Achari Khichdi

(Serves 2)
INGREDIENTS
Rice-1/2 cup
Moong Dal(Split Yellow Gram)- 1/2 cup
Chopped Mixed Vegetables(Carrot,Peas,Beans,Potatoes)- 1/2 cup
Onion-1
Tomato-2 small
Green chilli- 1 to 2
Ginger - 1 inch
Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
Cumin (Jeera) powder- 1 tsp
Cumin seeds- 1/2 tsp
Salt- to taste
Oil- as required
Pickle- 1 tsp (Optional)
Coriander Leaves chopped-1/2 cup

METHOD
Soak the rice and moong dal for atleast half an hour. Drain and leave on a sieve for 20 minutes before cooking.
Chop onion and tomatoes fine. Slice 1 chilli (optional).
Chop the ginger and 1 chilli and crush or pound these well together.
In a pressure cooker or deep dish, heat oil, fry cumin seeds.
Add the onion and fry well. Add tomatoes and crushed ginger-chilli.
Cook till soft and paste like. Add salt,turmeric and cumin powders.Add the pickle(optional)
Mix well. Add the rice-dal,vegetables and mix well,frying for 2-3 minutes.
Add 2 and a quarter cups of water and cook till done.(ADD 2 and a half cups if you like your khichdi soft.)
Steam for two whistles if cooker or cook till soft.
When done,Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and stir in some leaves too.

Is a full,nutritious and yummy meal and can be eaten with salad,pickle or papad.
The traditional accompaniment is "Kadhi", the recipe for which i will be posting soon. You can also eat it with Papad Curry or Dahiwale Aloo posted elsewhere on the blog.

**Even if you don't add achar or pickle,it is "Achari Khichdi" bcoz of the flavour obtained by the combination of ingredients.