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Moong Dal Khichdi Recipe

Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Moong Dal Khichdi is a light, healthy and comforting one-pot meal made with rice, yellow lentils and spices. Easy to digest and delicious!
4.85 from 117 votes
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About this moong dal khichdi recipe

Moong dal khichdi is a simple, light, and nourishing dish made with rice, yellow moong dal, and mild spices. It is often enjoyed as a wholesome meal when you’re feeling under the weather or just want something warm and comforting.

Recipe highlights –

  • Quick and easy one-pot meal
  • Cooks in a pressure cooker or instant pot
  • Healthy, light, and easily digestible
  • Perfect for sick days or detox meals
  • Can be made plain or with veggies

I always associate khichdi with a feeling of warmth and homeliness. Moong Dal Khichdi is simple, nourishing, and incredibly satisfying. Whether you make it plain or loaded with vegetables, it’s a dish that brings warmth and comfort with every bite.

Khichdi and its cultural significance

Khichdi is an ancient dish from the Indian subcontinent, made by cooking rice and lentils together with mild spices.

In Ayurveda, khichdi is considered sattvic food, meaning it’s easy to digest and promotes well-being. It’s often recommended for detoxing, as it’s gentle on the stomach and nourishing for the body.

Across India, different regions have their own versions, from the Bengali “Bhoger Khichuri” with whole spices to the Gujarati “Vaghareli Khichdi” with vegetables.

It’s is also often offered as prasad (sacred food) in temples, served as a comfort meal for the sick, and is even considered a staple food during fasting. Khichdi has its prevalence in festivals also, like Makar Sankranti, where it is most commonly served during dinner.

Main ingredients of moong dal khichdi

Moong Dal Khichdi is made with simple, wholesome ingredients that come together to create a nutritious and comforting meal –

  • Rice – Regular white rice or basmati rice works best for a soft and creamy texture.
  • Yellow Moong Dal – Light, protein-rich, and easy on the stomach, making khichdi highly digestible.
  • Vegetables (optional) – I have added carrots and peas for extra fiber, vitamins and nutrition. Cauliflower, potatoes, and lauki (bottle gourd) also work well. You can use any vegetables of your choice or skip them altogether.
  • Green chillies – Adds mild heat. Feel free to skip if you prefer a less spicy taste.
  • Curry leaves (kari patta) – They really enhance the aroma and flavor of the khidchi, however you can skip them if unavailable.
  • Whole spices – Mustard seeds (rai), cumin seeds (jeera), and cloves (laung) add depth and warmth.
  • Ground spices – Hing (asafoetida), turmeric (haldi), dried ginger (saunth), and black pepper (kali mirch) not only boost flavor but also aid digestion.
  • Ghee – The warm aroma of ghee is what makes khichdi so irresistible. A drizzle on top enhances both taste and texture. For a vegan version, replace it with oil.

How to make khichdi – pressure cooker and instant pot

You can make khichdi in a pressure cooker or an instant pot—both methods are quick and easy. I have given detailed instructions for both methods in the recipe as well.

Pressure cooker method

  1. Heat ghee or oil in a pressure cooker, add mustard seeds, cumin and heeng.
  2. Sauté chopped green chilies, curry leaves, ground spices and vegetables (if using).
  3. Add 1/2 cup each of moong dal and rice, along with 3.5 cups of water.
  4. Pressure cook for 2 whistles till it’s soft and mushy.
  5. Let the pressure release naturally.
  6. Stir well, drizzle some ghee, and serve hot!

Instant pot method

  1. Set Instant Pot to sauté mode and follow the same steps as above.
  2. Add water, close the lid, and set to “Pressure Cook (Manual)” for 6 minutes.
  3. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then manually set to vent to release.
  4. Stir well, adjust consistency if needed, and enjoy!

Health & nutrition benefits

Moong Dal Khichdi is one of the most nourishing meals you can have. It is simple and well balanced meal, offering a good mix of carbohydrates, protein, and fiber.

Moong dal khichdi is also easy to digest, making it ideal for babies, elders, and anyone recovering from illness. Since moong dal is a great source of plant-based protein, it keeps you full while being light on the stomach.

Turmeric and black pepper in the khichdi add anti-inflammatory properties, and if you include vegetables, you boost its fiber and vitamin content.

Plus, a drizzle of ghee enhances digestion and provides healthy fats. If you are trying to reduce your calorie intake you can skip adding additional ghee.

Serving suggestions – what to eat with khichdi?

