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Bajra and Moong Dal Khichdi
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Bajra and Moong Dal Khichdi

Bajra (pearl millet)TraditionalNorth and West IndiaDinnerWhole grainVegetarian

Soak overnight · Prep 20 min · Cook 30 min · Servings not given in the source

Make

Ingredients

  • whole bajra (pearl millet) — 1 cup
  • moong dal — 1 cup
  • oil (as required; the method uses 3 tsp)
  • mustard seeds — 1 tsp
  • cumin seeds — 1 tsp
  • green chillies — 4
  • ginger-garlic paste — 2 tsp
  • onion — 1 (chopped)
  • tomato — 1 (chopped)
  • potato — 1 (diced)
  • carrot (chopped; as required - no IIMR printing gives a number (the 2021 list prints 'Carrot in no'); the 2016 printing lists the vegetables with no amounts, ending 'as required')
  • beans — 4 (chopped)
  • green peas — 5 tsp
  • red chilli powder — 1 tsp
  • coriander powder — 1 tsp
  • turmeric powder — 1/2 tsp
  • water — 5 cups
  • salt (as required)
  • coriander leaves — 2 tsp (chopped)
  • lemon juice — 1 tsp

Method

  1. Soak the bajra and moong dal together overnight. Wash and drain.
  2. Heat 3 tsp oil in a pressure cooker. Add the mustard seeds, cumin, green chillies and ginger-garlic paste, then the chopped vegetables, and saute for 5 to 10 minutes.
  3. Stir in the chilli, coriander and turmeric powders and cook for 2 minutes.
  4. Add the drained bajra and dal, 5 cups of water and salt, close the cooker and cook for 4 to 5 whistles.
  5. Stir in the lemon juice, scatter the chopped coriander leaves over the top and serve hot.

In history

Emperor Jahangir, writing about the foods of Gujarat in his memoirs (early 1600s):

“there is the khichri of bajra (a mixture of split peas and millet boiled together); this they also call laziza”

Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri, vol. 1, translated by Alexander Rogers, edited by Henry Beveridge (1909)

Water and timing

Water: 5 cups for 1 cup of whole bajra and 1 cup of moong dal, both soaked overnight, then 4-5 whistles in a pressure cooker (ICAR-IIMR 2021); IIMR's 2016 printing uses 4 cups and 3-4 whistles.

From: ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research, Millet Recipes (2021), PDF p. 64 (printed p. 62); ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research, Millet Recipes (2021), PDF p. 31; Paushtik Anaj: Swasthya bhi, Swad bhi (Hindi millet recipe book, ISBN 81-89335-72-3), PDF p. 68 (printed p. 67)

Tips

  • General practice: let the pressure drop by itself before opening; whole bajra keeps softening in the steam.

Adapted from ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research, Millet Recipes (2021), PDF p. 64 (printed p. 62), written in our own words.