What is Khichri (Khichdi)?

Khichri has been a favorite dish of Moghul Emperors. Akbar liked to eat Khichri with Yogurt. During Akbar, the royal kitchen prepared and distributed Khichri every day. Jahangir loved his Khichri made with lots of Ghee, dried fruits and nuts. Alamgiri Khichri was developed for Aurangzeb. The oldest documented recipe dates back to  Akbar period Khichri Recipe (Ain-I-Akbar).

Khichri is a combination of Rice and legumes cooked together. You have to select beans that will cook at the same time as the Rice. Khichri is considered easy to digest and given to the ailing.

Khichri in Hindi means a 'hash' of rice and legumes. You can choose any type of legumes. The most common is Rice and split decorticated Mung beans Moong Dal and Rice Khichri Recipe . Other popular combinations follow:

Rice + Split Moong Beans with skin

Rice + Split Black Matpe without skin

Rice + Split Black Matpe with skin

Rice + Chana Dal

Rice + Split Decorticated Masoor (Red lentils)

Rice + Masoor (Brown lentils)

You may create your own Khichri with Rice, and combination of legumes you prefer. You might even add cracked wheat (Dalia). My mother used to make Khichri with long grain rice, Dhuli Moong Dal, and Chana Dal.

'Lots of Ghee' is an important ingredient in traditional recipe. You may also add Nuts (Almonds, Pistachios, Cashews, Chirongi, Chilgoza), and dried fruits (Raisins, chopped apricots).

The consistency of the finished product may be very dry like a Biryani, or wet depending on your taste.

Khichri is normally served with Dahi yogurt, or Kadhi. Traditional Khichri is not spicy, it is accompanied with  pickle (mango or lime in oil).

In Cuba, they make Rice and Black beans. My favorite variation is Rice and Whole Black Matpe (Urad). Black Bean Khichri Recipe. You can also make Rice and Red Kidney Beans (Rajma).

During Raj, British modified the recipe and developed Kedgeree Recipe. The fish replaced the legumes in Kedgeree.