The Magical Ingredients for a Wholesome Life From the Heart of my Home: Easy One-Pot Mixed Millet and Dal Khichdi

This is healthy, nutritious, and a comforting meal. This is millet based. Millets and dal provide crabs, proteins, and the veggies give essential micro nutrients making this a healthy one. This can be veganized by using oil instead of ghee. This can be served with a dollop of ghee on top, with yogurt, or with pickle/achar.

Khichdi is always comfort meal. And it is also a quick one-pot meal. Whether you do it in a pressure cooker or Instant Pot, khichdi is always easy, given the advantage that in Instant Pot pressure can be released quick. This Instant Pot recipe is exactly tasty as the stove top version. With a minimal saute, pressure cook for 7 minutes, do a quick release, mix, and enjoy a bowl of heaven!

Rice and dal cooked together is called khichdi and can be made with any grain or dal too. The nutritional profile can be enriched by adding more than one grain or dal. Khichdi thickens when cooled, so add a little hot water and mix while serving left overs to get the right consistency.

When I checked my pantry, I saw these wholegrains, and immediately started on this easy, one-pot comfort meal. Though I have used finger millet grits, the whole millet can be used. Any millet can be used and this can be made with single grain too. The same is valid for dal too - use one dal or a mix, the result is always divine.

A dollop of ghee on top of steaming bowl of khichdi is always the most comforting food. This is amde with ghee. Since it is only the animal derived product, this khichdi can easily be veganized by using any oil. Coconut oil would taste amazing but any oil would work.

I have added a little Kohlapuri masala, which has amazing spices and coconut. Coriander powder or garam masala can be used, or it can be skipped too. Add a little cayenne or extra Thai chili according to spice level.

I am sharing this one-pot meal for an event "One Pot Wonders" hosted by Christie. One-pot meals are always amazing. This recipe has wholegrains.This month is #NationalWholegrainsmonth and hence decided on sharing this recipe for the event. We share Recipes From Our Dinner Table! Join our group and share your recipes, too! While you're at it, join our Pinterest board, too!

Rice or grain and dal mixture are always quick to make and more comforting. They are very delicious and satisfying too. Tapioca Pearl Stirfry/Sabudana Khichdi is a grain free dal free recipe which is one of our favorite too. Here are some rice/grain - dal based khichdi recipes from the blog which would taste amazing!

Veggie and Cheese Khichdi Bake

Tri Millet Pongal

Ven Pongal and Sarkarai Pongal

Multi Grain Pongal

Ingredients

Serves 6 to 8

Barnyard millet - 1/4 cup

Kodo millet - 1/4 cup

Foxtail millet - 1/4 cup

Finger millet grits or millet - 1/4 cup

any millet or millet mix - 1 cup

Yellow split moong dal - 1/4 cup

Toor dal - 1/4 cup

Green split moong dal - 1/4 cup

Orange lentils - 1/4 cup

any dal - 1 cup

Water - 6.5 cup

Onion - 1/2 cup, chopped

Ginger - 1/2 tsp

Cabbage - 1 cup, chopped

Carrots - 1 cup, diced

Peas - 1 cup

Spinach - 2 cups, chopped

Salt - 2 tsp

Turmeric - 1/2 tsp

Kohlapuri masala - 1/2 tsp (or garam masala)

For Tempering

Ghee 3 to 4 tbsp

Mustard seeds - 3/4 tsp

Cumin - 1 tsp

Asafetida - 1/4 tsp

Curry leaf - 1 sprig

Whole black cardamom -1

Bay leaf - 1 or 2

Cloves - 3

Cinnamon - 1-in piece

Green Thai chili - 3 to 4

Dried red chili - 2 or 3, torn

Method

Switch on the Instant Pot in saute mode. Add the ghee, followed by dried red chilies, mustard seeds, cumin, and asafetida.Add the curry leaves, bay leaves, black cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, green chili, and ginger. Saute for 30 seconds. Add the onions and saute for 2-3 minutes. Add the veggies.