Bengali Khichuri (Bhoger Khichuri) Moong Dal Khichdi

Bengali Khichuri (Bhoger Khichuri) Moong Dal Khichdi ~ traditional and famous Durga Puja khichuri/khichdi made using roasted moong dal, rice, veggies, spices, and ghee. It’s healthy Indian comfort food that’s extremely delicious and an immunity booster too.

Bengali Khichdi - Bhoger Khichuri using moong dal

Bengali Khichdi – Bhoger Khichuri using moong dal

What is Bengali Khichuri?

It’s a recipe where lentil, rice, veggies, spices, and ghee are cooked together to form an extremely delicious and healthy meal. Very similar to our ‘Indian Khichdi’.

The difference being, in Khichuri, we roast the lentil + rice’ before cooking them and that adds a magical smokey aroma to this dish. (You can try any other version, but if you don’t roast these two, you donot get the real taste).

The recipe comes from the Eastern part of India and is also served as prasad in Durga Puja/Saraswati Puja/Kali Puja (Festivals) in Bengal.

Hence the name Bengali Khichuri. It’s also a MUST during Festive Months, especially Durga Puja (worship of Goddess Durga for 9 days).

Its an integral part of the festival and is given to people as ‘offering (prasad)’ and hence the name ‘Bhoger Khichuri’.

Bengali Moong Dal Khichdi

Bengali Moong Dal Khichdi

This is one recipe that I literally learned making from 3-4 different people and finally formed a set of steps to get that perfect ‘bhog wala taste’ (tastes just like in festivals).

Hence, it’s a recipe very close to my heart and I’m extremely proud everytime I make it as whoever has tasted it, loves the combination.

It’s simple, rustic and yet extremely delicious. I love to add a spoonful of melted ghee on top whenever I serve it and that just takes it to another level.

 

Bengali Khichuri Ingredients:

I’m dividing the ingredients into main products and spices separately:
  • 1 Cup Small Grain Rice *
  • 1 Cup Split Yellow Lentil (Moong Dhuli)
  • 2 Large Boiled Potato – Chopped into 6 pieces
  • 1/2 Cauliflower Head – roughly chopped
  • 1 Cup Green Peas – frozen or fresh
  • 1 Tbsp Ginger Paste
  • 2 Tbsp Vegetable Oil – You may use any flavorless oil
  • 4 Tbsp Ghee
  • 1/2 Cup Water
  • 3 Cups of Water (For soaking rice+lentils)

Whole Spices:

  • 1 Large Bay Leaf (Tej Patta)
  • 2 Dry Red Chili
  • 2 Black Cardamom (Badi Elaichi)
  • 2 Cloves (Laung)
  • 1 Stick of Cinnamon (Dalchini)

Powdered Spices:

  • 1 Tsp Garam Masala
  • ½ Tsp Turmeric
  • 1 Tsp Red Chili Powder
  • 2 Tsp Salt (As per your taste)

Traditional ‘Khichuri’ is made using ‘Gobindbhog Rice’ which is extremely popular among Bengali’s. It’s dull small grain rice however, you can use any small grain rice to make this version.

Bengali Bhoger Khichuri Ingredients

Bengali Bhoger Khichuri Ingredients

 
It’s also one of the preferred meals in India when you want to eat extremely light and ofcourse for bhog (festive food).
 
It’s perfect for one of “THOSE” lazy days when you don’t want to cook anything elaborate but yet want something healthy using least of the utensils n time.
 

Roast the Lentil and Rice:

  1. Heat a large pot.
  2. Add moong dal and roast it over medium-low flames for 2 minutes. (this brings out the nutty lentil aromas and the dal will turn slightly brown-pink).
  3. Remove the roasted dal and add rice to the same pot.
  4. Roast the rice for 2 minutes and transfer to the roasted dal bowl.
  5. Soak the roasted dal and rice mix in 2 cups water.

Bengali Khichuri Process

Roast the Veggies:

  1. In the same pan, add 1tsp vegetable oil (you can add ghee too) and roast the cauliflower until light brown (takes 2 minutes).
  2. Remove and keep aside.

Bengali Khichuri Process -1

Make the Bengali Khichuri (Bhoger Khichuri):

  1. Heat the same pot and add remaining vegetable oil + 1tbsp ghee.
  2. Add the whole spices and saute for 30 seconds.
  3. Add the powdered spices and saute for 30 seconds.
  4. Now add the soaked roasted dal + rice (keep the water and just add the grains).
  5. Saute this mix 1-2 times and let this cook on low heat for 2 minutes.
  6. Now add water, green peas (you may use the soaking water if you kept it), and saute everything.
  7. Let this cook on low-medium heat for 2 minutes (stir every minute).
  8. Finally add cauliflower, potatoes, ghee, and mix everything.
  9. Add 1/2 cup water, mix everything, and cover the pot.
  10. Let this cook for 10 minutes over low-medium heat (stir every minute and check for doneness of rice+dal).
  11. Once the khichuri is cooked, add some ghee on top and lightly mix in.
  12. Transfer to a serving bowl and enjoy.

