Khichdi in a Jar – Mixed Vegetable Kitchari Mix for Instant Pot or Saucepan

Name: Khichdi in a Jar - Mixed Veg Kitchari Mix for Instant Pot or Saucepan
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 3/4 cup long grain white basmati rice; 3/4 cup quick cooking lentils such as Red lentils (, (I generally use half moong dal and half red lentils)); 3/4 tsp cumin seeds; 2 to 3 cloves; 1 tsp coriander powder; 1 tbsp onion flakes; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1/4 tsp ground ginger; 1/2 tsp garam masala (, more if you like it spicier); 3/4 tsp turmeric; 1/4 tsp cayenne; 1 or 2 Indian bay leaves; 1 tomato (chopped); 1 to 2 cups chopped vegetables; water ((depends on method of cooking,, see instructions)); 3/4 tsp salt

December 20, 2017 By Richa 51 Comments

Khichdi in a Jar – Mixed Vegetable Kitchari Mix for Instant Pot or Saucepan. Easy Lentil Rice Soup with Veggies. Gift the jar full of lentils,, rice and spices. Empty into a pot with veggies of choice. Easy Weekday Dinner. Vegan Gluten-free Soy-free Nut-free Recipe. Jump to Recipe

Tis the time to wrap up some fun gifts and this one is a must. When I made this jar, I thought, hey its khichdi, it is a super simple recipe. People can possibly just throw it all together at home within minutes. But when its right there in the jar, it is as simple as putting it in the instant pot (pressure cooker) or saucepan with water and just a short wait to a fabulous meal.

Khichdi or Kitchari is dal and rice risotto like preparation that usually is very lightly spiced and served as light meal when you are sick or just to give the tummy a break with a simple nourishing meal. The basic version is slightly bland with just 1 or 2 spices and kept so to be a light meal. You can add different spices, some vegetables, tomato etc to make it a hearty meal. The basic version is in my first book, This recipe is adapted from the basic version. Also see my hearty green moong and brown rice version on the blog. Khichdi is generally overcooked to be more of a mash for easy digestion. Cook it for less time for the grains and lentils to retain shape and a few minutes longer for a mash.

This bottled up kitchari makes a great gift. You will want to make and eat lots of kitchari after the big holiday meals and the jar makes it a 5 minute job. Empty contents in an Instant pot which you may have received as a gift, or to a saucepan, add whatever veggies you like, add water and done! Serve as is or with some chutneys or papadum/crackers.

I pack the spices in a separate pouch and then add to the gift jar. This allows the cook to change up the recipe, wash the rice and lentils if they wish etc. If the spices are layered into the jar, then washing the rice/lentils is not possible. Use other spices, lentils, rice/grains for variations and have these jars around for quick meals! See instructions to make khichdi directly with the ingredients if you dont want to jar them. You can also make this into a stew/curry, use some non dairy milk along with the water.

More Jar Gifts from the blog!

Sweet:

Savory:

Sriracha Orange Peanut Quinoa Granola. Savory, sweet and spicy GF
Coconut Chutney Mix and Dosa Crepe Mix in a Jar
Dal tadka- Indian spiced Lentil Soup mix in a jar. GF

If you make this recipe, do let me know how it turned out! Tag me on social media #veganricha

Troubleshoot: Khichdi tends to be a bit overcooked traditionally. Cook for 2 mins to 6 minutes on Manual in Instant pot based on your preference of texture.

The pictured khichdi was cooked for 5 minutes after alternate tempering method. The tempering process preheats the pan helping it come to pressure quickly. To reduce that time and hence reduce chances of overcooking. Bring the water + lentils to a boil on saute mode, then add the veggies, spices, salt and close the lid.

