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Bhuna Khichuri (Bengali Rice and Lentils)
Khichuri is a Bengali dish once considered comfort food for the poor but now a delicacy served warm in the monsoon rain. Like the similar khichdi, the core ingredients are rice and lentils, but different variations exist, some adding vegetables, poultry or meat and named accordingly (e. g. sabji khichuri for vegetable). Here is the recipe for the popular Bhuna Khichuri, which is is romantic and especially suited for a rainy day. Serve warm with Bengal fish curry and chutney as a condiment.
Ingredients
- white fragrant rice, white, fragrant; e.g. Basmati rice or short-grained pilau rice1 cup
- green gram or red split lentils, green gram or red split1 cup
- split dried chickpeas, split, dried; preferably Bengal variety; optional1/2 cup
- garden peas, optional1/2 cup
- butter, preferably ghee2 tablespoons
- turmeric powder, powder1/2 teaspoon
- whole green chiles, whole, slit in the middle and optionally de-seeded2
- Salt, to taste
- water for boiling, for boiling4 cups
- bay leaves2
- green cardamom pods, green, pods4
- whole cloves, whole4
- cinnamon sticks, 1 inch long2 sticks
- cumin seeds1/4 teaspoon
- ginger, finely chopped2 cm piece
- onions, thinly sliced1 medium or 2 small
- butter preferably ghee, preferably ghee2 tablespoons
- fresh coriander leaves, coarsely chopped, fresh1 bunch
Quantities are auto-calculated from the original recipe as a guide. Items without numbers (e.g. “to taste”) are not changed.
Method 14 steps
Rinse rice, lentils, and chickpeas separately in cold water.
Dry rice in a colander or on a flat surface.
Leave lentils and chickpeas to soak in water for 30 minutes.
Drain lentils and chickpeas, then roast them briefly until they emit an aroma; set aside to cool.
Heat water in a kettle to use later. Keep warm but not boiling.
Semi-crush cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves.
Heat 2 tbsp butter in a heavy-based pan over medium heat. Add bay leaf and semi-crushed spices in; once they start to sputter, add sliced ginger and cumin. Stir for 1–2 minutes until ginger has a nutty aroma.
Add green chili and garden peas, and stir once or twice.
Add rice to the mixture and stir gently for 2–3 minutes, making sure the oil coats it thoroughly.
Add lentils, chickpeas and salt; stir again for 1–2 more minutes
Add hot water to the pan. The level of water should be about 1 inch above the mixture. Lower the heat slightly, cover, and simmer until done. Check regularly to make sure rice does not burn at the bottom. Rice and lentils are done when there is no hard part in rice, it is medium firm, each one is easily separable, but not very soft or sticky. This should take around 10 minutes.
While the rice is simmering, heat the remaining butter in a separate frying pan. Fry the onion on a medium heat until it starts to brown.
When rice mixture is done, top with onion and accompanying oil. Garnish with coriander.
Turn down the heat to the lowest and cover until served which should not take long.
