Packed with spices and lots of veggies, this homestyle masala khichdi is comfort food max.
If you’re looking for a vegetarian dish that’s rich in protein and other nutrients, and is easy to make and serve for the entire family, this one pot meal will hit all the right spots.
The khichdi is soft, flavor packed and a complete meal in itself. Plus, you can easily turn this gluten free meal into a vegan one too, with just one simple tweak and modification.
Jump to:
Ingredients For the Recipe
You’ll need just a few simple ingredients to put this easy and comforting meal together.
- Rice (soaked): ½ cup
- Masoor dal/ Red lentil (soaked): ¼ cup
- Ghee: 2 tbsp
- Cumin seeds: 1 tsp
- Bay leaf: 1
- Dry red chili: 1
- Potatoes (roughly chopped): 1 cup
- Onions (chopped): ¼ cup
- Carrots (chopped): ¼ cup
- Beans (cut in half): ½ cup
- Green chilies (halved): 1-2
- Turmeric powder: A pinch
- Red chili powder: ½ tsp
- Garam masala powder: 1 tbsp
- Salt: ½ tbsp
- Water: 1.5 cups
- Coriander leaves (chopped): For garnish
How to Make the Homestyle Masala Khichdi
Once you have all your ingredients ready, here’s what you’ll need to do to make this easy homestyle masala khichdi.
Soak the rice and dal in water for at least 2 hours.
Take a pressure cooker. Add ghee and let it heat up.
Next, add the cumin seeds, bay leaf, and dry red chilies. Saute them.
Next add the potatoes, onions, beans, carrots and saute. Let it cook for 1-2 minutes.
Add the slit green chilies next and mix.
Add the powdered spices and salt next and mix well.
Add the soaked rice and dal next. Mix well.
Next, add water and pressure cook the mixture for 2-3 whistles.
Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve hot with pickles and papad of your choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
I’ve already added lots of veggies into this homestyle masala khichdi, but if you want to add some more into the mix, you can totally do that too.
Tomatoes, peas, mushrooms, cauliflower, eggplant and bell peppers are some good options.
This khichdi is also a great way to get some greens in. You can add some chopped spinach into it towards the end- let it simmer for a few minutes and then serve it. 
Yes, you can! If you don’t want to use a pressure cooker or an Instant Pot for this recipe, you can just stick to using your regular pot too.
I would recommend soaking the rice and dal for a few hours beforehand if you’re doing this. It can help the khichdi cook faster.
Also remember to cook the khichdi on medium heat for best results. 
Khichdi is one of those dishes that tastes best when made and enjoyed immediately.
While you can always store your leftovers for up to 2 days in the refrigerator, the khichdi won’t have the same texture you’re looking for when you reheat it. 
Tips & Tricks to Make the Homestyle Masala Khichdi
As much as it may seem that making this masala khichdi is easy, you might want to take note of these tips and tricks too.
- You can make this khichdi with almost any kind of yellow or red lentils, and it’ll turn out just as delicious.
- To make this khichdi healthier, you can choose to use brown rice or even some quinoa instead of white rice.
- If you use a long grained rice like basmati rice, the khichdi will end up nice and fluffy.
- To add more flavor to the khichdi, you can use vegetable or mushroom stock to cook it instead of just water.
- Depending on your personal preference, you can keep the consistency of the khichdi porridge-like or more like a rice pulao. All you need to do is adjust the amount of water you’re adding in, and the cooking time.
- If you want to make a vegan version of this recipe, just swap the ghee in the recipe for some regular cooking oil.
Serving Ideas & Suggestions
The best part about this delicious khichdi is the fact that you don’t need any extra effort to serve it.
Just top it with a sprinkle of freshly chopped cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice and you’re good to go.
If you really want to, you can serve it with some mixed pickle or red chili mustard pickle.
Loved how this easy one pot meal turned out? Want to try some more flavorful and easy meals? Here are a few handpicked ones to check out.
📖 Recipe
Homestyle Masala Khichdi
Ingredients
- ½ cup Rice , (soaked)
- ¼ cup Masoor dal/ Red lentil, (soaked)
- 2 tablespoon Ghee
- 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
- 1 Bay leaf
- 1 Dry red chili
- 1 cup Potatoes , (roughly chopped)
- ¼ cup Onions , (chopped)
- ¼ cup Carrots , (chopped)
- ½ cup Beans , (cut in half)
- 2 Green chilies , (halved)
- 1 pinch Turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon Red chili powder
- 1 tablespoon Garam masala powder
- ½ tablespoon Salt
- 1.5 cup Water
- 1 sprig Coriander leaves, (chopped for garnish)
Instructions
- Soak the rice and dal in water for at least 2 hours.
- Take a pressure cooker. Add ghee and let it heat up.
- Next, add the cumin seeds, bay leaf, and dry red chilies. Saute them.
- Next add the potatoes, onions, beans, carrots and saute. Let it cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Add the slit green chilies next and mix.
- Add the powdered spices and salt next and mix well.
- Add the soaked rice and dal next. Mix well.
- Next, add water and pressure cook the mixture for 2-3 whistles.
- Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve hot with pickles and papad of your choice.
Leave a Reply