Quinoa and Samo Khichdi - with Madhulika Liddle's tomato tadka

It's the New year and there's lot going on in the world, and you are probably thinking "What a way to start!!" But then you get on with your life and think how you can survive and whether or not you should stick to your resolutions or just give them up, since the world is anyway coming to an end.

Speaking of resolutions, I am sure at least 70% of people in this world have "healthy eating" in the top of their resolutions.

Quinoa and Samo Rice Khichdi 

I don't have resolutions but I do like eating healthy, especially after the heavy feasting that happens during the holiday season. And we did eat a lot. Like every year, we were on our annual getaway with few friends from college and their families. This time we had rented a log cabin in the middle of nowhere in Virginia, with a fantastic view. We ate out, we ate in, we chatted and cooked and ushered in the New year at a fancy mediterranean lounge in Maryland. It was fun but now I need to detox for a few days and bring my body back to regular routine.

I am not very good with diets so "keto" or "IF" are not meal plans that I can stick to. Instead I try to inculcate somewhat of a healthy eating during the week and do portion controls. That makes me feel better from the inside.

When I saw Madhulika's khichuri on facebook last year, I was very intrigued by the last step of it. The thing caught my attention because of its unique tomatoey tadka. It was very different. In our Bengali home, we are used to 3 types of Khichuri -- Bhuni Khichuri which is more like a pulao, the Bhog er khichuri with roasted yellow moong and the regular Masoor Dal er Khichuri. None of them feature a tadka like this.


@madhulikaliddle as many of you know is a fiction author of repute and I love her short stories. Her historical murder mysteries are more popular I believe.
Any which way, I am pretty much in awe of her. Having written only one book and nurturing this secret aspiration to write more, I am always in awe of authors who have successfully written and published several.
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So, when I saw her khichdi recipe I knew it would be a killer. Wait not that murder mystery "killer" 😜.
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I adapted the recipe to reduce the carbs and add some more healthy grains and this is how I did it. I used Quinoa and Samo Rice instead of white rice.  Samo rice known as millet (Kodri) or Morio Seed, also called ‘Jungle Rice’, as it grows wild along with grass in the rice paddy fields. It is gluten free, has less calorie and less sugar content. In India, it is used during the time of fasting and called "Vrat ke Chawal". Quinoa is also a seed rich in proteins, dietary fiber and vitamins.

The original recipe was with rice and whole masoor.

This is the simplest that a one-pot meal can get. With added vegetables and a fried egg while serving, it has everything a weeknight dinner needs. Plus, it is very quick and requires minimal chopping or grinding. With that less work, the result is so delicious that you shouldn't pass this on!

Quinoa and Samo Khichdi 

Wash 1/3rd cup each of
Green moong,
Red Masoor
Quinoa,
Samo Rice or a type of millet (also known as Samo Rice in Indian grocery stores)
Note: Some days I add 1/3rd of yellow moong and 1/3rd of rice to above too
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Heat 1 Tbsp Oil in pressure cooker. I used Olive oil.
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Temper with 1/2 tsp cumin seeds, 1 red chili, 6 cloves of garlic chopped, 1/2 onion in slices. Fry until onion is soft and pink.
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Add the lentils. Sprinkle turmeric powder and saute for 1 minute.
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Add quinoa + millet. Saute and mix together for a minute.
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I add some 1/2 Cup of diced carrots, green beans and sweet peas often at this point
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Add almost 3 cups of water. Salt to taste. 2-3 broken green chilies.
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Cook for 3 whistles.
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Cook the tomatoes.

In a separate pan, heat mustard oil. Temper with 1/4 tsp cumin seeds.
Fry 1/2 a onion chopped in slices to brown.
Add 1 medium tomato chopped and saute to mush.
Sprinkle crushed kasoori methi. Add salt & 3-4 green chilies chopped.
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Once Khichdi is done, mix this tomato mixture to khichdi and simmer for few minutes.
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Serve hot with ghee and a fried egg on top. It was delicious 😋😋

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