Keema khichdi is the ultimate, one-port comfort food made by pressure cooking soaked lentils and rice with minced chicken, onions, tomatoes, and local spices. The inimitable flavour comes from the generous use of whole ginger, garlic, and whole spices like cloves and cardamom. It is topped with sliced, hard-boiled eggs for added texture and flavour.
Thoroughly rinse the rice and dal before adding them, together, to a bowl. Now, soak the rice and dal in enough water to submerge them. Let them soak for at least 30 minutes.
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Fry the onions
Add ghee to a pressure cooker and place it on medium heat. Once it’s hot, add the cumin seeds and let them crackle. Then add cinnamon, cloves and cardamom and sautè for a few seconds. Then add the onions and lightly fry till they turn translucent. Lastly, add the ginger-garlic paste and green chillies and fry till it turns aromatic.
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Cook the tomatoes
Once the onion-base is ready, add the chopped tomatoes. Cook for 5 minutes or till the tomatoes turn tender. Then, add the minced chicken, salt, turmeric powder and garam masala. Cook for 5-6 minutes or till the mince is half-cooked (and not all the way through).
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Add the rice and dal
Add the soaked rice and lentils along with salt and 3 to 4 cups of water. Give it a good mix and cover the cooker. Pressure cook on medium-high heat for two whistles. Then reduce the heat to low and let it cook for approximately 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and let it stand for 5 minutes.
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Garnish and serve
Garnish the khichdi with freshly chopped coriander. Add sliced hard-boiled eggs on top and serve hot with a cool raita and crisp papad.