Oats Khichdi: High-Protein Twist To Your Comfort Food

Khichdi is the comfort food of an average Indian household. The pot dish is relished every once in a while, with condiments ranging from achaar to raita to fish fry. It is also a healthy dish and whenever someone is down with sickness, they are fed khichdi which is light on the stomach and easy to digest. It is traditionally prepared with dal, chawal, ghee and vegetables of your choice. But do you know, this already healthy dish can further be made nutritious by swapping one ingredient? Let us see how. 

The magic ingredient that we are talking about is oats. Just replace your regular rice with oats and you have your healthy and tasty oats khichdi to relish. While rice is a primary source of carbohydrates, oats is rich in protein and fiber, both of which are healthy for the body. Oats have many health benefits too, including weight loss, low blood sugar levels, low cholesterol levels and consuming oats can reduce the risk of heart related diseases. Even swapping rice with oats does not affect the overall taste of the khichdi a lot and it is still your same old delicious khichdi. Let us look at a recipe for oats khichdi.

• 1 Cup cooking oats 
• 1/3 cup yellow moong dal 
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds 
• 1 tsp garam masala powder 
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder 
• 1/4 tbsp red chilli powder 
• 1 potato, diced 
• 1 cup cauliflower, chopped 
• 1 tomato, finely chopped 
• 1 cup green beans, chopped 
• 1 carrot, chopped 
• 1 bay leaf 
• 3/4 tsp ginger, finely chopped 
• 1/2 tsp green Chillies, chopped 
• 1/2 tbsp mustard oil 
• 3 cups water 
• Coriander leaves, chopped 
• 1 tsp ghee 

Method 

• Put the oil in a pressure cooker and add the bay leaf to it once it heats up. 
• Now add the ginger and onion. Cook until the onion is light brown. 
• Add all the vegetables one by one. Add salt so that they get cooked fast. 
• After all the vegetables are semi-cooked, add moong dal to the cooker. 
• Cook till the dal changes colour and you get a good aroma of roasted moong. 
• Now, add your powdered spices and cook for 5 minutes. 
• Add the oats and cook for another 2 minutes. 
• Pour water and get it cook till 3 whistles. 
• Open the lid, add ghee and garnish with coriander leaves. 

Enjoy this healthy khichdi with some boondi raita and roasted papad!