Learn How to Make Bajra Khichdi

Khichdi is a legendary dish in India. Be it the famous explorer Ibn Batuta or the Emperor Jehangir, the charms of this comfort food have touched every tongue and heart. It’s so good that it has inspired an Egyptian dish called ‘koshary’ too! Usually made with moong dal and rice, it is also cooked with the nutritious bajra (pearl millet).

Bajra khichdi, that is very easy to make, is a variation of the classic khichdi recipe. Inspired by the Rajasthan cuisine, it is ideal for winters as it helps in keeping the body warm and is filling for the stomach. This aromatic khichdi recipe will leave you wanting for more. Learn how to make bajra khichdi now!

Nutrition Facts

Before we delve into answering the question ‘How to Make Bajra Khichdi?’, let’s get an idea of its nutritional information.

Serving size: 100g.

Source

Why Bajra Khichdi is Good For Health

• According to ‘The Indian Journal of Nutritional and Dietetics‘, bajra helps treat constipation because of its high fibre content.
• Bajra has a low glycemic index of 55, according to a study published in the ‘Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science‘. The study also says that it can be beneficial for the treatment of celiac disease and that it is gluten-free.
• Bajra can be used to tackle micronutrient deficiencies like those of zinc or iron, according to the ‘Journal of Food Science and Technology‘.
• The moong dal used in this recipe can help in disease-prevention and has anticancer, antihypertensive, hypoglycemic, among other healthy properties. This was stated in a study published the journal ‘Nutrients‘.

And these are only some of the benefits. We bet you want to learn how to make bajra khichdi now. Let’s get to it.

How to Make Bajra Khichdi: A Quick Recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup of soaked bajra (at least 8 hours)

1/2 cup of yellow or green moong dal

2 cups of water (2/12 if you want the consistency to be watery)

1 tbsp of desi ghee

1sp of cumin seeds

1/2 tsp of asafoetida powder (hing)

1/4 tsp of turmeric

Coriander for garnishing (optional)

1/2 cup of chopped vegetables (optional)

Salt to taste

1-2 chillies (optional)

Method

Step 1:

Rinse the bajra the night before or in the morning if you are having it for dinner and soak for a good 8 hours.

Step 2:

Place the pressure cooker on the stove.

Step 3:

Add the bajra, moong dal, spices and water in the cooker.

Step 4: 

Close the lid and let it cook for four whistles. Let the khichdi settle and the steam evaporate before you open the lid.

Step 5: 

In the meanwhile, heat ghee in a pan. Add cumin seeds to it. (If you are using vegetables then add them at this step and let them cook for five minutes).

Step 6:

Empty the pressure-cooker contents in the pan, add some salt and stir for two to three minutes.

Step 7:

Garnish with ghee and coriander (optional).

Your khichdi is ready. Serve it hot.

How to Make Bajra Khichdi Tip: If you want to make the recipe easier and do it all in one vessel, do step 5 first directly in the pressure cooker. Then add the bajra-moong dal mix and spices.

What Goes Well With Bajra Khichdi?

You can pair bajra khichdi with curd, vegetable raita, boondi raita, a vegetable of your choice or a simple glass of buttermilk. You can also add crispy papad and an onion-tomato-cucumber salad on the side.

Food for the Soul

See how easy it is to cook bajra khichdi? Now that you know how to make bajra khichdi try it at home. Even those who have never stepped foot in the kitchen can cook it with ease. It is perfect for preparing at the end of a long day or when you are feeling too lazy to put on the chef hat.

If you want to make it healthier, add vegetables of your choice like tomatoes, peas, cauliflower, beans or anything that comes to your mind. Go on. It’s time to try it out! It’s literally ‘heart-warming’.

Try out 24 Mantra Organic’s Bajra Flour and enjoy a healthy meal of bajra kichdi!