A delicious twist on regular khichdi! This one-pot Sambar Khichdi combines rice, toor dal, fresh vegetables and aromatic sambar spices to create a wholesome, comforting South Indian meal. Easy to prepare in a pressure cooker and perfect for a nutritious lunch or dinner.
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Serves: 2
Ingredients of One-Pot South Indian Sambar Khichdi
- 1 cup basmati rice
- ½ cup toor dal
- 1 tbsp oil
- ¼ tsp methi seeds
- ½ tsp mustard seeds
- ½ tsp cumin seeds
- 1 sprig curry leaves
- ¼ tsp hing
- 2 dry red chillies
- 2 green chillies, slit
- 1 inch ginger, grated
- 1½ cups chopped vegetables of your choice
- 2 tbsp sambar powder
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- ½ tsp red chilli powder
- 4 cups water
- Salt to taste
Method (Pressure Cooker)
- Wash and soak the rice and toor dal together for 15–20 minutes. Drain and keep aside.
- Heat oil in a pressure cooker. Add methi seeds, mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Allow them to splutter.
- Add dry red chillies, curry leaves, hing, green chillies and grated ginger. Sauté for a few seconds.
- Add the chopped vegetables, turmeric, red chilli powder and sambar powder. Mix well and sauté for 2 minutes.
- Add the soaked rice and dal along with water and salt. Mix everything well.
- Close the pressure cooker lid and cook for 4–5 whistles on medium flame.
- Allow the pressure to release naturally. Open and mix gently.
- Adjust the consistency with hot water if required. Your delicious one-pot Sambar Khichdi is ready!
Serving Suggestion: Serve hot with homemade curd, roasted papad or a side of coconut chutney. ❤️
Healthy Tip: Rice and toor dal provide a combination of carbohydrates and plant protein, while adding different vegetables increases the fibre, vitamins and mineral content of your meal. For a more balanced plate, pair it with a bowl of curd or Greek yogurt.
Recipe tip: If you prefer a softer, more porridge-like khichdi, add ½–1 cup extra water before pressure cooking.