A very popular one pot meal made in most punjabi homes, combines protein and carbohydrates along with basic whole spices to give a very unique pulao. Best part is its so easy to put together as there are no onions to be chopped and browned, unlike the traditional pulao/ khichri

I make this very often on weekdays.when I need a fresh hot meal after work. I prep by washing and soaking the dal overnight(if I am making it for lunch) otherwise, soak the dal in the morning, if making it for dinner. The whole meal comes together in no time.

We usually eat this with a side of Greek yogurt and papad to complete the meal.

chana dal khichri

Print Recipe

Course Rice/Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Ingredients

1 cup Chana Dal washed and soaked overnight
1 cup Rice Washed(dont soak)
3 Green Cardamoms/Choti Elaichi crushed
2 Cloves/laung
2 Bay leaves/Tejpatta
1 Brown cardamom/Moti Elaichi
1 Large stick Cinnamon/Dalchini
2-3 Dry Red Chilies/Sookhi Lal Mirch
1 1/2 tsp Cumin/Jeera
2-3 Green Chilies slit
2 tsp minced Ginger
2 tbsp Ghee
3 cups water
salt as per taste I used about 2 tsp

Instructions

In pressure cooker,heat ghee and add Cumin/Jeera and let it crackle.
Add crushed Green Cardamoms/Choti elaichi and follow it with all dry spices.
Add slit Green chilies and stir.
Add minced ginger and stir for few minutes.
Add soaked Chana dal and stir for few minutes.
Add water and salt and give one whistle in pressure cooker.
In a few minutes, release pressure and open the cooker.
Add washed rice, stir gently and give 1 whistle in pressure cooker.
Open in a few minutes. The dal and rice should be cooked and the grains separated, not mushy and stuck together.

Notes

The rice and dal both need to be cooked, but the grains of the rice need to be separate and dal not mushy.
After the first whistle, dal should be 80 percent cooked.
Pressure cookers vary, you may have to adjust water as well as the time, how soon you open the pressure cooker after the whistle.
Dont soak rice as it could overcook.
If you are not sure about cooking in pressure cooker, once dal is cooked, transfer cooked dal into a pan, add rice, bring to a full rolling boil, and cover and cook for 7 minutes on simmer. Open lid and separate grains.

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Here is the step by step pictorial recipe-

Ingredients