Pearl millet Bajra khichdi recipe

Also known as - Khichuri - Kedgeree - khichari

Pearl millet - Bajra khichdi recipe with a video and step by step written recipe.

Bajra khichdi is an easy rice recipe. It is a one-dish meal. Bajra is known as pearl millet, black millet and green millet.

In Indian languages, pearl millet is bajra (Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi and Bengali), bajri (Rajasthani, Gujarati and Marathi), sajje (Kannada), kambu (Tamil), kambam (Malayalam) and sajjalu in Telugu.

Khichdi has some variations in spellings such as khichadi, khichri, khicharee, khichuri, khichari, kedgaree etc.

Bajra khichuri needs about 25-30 minutes to cook. You can make this khichri in the pressure cooker. Below you will find instructions to cook bajra khichari in a pot on the stove top.

Winter special Bajra - Pearl millet khichadi

Pearl millet - bajra

Bajra is mainly used in winter as it gives warmth to the body. Whole bajra is used to make khichadi. Millet and lentils (moong dal) is a very healthy combination.

Bajra flour is used to make bhakri / roti (flat bread) by itself or mixed with other flours to make roti, and to make a variety of snacks.

How to make bajra khichadi - pearl millet khichuri

Ingredients for bajra khichadi to serve 2-3

Bajra - 1/2 cup
Moong dal (split mung bean) - 1/2 cup
Rice (optional)- 1/4 cup
Jeera (Cumin seeds) - 1/2 tsp
Jeera (Cumin seed) powder - 1/2 tsp
Dhania (Coriander seed) powder - 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves - 10-15
Freshly grated coconut or kopra - 2 tbsp
Fresh Coriander leaves - 2 tbsp
Ginger paste or finely chopped - 1/2 tsp
Salt 1 1/2 - tsp or according to taste.
Jaggery or sugar - 1 tsp or according to taste
Pepper corns - 5-6
Vegetable Oil + ghee - 1 tbsp each
Chili (green or red) - optional - 2 or according to taste
Water - 2 1/2 to 3 cups according to the consistency you want.

Preparation before cooking bajra khichari

Grind bajra in your mixer. We want only to break up the grain, not turn it into flour. It is ok if a few bajra grains remain whole. Keep aside.
Wash moong dal and rice. Keep aside.

How to make bajra khichadi on the stove top

Heat a thick bottom deep pan.
Add oil and ghee and heat it. Add jeera.
When jeera splutter, add black pepper corns, cinnamon stick and fry for a few seconds.
Add chopped chili, curry leaves.
Add water and ground bajra, rice, moong dal and all other ingredients.
Stir and bring to boil on high flame.
Reduce flame and cover partially with a plate to let the steam escape. Continue cooking. (if you cover completely, the contents may overflow.)
Check in between and add more water if needed.
Cook until bajra is done to your desired consistency and all the water is absorbed. This may take about 10-15 minutes.
Switch of the flame and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve hot.

Tips :
You may also use a pressure cooker. Khichadi will be done faster. After adding all the ingredients, cover with pressure cooker lid, put the weight and let cook for 2-3 whistles.

This khichadi needs a little more water to cook than the usual moong dal khichdi with rice.

You can make it dryish (grains separate) or soft as you wish. I like it to be a little soft.

In this bajra and moong dal khichdi, you may omit rice if you wish.

You may add your favorite vegetables such as beans, carrots, potatoes, green peas, cabbage, cauliflower etc.

You may also make it plain, mildly spicy or very spicy according to your taste.

Related Pages to visit:

List of grains and grain flours

Types of Millet and millet nutrition

Breakfast recipes using millet.

Is nachni(ragi - finger millet) same as quinoa

Ragi Roti - Finger-millet flat bread

Thalipeet - jowar flour - Sorghum flatbreadi - Flat bread made with millet called Jowar or Sorghum