CORNMEAL RAM KHICHRI - NO ONION NO GARLIC (GUJARATI STYLE)

Ram khichri is an easy to make, wholesome meal from Gujarat, made with rice and moong dhal . I have tried it with cornmeal, which doesn't need any side dish. However, it can be served with pickle, curd or any chutney.

INGREDIENTS:

Corn meal - 1/2 cup
Moong dhal - 1/2 cup
Water - 3 1/2 cups
Mixed vegetables ( Beans, carrot, shelled peas) - 1 cup
Chopped tomato - 1
Grated ginger - 1/2 tsp.
Green chillies - 1 finely chopped
Pepper jeera powder - 2 teaspoons
Cloves - 3
Cinnamon stick - 1" piece - 1
Turmeric powder - 1/8 tsp.
Salt - to taste
Hing (asafoetida) - a pinch
Curry leaves - few
Coriander leaves - few

Ghee - 3 tablespoons

Oil - 2 tablespoons
Cashews - 2 tsp. (broken)

METHOD:

Dry roast until hot and soak corn meal in hot water for 15 minutes. 

After 15 minutes, drain the water. Pressure cook cornmeal & dhal (ratio cornmeal+dhal:water is 1:3 1/2) without adding salt. Mash well.

In a pan, heat a spoon of ghee and fry cashews until golden brown. Keep aside.

In the same pan, heat oil, add mustard seeds, cinnamon, cloves, curry leaves, grated ginger, chopped green chillies and hing. Saute for 10 seconds and add the chopped vegetables, chopped tomato, little salt, turmeric powder and saute well till done. Add pepper-jeera powder and saute for one more minute. Add these over the cooked cornmeal. Add some more salt for cooked cornmeal and mix well. Add fried cashews and coriander leaves. Mix well. Top with melted ghee while serving. Serve hot with any chutney or sambhar of your choice or pickle or fresh curd.

NOTE: As cornmeal is gluten free, eat while hot, else it will become dry.