryland. Some of these qualify as possibly the best soup recipes in the world, and they are as quick a remedy for hungry tummies at dinner as they are for the common cold..
    [url=http://stolensoap.com]windows 7 change key[/url] Add to that handing over all your belongings to some cap wearing strangers who drive trucks - Stress unlimited! Ok, I may be exaggerating a bit, but the fact still remains that choosing the right moving company is almost as critical to the move as choosing the right place to move to.

    ReplyDelete