December 13, 2008

Savory Semolina Kichdi with Vegetables - Mom's Best

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This is for my brother and the recipe is from my mom.
My mom is one of the best, no... "the" best cook I have ever known. If cooking comes naturally to me, it is probably because of her. And her desserts!... they are to die for!
Especially now that I cook quite a bit (and get to eat just what I cook), I do miss her food a lot. I am a reasonable cook, but somehow cooking for oneself can be quite, Ahem... boring at times.

Kichdi is a pretty traditional Indian dish, and is basically a jazzed up version of the humble Upma. The fragrant spices and the array of vegetables kicks it up a notch.
Since this recipe calls for a variety of ingredients, some of which you may or may not be familiar with, I did a picture representation of the most important ingredients this time for easy understanding. (Check list in the recipe section below)

I made peanut chutney to go along with it, but really any kind of chutney goes well.

Rava/Semolina/Sooji varies from place to place and the water that it can absorb while it cooks also varies. So please adjust the water content accordingly. Check recipe for more info.

Off topic, I promised one of my readers a Naan/Flatbread recipe this week, a variation from the one I made earlier but had to put that on hold for this one. I will shortly post that one too. Sorry!

This kichdi has a pretty long ingredient list, so hang in there.

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Savory Semolina Kichdi with Vegetables

Ingredients:

Semolina/Rava/Sooji - 3 cups
Water - 4 cups (I used less water, since I do not like it to be gooey, but if you like a more binding kichdi, please add 1 cup or more of water, which would make it 5 cups)
Carrots - 1/4 cup diced
Peas - 1/4 cup
Beans - 1/4 cup cut into small pieces
Corn - 1/4 cup (optional, you may increase/decrease other veggies as you like)
Red onion - 2 cups diced
Tomatoes - 3/4 cup diced (I omitted this, since I do not like tomatoes in my kichdi)
Green chillies - 2 tbsp chopped
Ginger - 2 tbsp chopped
Garlic - 2 tbsp chopped
Pepper - 1/4 tsp
Cloves - 3
Cinnamon stick or powder - 1/4 tsp
Asafoetida - Two pinches
Turmeric - 1 tsp
Lemon juice - 2 tbsp
Cilantro/Coriander - A handful
Curry leaves - A few
Mustard seeds - 1 tbsp
Urad Dal - 1 tbsp
Channa Dal - 2 tbsp
Salt - To taste
Cashewnuts - A handful
Oil/Butter - 4 tbsp (I used Extra Virgin Olive oil)

Ingredients

Method:

Dry roast the semolina/rava till it is lightly toasted and set aside.

In a pot/pan (which has a lid for later use), heat the oil and add mustard seeds, let them splutter, add urad dal and channa dal and dry them on medium heat.

Add the cashews and saute well (You may roast them separately and add them at the end as garnish too, it remains crunchy that way, I kinda like mine blended into the dish). Take care not to burn them. Add cloves.

Then add the ginger, garlic, curry leaves, cinnamon, turmeric, green chillies, asafoetida, salt and pepper and roast.

Toss in the red onion and cook till lightly browned.

Now, mix the vegetables, tomatoes (if you like), turmeric and cook halfway. It will continue to cook after we add water. So do not over cook them now.

Add the water and cover and let it come to a boil.

Remove lid, reduce the heat to medium, add the semolina/rava slowly in a stream but keep mixing with your other hand continuously. Or else it will form clumps.

Cover immediately and let it cook on low-medium heat for 5 minutes.

Uncover, add the chopped cilantro, lemon juice and a wee bit of butter, mix well and serve.

Chutneys go great as a side for this dish. Get your pick here.

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This dish goes to Sangeeth's Eat Healthy - During Pregnancy event

65 comments:

  1. kichdi looks very nice Divya! I love the colour and presentation is awesome!

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  2. Kichdi looks yummy, yesterday i tried your bread uppuma, came out very well except the color.

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  3. drooling pic and kitchadi........lovely

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  4. Wow they look so beautiful, delicious and colurfull.
    Wish i had them now.

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  5. wow.. supera irukke.. appadiye sappidanum pola irukku Divya.. looks perfect & awesome.. parcel anuppu pa...

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  6. this is so yummy!!...ur photos are tempting me now...:-)

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  7. This one is really different from what I usually make...though I add most of the items there,adding garlic,and whole masala are new to me...I some time like it gooey and some times fluffy:)
    You know what?Making fluffy upma is an art...most people cant get:D
    Yours looks sooo tempting and picture is perfect! I dont know why somany guys dont like sooji upma!!They should see this tempting one...may be they change their mind!!

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  8. looking yummy n colurful kichdi...anu

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  9. First one here...tasty treat this upma. Gr8 breakfast idea or snack

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  10. It is like vegetable studded Upma. Looks like die for. Maa ke haath ka swaath to lajawaab hota hain dear.

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  11. hi, the pics are to die for!:-) Love the recipe, reminded me of my mother's vegetable rava upma, which I miss a lot myself.

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  12. Anu, this is enough to tempt me..so beautiful looking dish..yum, yum.. :P

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  13. super po...nan nethiku night ithathan panninen....but a very simple version of this...super pic ana un watermarka mela podala...engayo thamathoondu keezha potuiruka.....pathuko!

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  14. Lovely comfort food,Divya.We cannot get the same taste as moms cooking,no matter how we try.The pic is fantastic.

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  15. Beautiful pictures Anu! U did a fab. job with the ingredients:-)

    Just saying mom adds extra taste right. Looks delicious.

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  16. The khichdi looks inviting, well presented.

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  17. Great click, AD! This is my all time favorite breakfast, only I call it veg. upma. I don't add turmeric but seeing the festive look I think I too will do it from now on. I agree with you on that one - it is really boring to cook for oneself everyday, and now Mum's cooking has become all the more precious!

