Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Ashtomy Khichuri


It literally translates to eighth day rice. Traditionally eaten on the eighth day of the Hindu festival of Durga Puja by Bengalis, it is sanctified as an offering to the Goddess. Its quite simple to make but the result is finger lickin good! And its a full meal in itself.


To make ASHTOMY KHICHURI, you will need:

1 cup risotto rice,washed 
1/2 cup red (masoor)lentils, 
1/2 cup yellow mung lentils (washed, dried and roasted)
2 large potatoes, quartered
2 large onions, quartered
3 long brinjals, cut into 4
1 small cauliflower
150 gm red pumpkin (cut into 3 cm pieces)
1 medium radish, cut into chunks
1 sweet potato, quartered
1 cup peas
5 cm piece of ginger, ground to a paste
4-5 slit green chillies
1/4 tsp mustard seeds
1/4 tsp nigella seeds
1/4 tsp fenugreek seeds
1/4 tsp cumin seeds
1/4 tsp aniseed
2 bay leaves
3 red chillies, whole
1 tsp turmeric pd
1 tsp red chilli pd
2-3 tsp sugar
2 tbsp clarified butter (ghee)
1/2 cup mustard oil
salt to taste

Method: Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan, till it starts smoking. Turn off heat and cool slightly.
Drop in the red chillies, bay leaf and all the seeds. Turn on the heat and when seeds crackle, add the vegetables. Mix well for a couple of minutes till the veggies are well coated with oil and spices.
Add the rice and lentils and cook for 5 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients, except ghee, and stir around. Add 8-9 cups of water and mix well. Cook on medium heat till veggies and rice are cooked through.
Mix in the ghee and serve hot.