Vegetable Khichdi or Mix Vegetable Lentil Rice recipe is one-pot ultimate comfort food prepared with rice, moong dal/lentils, veggies, and some basic spices in Instant Pot Pressure Cooker or Stovetop.
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Speaking of moong dal, I have used split moong dal with skin. You can use without skin moong dal as well or use toor dal (split pigeon peas).
In most recipes, you will find khichdi is prepared with 1 part dal (lentils) and 2 parts rice. I usually like to increase the dal (lentils) and make the ratio 1:1, that way we can get more protein in our meal.
In this vegetable khichdi, I have used carrot, green peas, beans, cauliflower along with onions and tomato. You can use any other vegetables of your choice.
Usually, ghee is preferred for making khichdi, but vegans can replace it with any vegetable oil and still it tastes good. Alternately you can use a mix of oil and ghee too.
Other healthy Khichdi recipes to try from my blog are Palak Khichdi, Bajra/Pearl Millet Khichdi, Pongal.
This Instant Pot Moong Dal Khichdi with vegetables
- is healthy, nutrtious, one-pot meal
- gets done in under 30 minutes
- packed with protein
- Easy to digest, which makes it a great meal for babies and the elderly
- vegan and gluten-free
How to make Instant Pot Vegetable Khichdi
Press SAUTE mode on Instant Pot. Add ghee or oil to the POT. Note: Tastes better with Ghee. Once Pot is hot add in the cumin (jeera), ginger, green chilies. Saute for 20 secs.
Add the chopped onions. Saute till onions turn light brown in color.
Then add mixed vegetables, spinach, cook for a minute.
Next, add the washed dal, rice, red chili powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, water, salt. Mix well.
Close the lid on the pot and turn the pressure valve to the SEALING position. Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and set the timer to 8 minutes.
Wait for NATURAL PRESSURE RELEASE(NPR).
Once the pressure has released, open the lid, add cilantro and mix khichdi well.
Note: If rice is not mushy or too dry then select saute mode and add an additional ½ cup of water and cook for another minute.
Vegetable Khichdi recipe or Mix Vegetable Lentil Rice is ready, serve with yogurt, raita, or kadhi.
Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method
- Follow the same steps and close the lid place a whistle and cook for 3-4 whistle on medium flame. All other steps remain the same.
How to serve the Vegetable Khichdi
You can serve this green moong dal khichdi with yogurt or can be eaten as it is. I prefer eating with kadhi. Also some pickle and papad on the side too!
Variations and substitutes for Vegetable Khichdi
- I have used split moong dal with skin. You can use without skin moong dal as well or use toor dal (split pigeon peas). Just make sure you are using ½ cup.
- The water ratio in this recipe is 3 times the rice and lentils together which makes a soft, porridge-like consistency for the final dish.
- You can use vegetables of your choice like Brinjal (eggplant), Sweet potato, cabbage, pumpkin, and potato. Frozen mixed vegetables also work well in this recipe.
- Add an extra ½ to 1 cup of water for a more khichdi-like consistency.
- If you are using brown rice, increase pressure cook time to 20-22 minutes.
- Substitute white rice with quinoa or millets, same pressure cooking time i.e., 8 Minutes High Pressure
- To make the vegetable masala khichdi recipe vegan, simply substitute ghee with vegetable cooking oil.
- If you are cooking this for elderly people or infants/toddlers adjust spices and vegetables accordingly.
More Instant Pot Rice Recipes
Instant Pot Vegetable Khichdi (Mix Vegetable Lentil Rice)
Ingredients
Measuring cup used 1 cup = 250 ml
- ½ cup White Rice Short rice grain preferable
- ½ cup Split Green Moong Dal (Yellow moong also can be used)
- 2 cups Mix Vegetables chopped (carrot, green peas, beans, cauliflower)
- 1 cup Spinach (Palak) chopped
- 1 medium Onion chopped
- ½ teaspoon Cumin Seeds(Jeera)
- 2 Green Chillies
- 1 teaspoon Ginger
- 1 tablespoon Ghee
- Salt to taste
- 3 cups Water +½ cup extra to adjust consistency
- 2 tablespoon Cilantro (coriander leaves)
Dry Spices
- ½ teaspoon Coriander Powder
- ½ teaspoon Red chili powder
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric Powder
Instructions
Instant Pot Method
- Press SAUTE mode(Normal) on Instant Pot. Add ghee or oil in to the POT.Note:Tastes better with Ghee
- Once POT is hot add in the Cumin(Jeera), ginger, green chillies. Saute for 20 secs.
- Add the chopped onions .Saute till onions turn light brown in color.
- Then add mixed vegetables,spinach,cook for a minute.
- Next, add the washed dal,rice,red chili powder,turmeric powder,coriander powder,water, salt.Mix well.
- Close the lid on the pot, and turn pressure valve to SEALING position.
- Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and set timer to 8 minutes.
- Wait for NATURAL PRESSURE RELEASE(NPR)(Wait until silver button on lid drops).BE CAREFUL OF THE HOT STEAM.
- Once the pressure has released, open the lid,add cilantro and mix khichdi well.Note: If rice is not mushy or too dry then select saute mode and add additional ½ cup of water and cook for another minute.
- Vegetable Khichdi is ready, serve with yogurt,raita or kadhi.
Indian Pressure Cooker Method
- Heat 1 tablespoon of ghee or oil in a pressure cooker and Once its hot add in the Cumin(jeera), ginger, green chillies. Saute for 20 secs.
- Add the chopped onions .Saute till onions turn light brown in color.
- Then add mixed vegetables,spinach,cook for a minute.
- Next, add the washed dal,rice,red chili powder,turmeric powder,coriander powder,water, salt.Mix well.
- Close the lid and put the whistle weight on. Cook for 3-4 whistles on medium flame and turn off the gas.
- Once the pressure has released completely, open the lid, add cilantro/coriander leaves and Mix the mixture well.
- If rice is not mushy or too dry then add ½ cup of water and adjust to khichdi consistency.
- Vegetable Khichdi is ready, serve with yogurt,raita or kadhi.
Notes
- If you can’t find split green moong lentils ,can use split yellow moong lentils too.
- To make this recipe vegan, replace ghee with oil.
- You can also vary the vegetables added to this khichdi. You can also use potatoes, broccoli, cabbage.
Nutrition
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Homerenovates says
SOrry I am still confused! Is it pressure cook setting or the rice setting if you make the dish with brown rice?
bhavana says
you will have to use pressure cook setting for brown rice.I personally havnt tried making khichdi with brown rice.This recipe is with white rice and 8 minutes of pressure cooking on High Pressure is sufficient.Brown Rice normally takes 22 minutes of pressure cooking where i guess all the vegetables will be mushy.Let me know if you already got a chance to make this would love to hear your review.
Pushpa Joshi says
I like this recipe because this is how my mother trained 75 years ago. And when you have surprise guests as they are common in india this works as a Zapata khana. Papad and pickle completes the meal. Thanks.
Pushpa joshi
bhavana says
Agree to all your points Pushpa ? Papad & pickle just adds so much more fun to our taste buds ? Thanks for commenting, have a great day ?