Khichdi
Rice and lentils simmered soft with turmeric and ghee — the subcontinent's definition of comfort.
Ingredients
- 150 g Rice
- 150 g Lentils / dal
- ½ tsp Ground turmeric
- 2 tbsp Ghee
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Cumin seeds (optional)
- 1 tbsp Ginger (optional)
Method
- Rinse the rice and dal together in a sieve until the water runs clearish.
- Combine the rinsed rice and dal with the turmeric, salt, and plenty of water in a medium pot and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Simmer partially covered over low heat until everything is completely soft and porridgy, about 25 minutes — add a splash of water for a looser khichdi.
- Peel and finely grate the ginger while the khichdi simmers.
- Heat the ghee in a small pan over medium heat and crackle the cumin seeds and grated ginger in it until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Stir the sizzling tempering through the khichdi and serve hot, with yogurt or pickle on the side.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Khichdi
Khichdi is the subcontinent's original comfort food, a one-pot dish of rice and lentils simmered together until soft and porridge-like, seasoned with little more than turmeric, salt, and ghee. It is humble, nourishing, and endlessly variable, eaten as everyday sustenance, as the first solid food for babies, and as the gentle meal people turn to when they are unwell or want something light. The combination of grain and dal makes it a naturally complete, protein-rich vegetarian meal, and the turmeric gives it its warm golden color. Its texture is deliberately soft and soothing, loosened with extra water for those who like it more like a savory porridge.
The step that lifts this khichdi from plain to fragrant is the tempering, or tadka: ghee heated in a small pan until cumin seeds and grated ginger crackle and release their aroma, then poured sizzling over the finished pot. That final flourish is what carries the flavor, so it is worth doing at the end rather than earlier. Khichdi is traditionally served with a spoonful of ghee, plain yogurt, pickle, or papad, and often a simple vegetable on the side to round it out. Quick, forgiving, and made from pantry staples, it is the meal to reach for when you want something warm and restorative with almost no effort.
Khichdi: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Khichdi?
A serving has about 453 calories — 16.3g protein, 73.9g carbs, 10.4g fat, 6.5g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Khichdi gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Khichdi has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
Is Khichdi dairy-free?
Not as written — it uses Ghee. Swapping it for a plant-based alternative makes it dairy-free.
How long does Khichdi take to make?
About 40 minutes start to finish, but only around 13 of those are hands-on — the rest is largely unattended cooking time you can step away from. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Khichdi?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out cumin seeds, ginger — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Khichdi make?
This recipe makes 3 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.