Khichuri

Ingredients:

1. Rice - 1 cup
2. Moong dal - 1 cup
3. Potatoes - 1 or 2 cut into big cubes
4. Cauliflower florets - 1/2 cup
5. Peas - 1/2 cup
6. Tomatoes - 1 chopped finely
7. Green chillies (slit length-wise)- 3-4
8. Ghee - 3 tsp
9. Bay leaf - 1 or 2
10. Cloves and Cinnamon powder - 1/4 tsp.
11. Salt to taste
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp.
Pach Phoron http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panch_phoron - 1 tsp.

Procedure:

1. Dry roast the rice and dal till you get the aroma.
2. In a big vessel, heat ghee and temper with pach phoron ( or simply jeera).
3. Add green chillies, bay leaf, clove-cinnamon powder.
4. Add all the vegetables and fry lightly for a minute.
5. Add the roasted rice and dal.
6. Add 5-6 cups of boiling water to this and add the turmeric powder.
7. Cover with lid and cook on low flame till the rice and dal are cooked. Stir occasionally to avoid burning at the bottom of the pan.
8. When almost cooked, add salt and one or two more cups of water and stir.
9. Cook in open vessel further till the excessive water evaporates annd the khichuri is completely cooked.

Recipe inspiration and Pach Phoron - Courtesy RumaLo