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vegetable masala khichdi in a bowl
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5 from 44 votes

Instant Pot Vegetable Masala Khichdi

This one pot Vegetable Masala Khichdi (Instant Pot or Pressure cooker) is the perfect comfort meal for any season. This masala khichdi is a complete balanced meal made with rice, lentils, mixed vegetables and assorted spices.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course, One Pot Meal
Cuisine: Indian
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 306kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Instant Pot
  • 1 Cutting board
  • 1 Knife

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Rice I used sona masoori rice
  • ½ cup Sabut Masoor dal (masoor dal with skin) Can be substituted with skinless orange lentil
  • 1 large Onion sliced
  • 2 large Tomato
  • 1 large Potato chopped into thin sticks
  • 2 medium Carrot chopped into thin sticks
  • ½ cup Green peas
  • ½ inch Ginger
  • 2 cloves Garlic
  • 2 Tablespoon Oil or ghee
  • Salt To Taste

Whole spices

  • 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
  • 2 inch Cinnamon
  • 1 Bay leaf
  • 4 Cloves
  • 2 Cardamom
  • ½ teaspoon Black pepper

Spice powder

  • ½ teaspoon Turmeric powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoon Red Chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon Garam Masala

Instructions

  • Wash and soak the rice and dal together for about 20 minutes.
  • In the meantime, chop all the vegetables and have them ready.
  • Press the saute function in the instant pot and add 2 Tablespoon of oil or ghee to the inner pot.
  • Add the whole spices - 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds, 1 bay leaf, 1 inch piece of cinnamon, 4 cloves, 2 cardamom and ½ teaspoon of black pepper. Let the spices become aromatic (about 30 seconds).
  • Add the sliced onions and saute until translucent. Now add the grated ginger and garlic. I have used freshly grated ginger and garlic, but we can use store bought ginger garlic paste as well.
  • Now add the rest of the vegetables. I have used tomato, potato, carrot and green peas.
  • Add the spice powders - ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder, 1 ½ teaspoon of red chili powder and 1 teaspoon of garam masala. Also add the salt needed. Give it a good mix and let it fry for 2 minutes.
  • In the meantime, drain the soaked rice and dal and add it to the instant pot. Mix everything well together and add the needed water. We like our khichdi mushy and soft, so I add extra water when making it. Check the rice you are using and add water accordingly. I used 1 cup of sona masoori rice and ½ cup of whole masoor dal. So I used about 5 cups of water.
  • Close the instant pot and set the valve to sealing. Turn the instant pot off from the saute mode. I cooked mine on rice mode and it was perfect.
  • Let the pressure release naturally and then open the instant pot and check the masala khichdi. At this stage check for seasoning and also check the consistency of the khichdi. If you like yours even more looser in consistency, add more hot water as needed and mix well.
  • Serve the vegetable masala khichdi hot with a drizzle of ghee.

Notes

What to serve with Khichdi?
Khichdi is a one pot meal on its own and tastes delicious just with a drizzle of ghee on top. I love a little crunch on side, so often serve it with papad, chips or some kind of crispy snack.
I also like to have a raita or just plain yogurt on the side to cool off the spices. And of course a tangy pickle would be a great one to serve on side with masala khichdi. My personal pick is this tangy lemon pickle or the crunchy green apple pickle.
Expert tips to make the best Khichdi
  • Use short grain rice for the masala khichdi recipe.
  • Adjust the spices based on your taste. If you like milder khichdi, skip all the spices and just use turmeric and season with cumin.
  • Khichdi tastes the best when it is soft and mushy. Do not make the grains stand out too much like a pulao or biriyani.
  • Try making khichdi with different lentil / dal. Each one has its own nutrition and they are all good for your health.
  • Serve the vegetable masala khichdi hot.

Nutrition

Calories: 306kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 35mg | Potassium: 751mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 4158IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 3mg