Tuesday, January 17, 2012

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
  

34 comments:

  1. This is a wonderful khichdi Priya..bottle gourds bland flavours really merges in everything. Superb khichdi which will be liked by kids as well.

    Thanks for sending it to me.

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  2. always relate khicdi and bottle gourd as wen sick food!!...but u have made it anytime food!!

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  3. சுரைக்காய் கிச்சடி ரொம்ப நல்லாயிருக்கு...

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  4. Thats an super comforting,incredible and definitely nutritious khichdi,lovely dish for the sure Priya.

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  5. comfort food for me, the pictures themselves are pretty comforting.

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  6. I like the Coke advertisement too.....Your dish looks very comforting.

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  7. Nice combo.....
    Visit my space if time permits....

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  8. Super comfort one pot meal,yummy..nice clicks!!
    Erivum Puliyum

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  9. delicious and innovative khichadi
    indu srinivasan

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  10. bottle gourd in khichadi? seems worked out well. It is inviting.

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  11. I would love to have it anytime.......soooo healthy & nutricious.

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  12. Bottle gourd khichidi looks easy to make and is healthy too. Thx for linking to the event.

    Vardhini
    Event: New "U" - Healthy Eats
    Event: Healing Foods - Cauliflower

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  13. Looks really good - Love the fresh coconut garnish!
    been meaning to ask you - if you were still planning to blog some recipes from mine as part of your guest series?- am kinda curious to see what you might pick :)
    cheers, priya

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    Replies
    1. oh priya- ur blog is a treasure trove- for the past few days I have been literally stalking your recipes; quite a few of some lovely recipes I had to leave out for want of ingredients, however i have bookmarked atleast 10 recipes out of which I am sure to post atleast 2 ( orange chutney, baked pakodas are on the top of my list) as is beet & quinoa cutlets,

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  14. I am just loving the look of this khichadi.Bookmarking this.

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  15. That khichadi looks yumm..making me go hungry! super healthy too :)

    Thank you for visiting me :)

    xoxo
    http://sreebindu.blogspot.com/

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  16. healthy and delicious khichdi, never used bottle gourd in khichdis..

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  17. wow... look fabulous... beautiful presentation...

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  18. How cute that your little one hums along to the song, such a cute age! This dish is delightful, pure deliciousness :)

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  19. That dish looks delicious and must be very healthy!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  20. Looks as a simple and hearrty one pot meal

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  21. Hi dear, thanks for your comment.I have to clarify that its chocolate sauce that I was trying to draw line. I cannot draw for nuts so that is the result. Thanks to you and La foodslice I can continue making this mess.

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  22. excellent put up, very informative. I’m wondering why the opposite specialists of this sector do not realize this. You should continue your writing. I’m sure, you have a great readers’ base already!
    love sms

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  23. That's a healthy one pot meal,looks so yummy n inviting!!
    Lovely preparation...

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  24. Never tried khicri with this veggie but what better time than now when it cold and raining outside.

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  25. Bottleguard and Khichdi is new combination for me! But it looks too good!

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  26. You know,I have never been a big fan of Khichdi.Perhaps because we Indians always link it with those who are sick/unwell or having digestive problems.But I have started liking it,of recent!:-) I like the one in which the rice is not overcooked and is still fluffy,rather than the cooking it till mushy and rather liquid-like.

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