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Bhuna Khichuri (Bengali Rice and Lentils)

@arecipe.bsky.social

Khichuri is a Bengali dish once considered comfort food for the poor but now a delicacy served warm in the monsoon rain. Like the similar khichdi, the core ingredients are rice and lentils, but different variations exist, some adding vegetables, poultry or meat and named accordingly (e. g. sabji khichuri for vegetable). Here is the recipe for the popular Bhuna Khichuri, which is is romantic and especially suited for a rainy day. Serve warm with Bengal fish curry and chutney as a condiment.

Total 00:50
Yield 2

Ingredients

  • 1 cup white fragrant rice (e.g Basmati rice or short-grained pilau rice)
  • 1 cup green gram or red split lentils
  • ½ cup split dried chickpeas (preferably Bengal variety; optional)
  • ½ cup garden peas (optional) (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons butter (preferably ghee)
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 2 whole green chiles, slit in the middle and optionally de-seeded
  • Salt to taste
  • 4 cups water for boiling
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 4 green cardamom pods
  • 4 whole cloves
  • 2 sticks of cinnamon 1 inch long
  • ¼ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 2 cm piece of ginger, finely chopped
  • 1 medium or 2 small onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons butter preferably ghee
  • 1 bunch coarsely chopped fresh coriander leaves

Instructions

  1. 1
    Rinse rice, lentils, and chickpeas separately in cold water.
  2. 2
    Dry rice in a colander or on a flat surface.
  3. 3
    Leave lentils and chickpeas to soak in water for 30 minutes.
  4. 4
    Drain lentils and chickpeas, then roast them briefly until they emit an aroma; set aside to cool.
  5. 5
    Heat water in a kettle to use later. Keep warm but not boiling.
  6. 6
    Semi-crush cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves.
Cuisine
Indian

Dietary Information

Halal
Kosher
Vegetarian

Recipe Attribution

Wikibooks Cookbook
en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cookbook:Bhuna_Khichuri_(Bengali_Rice_and_Lentils)