Keema Khichuri. COURTESY
Rain is almost synonymous with eating Khichuri for Bengalis. It is the ultimate comfort food for rainy days, or any day as a matter of fact! Can a simple bowl of rice and lentils bring comfort to the distressed soul? Yes, some food are like that, primitive in from and yet so nourishing and comforting! The golden pot of Khichuri in which rice and lentils are cooked together till they lose some of their individual character and become one- the true comfort food ever known to man.
Ingredients
2 cup aromatic rice
½ kg ground meat (beef, mutton or chicken)
1 cup red lentils (masoor dal)
4 tbsp oil
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 large onions, finely chopped
1 tsp ginger paste
1 tsp garlic paste
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp cumin powder
¼ tsp turmeric powder
½ tsp garam masala powder
2 large tomatoes, finely chopped
Salt to taste
Method
Wash the rice and lentils in a bowl. Add water and soak the rice and lentils for 20 minutes. Heat the oil in a deep pan. Add the cumin seeds and cook until they stop spluttering. Add chopped onions and fry until transparent. Add ginger garlic paste and fry for 1 minute. Add the remaining spices and mix well. Add the tomatoes and cook until the oil begins to separate from the spices and tomatoes turn pulpy. Add the ground meat and cook till the meat turns evenly brown. Add the rice, lentils and 4 cups of water. Season with salt. Mix well and bring to a boil. Cook for 3 minutes, then lower the heat to a simmer. Put the lid on and cook until the rice and lentils gets soft. When it is done, turn off the heat and allow the Khichuri to rest without removing the lid for 10 minutes. Stir before serving.
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