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  18. Wow! This sounds so tasty. The color and presentation is beautiful - great recipe!

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  19. these look great and i bet they re tasty too. With all those nice ingredients they surely are :)

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  20. I like with tomato my kichdi, always Mom is the best inspiration for us! Lovely pictures

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  21. great khichdi...my all time fav.
    Hey Anu,
    I just tagged you for the Breadline Africa bakeoff at my blog. Hope it is okay with you ,if it is too much trouble feel free to skip this :-)

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  22. upma looks awesome divya. i add all the ingredients u have mentioned except cloves, cinnamon and garlic. will try it next time. super pics..and lovely arrangement of raw ingredients. i like ur cutting board too :)

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  23. Hey Anu,
    I am not a big fan of upma, but your is looking so colourful and spicy, like to have these kinds once in a while and with chutneys, tastes good.
    Beautiful pics...

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  24. thanks dear! I know microwave baking is soooo diff, although I do miss the brown crusts..
    thanks for participating.

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  25. wow! that looks scrumptious! i have become a great fan of ur blog now-a days!
    do visit my blog!

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  26. Divya, the upma looks fantastic, if my upma looked even half as good as yours I would probably make it much more often ....

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  27. It sounds really really tasty, I've never tried anything like this before.

    Your photos are great too!

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  28. wanted to make your cookies today, but missed my chance. But, weekend is coming. :) The khichdi looks yummy! i love the picture of the ingredients, the way you have done it. Wonderful!

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  29. khichdi looks very superb. I also make this khichi atleast once in a week. Love the photos

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  30. Wowwww, khichidi makes me hunger, My mom's special,brings me some old memories..

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  31. gorgeous presentation, I love how you shaped them!

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  32. tempting picture..a comfort food for me..

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  33. My..my...thats too much for me now..what a color...So sun is there or what???:D:D..

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  34. delicious kichdi Divya! So healthy with all those veggies!

    Reg. guess: no the middle one is not garbanzo! Keep guessing!

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  35. Love the picture presentation. Mom's food and recipes are the best!

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  36. Looks really yummy! As a vegetarian, I'm always keeping an eye out for unique, flavorful dishes that are meatless. This one definitely fits the bill.

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  37. I am a great fan of Kichadi... love to have with whie chutney and hot sambar...hm.. u made me hungry by two cups of colorful kichadi....

    If u would have fill the plate with chutney and sambar Imdtly the plate dissappears....(he he he coming to say nan eduthundu odi poirupen)

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  38. this is real nice version of khichdi,...;-)loved the recipe,..

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  39. this is real nice version of khichdi,...;-)loved the recipe,..

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  40. Beautiful picture divya..and kichdi looks very tempting...!

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  41. hey anudivya...
    ur blog is too good...here for the first time..have added u to my fav blog list too..good work!!
    i envy ur baking skills..;)

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  42. Kichdi sounds like a very interesting recipe Divya and thanks for the picture with the ingredients.

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  43. hi there's an award awaiting you on my blog...come claim it :)

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  44. wow they look so tempting and really wonderful Anu divya.

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  45. Hi Anu

    First time here. You have a wonderful blog with amazing pictures :)

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  46. that looks absolutely delicious. love your healthly yet gourmet delicious approach to this blog...so glad I came across your site! love the photo of all the different ingredients + details ;-)

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  47. My mom this rawa khichdi frequently, u reminded me of her khichdi....
    will make this over the weekend...
    Looks delicious....

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  48. Kudos to your mom, Divya, and to you for this beautiful, nutritious and colorful dish. Love the pictures.

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  49. Divya, to answer your question about the rice used for masale bhath, I used white basmati. If I were using brown, I think I'd cook it first until semi-tender before mixing it with the rest of the ingredients because, as you know, brown rice needs to be cooked much longer than white. Hope that helps :)

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  50. This is so cool. Nice recipe. Ur pictures are so appetizing. I think i will make it tonight... YUM!

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  51. How colourful!! I also make this. Also try similar khichdi with cracked wheat. You will have to pressure cook it for 1-2 whistles though.

    Keep cooking, keep posting :-)

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  52. No denying ,mom's always are the best cooks.Upma looks very vibrant and appetizing with all the veggies.Are the curry leaves still pricey in your area?

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  53. i dont feel like taking my eyes off the pic... its just fantastic... i love upma... i am crazy about it... very well presented

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  54. An upma has never looked so good before!! :)

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  55. That is an elaborately spiced khichdi but am sure that made it extra special.. have to try this sometime.

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  56. I make this quite often as a lunch box dish...your presentation is just superb!!

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  57. What a fabulous twist on a classic! Thanks so much for sharing :)

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  58. Hey Divya.....
    not been blogging for a long time and was going thru ur recipes today... i never get this kichdi properly .... but ur recipe is yummy..wants me to try it out rite now :) let me try it and will let u know how it turned out :)

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  59. Sounds interesting never tried this before.

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  60. I have never tried this before will definately give it ago sometime.

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  61. AnonymousMay 26, 2010

    Sounds interesting

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  62. Kichadi is good and seems tradtional....
    hope brinjal should be added with the vegetables too, as far as i know ......
    sorry for commenting...

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  63. @Anon - I have never tried adding brinjal to my kichdi, but it might be something I might try the next time. Sounds good.

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  64. I got to know about your blog through a common friend of ours. What an amazing cook you are.. Makes me want to make more yummy dishes for my baby girl too:)

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Thank you for taking the time to comment on this post. I will try to respond to queries as soon as I can. If I miss anything that needs to be addressed... please feel free to ping me again.
Happy cooking/baking or whatever it is you are doing in the kitchen! :)