Bengali Khichuri Process -2

 

Bhoger Khichuri - Bengali Khichdi

Bhoger Khichuri – Bengali Khichdi

Serving Suggestion:

 
You may measure the dry ingredients & spices and keep them stored in an air-tight container for future use. Yiu can serve the khichuri with:
 

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Bengali Khichdi - Bhoger Khichuri using moong dal

 

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Yield: 4 People

Bengali Khichuri (Bhoger Khichuri) Moong Dal Khichdi

Bengali Khichuri - Bhoger Khichuri

Bengali Khichuri (Bhoger Khichuri) Moong Dal Khichdi ~ traditional and famous Durga Puja khichuri/khichdi made using roasted moong dal, rice, veggies, spices, and ghee. It melts in your mouth and is a healthy Indian comfortfood.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup Small Grain Rice *
  • 1 Cup Split Yellow Lentil (Moong Dhuli)
  • 2 Large Boiled Potato – Chopped into 6 pieces
  • 1/2 Cauliflower Head - roughly chopped
  • 1 Cup Green Peas - frozen or fresh
  • 1 Tbsp Ginger Paste
  • 2 Tbsp Vegetable Oil – You may use any flavorless oil
  • 4 Tbsp Ghee
  • 1/2 Cup Water
  • 3 Cups of Water (For soaking rice+lentils)

Whole Spices:

  • 1 Large Bay Leaf (Tej Patta)
  • 2 Dry Red Chili
  • 2 Black Cardamom (Badi Elaichi)
  • 2 Cloves (Laung)
  • 1 Stick of Cinnamon (Dalchini)

Powdered Spices:

  • 1 Tsp Garam Masala
  • ½ Tsp Turmeric
  • 1 Tsp Red Chili Powder
  • 2 Tsp Salt (As per your taste)

Instructions

Roast the Lentil and Rice:

  1. Heat a large pot.
  2. Add moong dal and roast it over medium-low flames for 2 minutes. (this brings out the nutty lentil aromas and the dal will turn slightly brown-pink).
  3. Remove the roasted dal and add rice to the same pot.
  4. Roast the rice for 2 minutes and transfer to the roasted dal bowl.
  5. Soak the roasted dal and rice mix in 2 cups water.

Roast the Veggies:

  1. In the same pan, add 1tsp vegetable oil (you can add ghee too) and roast the cauliflower until light brown (takes 2 minutes).
  2. Remove and keep aside.

Make the Bengali Khichuri (Bhoger Khichuri):

  1. Heat the same pot and add remaining vegetable oil + 1tbsp ghee.
  2. Add the whole spices and saute for 30 seconds.
  3. Add the powdered spices and saute for 30 seconds.
  4. Now add the soaked roasted dal + rice (keep the water and just add the grains).
  5. Saute this mix 1-2 times and let this cook on low heat for 2 minutes.
  6. Now add water, green peas (you may use the soaking water if you kept it), and saute everything.
  7. Let this cook on low-medium heat for 2 minutes (stir every minute).
  8. Finally add cauliflower, potatoes, ghee, and mix everything.
  9. Add 1/2 cup water, mix everything, and cover the pot.
  10. Let this cook for 10 minutes over low-medium heat (stir every minute and check for doneness of rice+dal).
  11. Once the khichuri is cooked, add some ghee on top and lightly mix in.
  12. Transfer to a serving bowl and enjoy.

Notes

Small Grain Rice - this khichuri is made using traditional Bengali gobindbhog rice, however you can use broken basmati or any other small grain rice too. (Please DONOT use Jasmine rice).

You can also ADD 1/4 Cup Red Lentil (Masoor Dhuli) if you like that.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 426Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 2258mgCarbohydrates: 47gFiber: 10gSugar: 8gProtein: 27g
 
Bengali Khichuri Recipe

3 Replies to "Bengali Khichuri (Bhoger Khichuri) Moong Dal Khichdi"

  • Suru May 19, 2020 (4:00 am)

    Hi Molly, I love khichuri but never made it at home until yesterday. Followed your recipe completely and the khichuri tasted amazing. Quite like what we ate in Pandal. Thanks for the recipe – Suru

  • Molly Kumar August 22, 2012 (8:04 pm)

    Thanks Faseela 🙂

  • faseela August 22, 2012 (8:45 am)

    healthy preparation of rice….yummy

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