Khichdi in a Jar - Mixed Vegetable Kitchari Mix for Instant Pot or Saucepan. Easy Lentil Rice Soup with Veggies. Gift the jar full of lentils,, rice and spices. Empty into a pot with veggies of choice. Easy Weekday Dinner. Vegan Gluten-free Soy-free Nut-free Recipe. #vegan #veganricha

Print Recipe

5 from 13 votes

Khichdi in a Jar - Mixed Veg Kitchari Mix for Instant Pot or Saucepan

Khichdi in a Jar - Mixed Vegetable Kitchari Mix for Instant Pot or Saucepan. Easy Lentil Rice Soup with Veggies. Spiced Risotto. Gift the jar full of lentils,, rice and spices. Empty into a pot with veggies of choice. Easy Weekday Dinner. Vegan Gluten-free Soy-free Nut-free Recipe.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time25 mins

Total Time30 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Gluten-free, Indian, Vegan

Servings: 4

Calories: 277kcal

Author: Vegan Richa

Ingredients

Jar ingredients:

3/4 cup (138.75 g) long grain white basmati rice
3/4 cup (144 g) quick cooking lentils such as Red lentils , (I generally use half moong dal and half red lentils)

Spices:

3/4 tsp (0.75 tsp) cumin seeds
2 to 3 (2 ) cloves
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tbsp onion flakes
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp (0.25 tsp) ground ginger
1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) garam masala , more if you like it spicier
3/4 tsp (0.75 tsp) turmeric
1/4 tsp (0.25 tsp) cayenne
1 or 2 Indian bay leaves

To Cook:

1 tomato chopped
1 to 2 cups chopped vegetables
water (depends on method of cooking,, see instructions)
3/4 tsp (0.75 tsp) salt

Instructions

Assemble the jar: Layer the rice and lentils.
Toast the cumin seeds and cloves on stove top over medium heat until cumin seeds change color slightly. This step is optional. Toasted cumin seeds add a deeper tastier flavor. Cool completely.
Add toasted cumin, cloves, rest of the spices to small ziplock bag and add to the jar. Close the lid. Store for upto 3 months.
Instructions to make the khichdi On the jar:
Wash the lentils and rice, (optional).
To the Instant pot, Add 3.5 to 4 cups water (depends on your preference of consistency of the stew), washed lentils & rice, spice bag contents, 3/4 to 1 tsp salt and 1 tomato finely chopped. Add upto 2 cups of chopped vegetables and mix in. Close the lid and cook on hi pressure for 2-4 minutes (4 for indian khichdi style mash consistency). For a regular rice and dal style kitchari, pressure cook on Low pressure for 3 mins. Release the pressure after 5 mins. Fluff lightly.
(For Saucepan, add 5 cups of water instead of 3.5 and the rest of the ingredients as above. Cover partially and cook for 22 minutes, then check the consistency and doneness and continue to cook more until done.).
Garnish with cilantro, lemon juice and pepper flakes and serve as is or with chutneys, or papadums/crackers.
To make directly: Assemble the ingredients. Heat 1 tsp oil on saute in IP, or saucepan on medium. Add the cumin seeds and cloves and cook until fragrant. Add bay leaves, turmeric and garam masala and mix for a few seconds. Add the rest of the ingredients, water, salt and cook as step 5.

Notes

Alternate (tempering traditional process): Heat 1 tsp oil in Instant Pot on saute (or saucepan on saute). When the oil is hot, Empty the spice bag contents and cook for a few seconds stirring frequently to avoid burning. Add the tomato and a splash of water and mix in. Cook for a minute. Add the washed lentils and rice to the instant pot and saucepan and follow step 5 above.

For flavor variation: add 2 green cardamom pods and a cinnamon stick to the spice bag.

Use other spice blends like berbere, curry powder, jamaican curry blend, baharat etc.

Other lentils/rice: If using brown basmati rice, use brown/green lentils, black eyed peas or green mung beans to match the cooking time. Add 4 cups water and cook for 16 to 18 minutes on Manual hi in Instant Pot.

See troubleshooting in the paragraph above.

Nutrition is 1 of 4 serves

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Khichdi in a Jar - Mixed Veg Kitchari Mix for Instant Pot or Saucepan

Amount Per Serving

Calories 277 Calories from Fat 9

% Daily Value*

Fat 1g2%

Sodium 459mg20%

Potassium 634mg18%

Carbohydrates 54g18%

Fiber 12g50%

Sugar 3g3%

Protein 12g24%

Vitamin A 315IU6%

Vitamin C 33.2mg40%

Calcium 50mg5%

Iron 3.6mg20%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

« Vegan Gluten free Christmas Cake – Fruit Cake

Everything Bagel Vegan Cheese Ball – 10 Minute – No soaking, straining »

Comments