Khichdi-Bengali Style

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 25 minutes
Makes 6 servings

Ingredients : 

1 cup rice (chawal) , soaked and drained
1/2 cup masoor dal (split red lentil)
3 tbsp ghee
2 bayleaves
1/2 cup finely chopped onions
2 tsp ginger-garlic (adrak-lehsun) paste
1/2 tsp turmeric powder (haldi)
1/2 cup green peas
1/2 cup french beans , cut into 1" pieces
6 to 7 small onions , peeled
4 to 5 baby potatoes , peeled
2 1/2 tsp finely chopped green chillies
salt to taste

To Be Ground Into A Coarse Powder
4 cloves (laung / lavang)
2 cardamoms
2 sticks cinnamon (dalchini)

For Serving
buttermilk
salad
pickle
papad

Instruction :

1. Heat the ghee in a non-stick handi, add the bayleaves and the ground powder and sauté on a medium flame for a few seconds.
2. Add the onions and sauté on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes.
3. Add the ginger-garlic paste, turmeric powder, rice and masoor dal, mix well and sauté on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes.
4. Add 3½ cups of hot water, green peas, french beans, onions, potatoes, green chillies and salt, mix well and cook on a slow flame for atleast 20 minutes, while stirring occasionally.
5. Serve hot with buttermilk, salad, pickle and papad.