Thursday, September 22, 2011

NUTRITIOUS SIMPLE DISH****

This is one dish that is nutritionally complete according to me...This is a dish that can be very easily prepared in the shortest possible time and also is a very healthy dish for young and old alike.


I prepare this for my dear little niece who is just one and half years old whenever she comes visiting and I am rest assured that it will be consumed with delight..
It  is normally cooked for toddlers who have jsut started therir solid food as it can be made into a semi solid consistency by adding more water by cooking, which is easy for the babies without teeth to swallow.  Its cooked in a pressure cooker so you can add all the possible vegetables with it to make it nutritious and wholesome.Some of the vegetables that you can add and taste good with rice and dal are are carrots , peas,bottle gourd,potato,etc..
This versatile preparation is called as "KHICHDI"
I remember my great grandmother who was around 90 when I have memories of her would have this for her meals almost thrice a week hence we know that its good for the aged  who have lsot their teeth and do not have much digestive power to eat heavy and rich food, who prefer such preparations as it fills them up without being an overload on their digestive system.
We normally eat Khichdi with a bowl of curd and salad which makes the meal complete with all the nutrient as the rice gives the carbs, vegetables give the vitamins and minerals , the dal and curds provide the proteins..
As it is such a complete meal , its an important item provided in schools for kids as a mid-morning meal for those  who are underprivileged  .


 INGREDIENTS AND METHOD:
wash and soak together 1 cup rice and 1/2 cup moong dal
Take a pan add one tbsp oil when hot add mustard seeds, hing,jeera,2 red chillies and curry leaves temper
add the chopped vegetables of your choice
stir and then add soaked rice and moong dal 
Add salt and a little jaggery (marble size)
Add 3 cups water if cooking outside in a pan add 21/2 cups water if cooking in a pressure cooker.
Add 1 tsp lemon juice
cook till done or for 3 cooker whistles..
serve hot garnished with finely chopped coriander and freshly grated coconut
You can pour a spoon full of pure clarified butter on ghee over it while serving.

1 comment:

vivari said...

simple and sweet recipe