Bottle Gourd & Green Peas Khichdi

My 3 year old is humming the Coca-Cola advertisement these days ;
in his sweet,gibberish & guess what language voice the verses sound magical !
And that's when I took time to really find out what the lyrics were all about 


Ummeed Waali Dhoop
Sunshine Waali Aasha
Rone Ki Wajah Kamm Hai
Hansne Ke Bahane Jyada
Zidd Hai Muskurayenge
Khush Rehne Ka Hai Waada

Tum Dil Se Agar Puchoge
Woh Khush Rehna Hee Chahe
Jab Sache Mann Se Maango
Toh Khul Jaati Hai Raahein
Toh Khul Ke Khushi Lutao
Ye Kya Aadha-Aadha

Umeedon Wali Dhoop
Sunshine Wali Asha

The song gushes about hope,sunshine,expectation,peace and to the ears that is already dead with the overflow of Kolaveri tune, it was like a breath of fresh air. 

Remember the Oasis song - Whatever

I'm free to be whatever I

Whatever I choose

And I'll sing the blues if I want

The worldwide Coca-Cola advertisement with this song gets a regional flavor and Ummedon Waali Dhoop manages to convey the emotion of spreading cheer & sunshine !

And thanks to the lil one, I am humming this song endlessly these days !

Now coming back to today's recipe, remember the Khichdi , I was talking about in my last post - well this is that comfort food that kept us hooked last sunday.

 Simmering lentils & rice with the gourd & peas thrown in, getting some sweet heat from the jalapenos & spiced up with pepper corns & cinnamon wore a glamourous look with grated coocnuts & coriander leaves

Khichdi/khichdee/Kedgeree/Kitchree (and many other variants) is  the one-pot meal that sees a medley of rice & lentils thrown with some veggies. There are different ways the dish is cooked and our very own pongal & bisibele bhaat is but a version of this Khichdi. Forgetting the usual veggies like cauliflower, carrots & beans , I used the bland gourd and it gelled well with the rice & lentils to give a satisfying dish.

What's in it :-

• Rice - 1 Cup
• Moong Dal - 1/2 cup
• Bottle Gourd - 1/2 cup - washed,peed,chopped in to chunky cubes
• Fresh Green peas - a fistful
• Olive Oil - 1 to 2 tbsp
• Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp
• Asafoetida - a pinch
• Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
• Water - as required\
• Black Pepper - 1 tsp
• Cinnamon - 1 or 2 small stick
• Salt - to taste
• Jalapenos or Green Chillis - 3 to 4 - to taste - chopped
• Water - 4 1/2 cups - as required

For Garnish:-

• Coriander Leaves - a few sprigs -finely chopped
• Grated Coconut - as required

Here's How:-

Wash the rice & lentils thoroughly and set aside. In a heavy bottomed pan, warm the oil and let the mustard seeds crackle & sizzle. Add turmeric powder and gently roast the rice & lentils till it turns a magical golden. Take care not to brown them by leaving it unattended. Now add the chopped gourd & the green peas.

Fry for less than a minute and add the required water. Top it with asafoetida and let it cook for 10-12 minutes. Tip in the black pepper,cinnamon, salt & jalapenos/green chillis. Let it cook again for 15 minutes, till the water is drained .
Garnish with coconut & coriander leaves. Serve hot with choice accompaniments 

Enjoy !


It's off to Kalyani's Magic Mingle # 1 & Priya's Veggie of the month - Bottle Gourd, hosted by Raji;also to Radhika's Let's Cook : Rice & to Vardhini's New U