Sweet Khichdi

My dear in-laws are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary today!!Yes,and this post is dedicated to them.

I?ve been away for a while,I know.But I couldn?t let this day pass without a mention.Holiday hangover plus a writers/bloggers block(!!) had kept me away and when I told this to hubby,he asked me to take the safe route-keep the post short and sweet[is there ever such a thing;-)]

I made sweet khichdi to celebrate the joy.I first tasted this dish with a big apprehension.The name khichdi was a deterrent as I am not too fond of the savoury version and when ma-in-law told me this is a totally different sweet I decided to take the plunge and liked it immensely.It is not a payasam nor a halwa,an in-between sweet which is usually made during special occasions,festivals etc.

Sweet Khichdi
Ingredients

Channa dal ? 1 cup
Broken wheat ? 1 cup
Jaggery (grated) ? 2 cups
Sugar ? 1 cup
Grated coconut ? ½ cup
Ghee ? 4 tbsp
Crushed cardamom ? 1 tsp
Cashewnuts ? 2 tbsp,chopped
Banana ? 1,chopped into thin slices

Method

Roast channa dal and broken wheat separately till a nice aroma comes-about 5 minutes(do not brown it).
Cook together in a pressure cooker adding enough water.
Add jaggery and sugar to the cooked dal-wheat mix.
Keep mixing-at this point the khichdi will look too thin and watery,keep stirring and it will thicken.
Add grated coconut and 3 tbsp ghee.
Roast the cashewnuts in the remaining ghee and add to the khichdi.
Simmer for 10 minutes or till the khichdi becomes thick-pourable consistency.
Add crushed cardamom.
Garnish with chopped banana and serve hot.


Update - Sending this bowl of Khichdi to Ashwini for the Lentil Mela.