Khichdi is comforting on its own, but pairing it with sides makes it even better –

  • A spoonful of ghee – The best way to enhance its taste and digestibility. A drizzle of ghee on top of warm khichdi makes it completely irresistible.
  • Pickle – This is my favorite side to the khichdi. I usually enjoy it with mango pickle or green chilli pickle.
  • Yogurt or raita – Plain yogurt, or a simple raita like cucumber raita adds a cooling element, as well as makes the khichdi more runny in consistency. It also enhances the protein and nutritional content of the meal.
  • Papad – I love having a side of roasted papad along with khichdi for an extra crunch.
  • Fried green chillies – If you are craving for a spicy meal, just fry some green chillies and sprinkle them with a bit of salt, to enjoy along with your khichdi

To make Moong dal khichdi at home follow the detailed step by step recipe with photos posted below.

Moong Dal Khichdi Recipe Step By Step Instructions

Moong Dal Khichdi Recipe

Moong Dal Khichdi is a light, healthy and comforting one-pot meal made with rice, yellow lentils and spices. Easy to digest and delicious!
4.85 from 117 votes


Recipe Info

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4
Category Main Course
Cuisine Indian

Nutrition

Calories: 243kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 8g | Fiber: 4g

Ingredients For Moong Dal Khichdi Recipe
 

  • 1/2 Cup Yellow Moong Dal (split & skinned green gram)
  • 1/2 Cup Rice
  • 2 Tablespoons Ghee or oil
  • 1 Teaspoon Rai (Black Mustard Seeds)
  • 1 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds (Jeera)
  • 2 Laung (Cloves)
  • 1/8 Teaspoon Heeng (Asafoetida)
  • 1-2 Green Chillies finely chopped
  • 6-8 Curry Leaves (Kari Patta)
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric Powder (Haldi)
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Dried Ginger Powder (Saunth)
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper Powder (Kali Mirch)
  • 2 Teaspoons Salt or to taste
  • 1/4 Cup Carrots chopped, optional
  • 1/4 Cup Peas chopped, optional
  • 3.5 Cups Water

Step By Step Instructions for Moong Dal Khichdi Recipe
 

  1. Take equal amounts of rice and yellow moong dal in a bowl.
    1/2 Cup Yellow Moong Dal (split & skinned green gram), 1/2 Cup Rice
    Moong Dal Khichdi Recipe Step By Step Instructions 1
  2. Wash and rinse them thoroughly 4-5 times till the water runs clear.
    Moong Dal Khichdi Recipe Step By Step Instructions 2
  3. Heat ghee in a pressure cooker or instant pot and add black mustard seeds (rai) to it. When the mustard seeds starts to crackle, add cumin seeds (jeera), cloves (laung) and heeng (asafoetida) and fry for 30 seconds.
    2 Tablespoons Ghee, 1 Teaspoon Rai (Black Mustard Seeds), 1 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds (Jeera), 2 Laung (Cloves), 1/8 Teaspoon Heeng (Asafoetida)
    Moong Dal Khichdi Recipe Step By Step Instructions 3
  4. When the cumin seeds start spluttering, add some finely chopped green chillies and curry leaves.
    1-2 Green Chillies, 6-8 Curry Leaves (Kari Patta)
    Moong Dal Khichdi Recipe Step By Step Instructions 4
  5. Also add turmeric powder (haldi), ginger powder (saunth), black pepper powder (kali mirch) and salt.
    1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric Powder (Haldi), 1/2 Teaspoon Dried Ginger Powder (Saunth), 1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper Powder (Kali Mirch), 2 Teaspoons Salt
    Moong Dal Khichdi Recipe Step By Step Instructions 5
  6. Optionally, add chopped vegetables of your choice. I have added carrots and peas. You can also add potatoes, cauliflower, lauki or other vegetables as per your preference, or skip them altogether.
    1/4 Cup Carrots, 1/4 Cup Peas
    Moong Dal Khichdi Recipe Step By Step Instructions 6
  7. Then add the washed rice and moong dal to the cooker or instant pot.
    Moong Dal Khichdi Recipe Step By Step Instructions 7
  8. Add water to the mixture and mix everything. If you want more thinner consistency, you can add 1/2 cup extra water.
    3.5 Cups Water
    Moong Dal Khichdi Recipe Step By Step Instructions 8
  9. For pressure cooker – Pressure cook the khichdi for 2 whistles. Let the steam come out naturally before opening the lid of the pressure cooker.
    For instant pot – Close the lid of the instant pot and set the vent to seal position. Pressure cook (manual) for 6 minutes on high pressure. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then manually vent.
    Moong Dal Khichdi Recipe Step By Step Instructions 9
  10. Moong dal khichdi is ready. You can top it with ghee while serving. You can also serve curd, pickle, chopped onions, salted & fried green chilies or papad on the side.
    Moong Dal Khichdi Recipe Step By Step Instructions

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Moong Dal Khichdi is a light, healthy and comforting one-pot meal made with rice, yellow lentils and spices. Easy to digest and delicious!
4.85 from 117 votes (117 ratings without comment)

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