bajra moong dal khichdi

How To Make Bajra Khichdi | Pearl Millet Khichdi Recipe

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I hope you must have enjoyed Til Gud Ladoo on Makar Sankranti. Here I have come up with another winter special recipe that is Bajra Khichdi or Bajre Ki Khichdi. The Khichdi is very tasty and it will warm up your chilly winter evenings. The khichdi has several health benefits, which we will discuss in this article later on.

It is the story of the golden days when I was in Mumbai. For your information, I had worked in Mumbai for 2 years, in a renowned MNC. There I learned one interesting recipe of Bajra Khichdi or Pearl Millet Khichdi. We know Bajra as Pearl Millet in English. These were the golden days because I had stepped out of my city independently for the first time in my life. Finishing up the college, then getting placement in another city, meeting new people, and enjoying the most awaited salary……. umm, what the days were they.

Here I met a girl Shalini from Kurukshetra. She was my colleague. Later she shifted to my room as my previous roommate from Himachal Pradesh had left the company. Shalini was my new roommate and we became good friends. Because Shalini was new to the city, her mother had come to make her settle in the city and for the new job. Her mother stayed with us for about a week.

Till Shalini’s mother was there, we did not have to cook, as she used to prepare meals for us. She was a good cook and prepared scrumptious food. Once the lady had prepared Bajra Moong Dal Khichdi for us. The Khichdi was so tasty, that I can still feel the taste. As I also love cooking, I did not delay taking Bajra Khichdi recipe from her.

Without delaying further and making you feel bored, let’s start our quick and easy recipe for Bajra Khichdi.

Bajra Khichdi Recipe

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes

Cooking Time: 30 Minutes

Serving: 2-3 People

Bajra Khichdi Ingredients:

For Tempering:

  1. Ghee or clarified butter 1 Tablespoon
  2. 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  3. 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
  4. 3-4 chopped green chilies
  5. 1 tablespoon chopped ginger

For Khichdi

  • 1/2 cup overnight soaked Bajra or Pearl millet
  • 1/2 cup 1 hour soaked Green Gram Whole or Khadi Moong Dal
  • 1/4th cup 1 hour soaked rice
  • 3 cup Buttermilk
  • 1 cup Water
  • Salt to taste
  • Chopped coriander leaves for garnishing

Method:

  1. First clean the bajra or pearl millet, whole green gram, and rice separately.
  2. Wash the bajra and leave it to get soaked for overnight.
  3. You can wash and soak the green gram or khadi moong dal and rice an hour before making bajra moong dal khichdi.
  4. Bajra or Pearl millet does not cook easily, so coarsely grind overnight soaked bajra in a mixer jar and keep it aside.
  5. Grind whole green gram or moong dal separately, and also keep it aside.
  6. Now heat a pan, and add ghee.
  7. Pop mustard seeds and cumin seeds in ghee.
  8. Now add chopped ginger and chopped green chilies. Saute them well.
  9. Now add coarsely ground bajra, green gram and rice. Mix all the ingredients well.
  10. Now add buttermilk or chaas and add water.
  11. Add salt and stir well.
  12. Cover the lid and let the khichdi cook on low flame, and Stir occasionally.
  13. After 15-20 minutes, you will see a khichdi like consistency. So check if khichdi is cooked well.
  14. When the khichdi gets cooked well, switch off the flame.
  15. Garnish with chopped corriander leaves and Serve the khichdi hot.

Tips:

  • I think soaking makes the recipe easier. I find it easier than Bajra khichdi instant pot or Millet khichdi instant pot.
  • You may adjust quntity of green chilies as per your taste.
  • If you want to make Bajra Khichdi for weight loss, you can avoid adding rice. For that, do not add butter milk and add 3 to cups of water.
  • You can add vegetables of your choice like carrot, peas to make bajra vegetable khichdi.

Health Benefits of Bajra Khichdi

Bajra or pearl millets have several health benefits let’s know them-

  • Bajra or pearl millet is rich in fibre, amino acids and minerals. These fibres and aminoacids reduces appetite, so eating bajra is very beneficial for weight loss.
  • It helps control blood sugar level and blood pressure.
  • Bajra has hot effects on body, so it is good to eat during winters.
  • Pearl millet is rich in calcium, so it strengthens bones and relives joint pain.
  • It is a rich source of iron, so it helps to boost red blood cells.

Now we come to know how healthy is eating pear millet during winters. So let’s make Bajra Khichdi and enjoy our chilly winter evenings in a warm way.