Vegetable Kichdi / Vegetable Rice Casserole

My daughter relished this recipe every single day for close to 8 months when she was initially introduced to food at six months of age. Ofcourse I used to add or delete a few ingredients for variety of flavour. This dish is so abundant in nutrition and unbelievably easy to make. Apart from rice and lentil, this recipe uses lots of vegetables. You can use almost any vegetable (especially the ones your child does not like).
Depending on the age of your child, you can puree it, mash it or serve it as it is. I have used broken red rice for this but any rice may be used.

Vegetable Kichdi / Vegetable Rice Casserole


Ingredients:

Boiled red rice / broken rice or any short grain rice: 1/4 cup
Moong Dal / Thuvar Dal / Red lentils: 1/4 cup
Mixed vegetables chopped: 1/2 cup (potato, carrots, beans, green peas, beetroot, brocolli, cauliflower, bottle gourd, white & yellow pumpkin, spinach)
Garlic: 2 small cloves chopped
Onion: 1 small chopped
Coriander leaves: 1 tbsp chopped
Curry leaves: 4 (optional)
Ghee/ Oil / Butter: 2 tsp
Jeera / Cumin seeds: 1/2 tsp
Turmeric Powder: 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder: 1 tsp
Asafoetida powder: a pinch (optional)
Salt: to taste
Water: 1 1/4 cup

1. Wash and soak rice and dal for 10 minutes.
2. Heat a pressure cooker and add ghee. When hot, add jeera and splutter. Then add chopped garlic and saute. Add onion and saute until pink. Add curry leaves.
3. Add all the other vegetables and saute for a couple of minutes.
4. Add all the powders and stir well.
5. Now drain the rice and dal and add. Saute for a couple of minutes.
6. Add 1 1/4 cup water and salt.
7. Cover and cook on low heat for 2-3 whistles.
(If cooking in an open pan,follow the same steps but cooking time will be longer and may need more water).
8. Open cooker when ready and mash the kitchidi slightly. Check for seasoning. Another spoon of ghee or butter may be added at this stage.

The kitchidi will have a green hue because of the spinach. Dont cook it for too long as the vegetables will lose its nutritional value. In case you want to the rice/dal to be softer, cook it first and then add the vegetables.