Kichadi - Simple dish with Rice and lentils

Kichadi - Simple dish with Rice and lentils

Yet another simple dish using the rice cooker. Dishes where we have to use the rice cooker are wonderful aren't they?, makes having a rice cooker useful and not wasted.
Many people make kichadi in many different ways. Many people even add veggies to it, but I don't. I like it simple just with daal and rice ....and a few ingredients. Having only few ingredients makes this very flavorful, simple and easy to make. and if you have a rice cooker, its even more easier. This is how my Mom always made it and this is how I continue to make it. This is another dish I make when I am in a hurry, so a one pot meal it is.
I like to eat it with lemon pickle on the side, but it can be eaten with any curry too. It taste yummy when eaten hot with achaar or pickle.
We have always made it only with moong daal or pesar pappu. I have not tried it with any other daal, so if any one does, let me know!!

Ingredients:

1 cup rice (I used sona masoori)
enough water for the rice and daal ( I used 2 1/2 cups of water for rice and 1 cup for the daal = 3 1/2 cups of water, adjust water accordingly, you should know best)
1/4 cup moong daal or pesar pappu ( I used a little more like 1/3 cup, just wanted little extra daal)
1 tsp jeera
1 tsp black peppercorns, whole
1 inch piece ginger, grated or chopped
1 small onion, chopped
4-5 green chillies
6-7 curry leaves
salt to taste
1-2 tbsp oil

Method:

Dry roast the daal in a pan till start turning brown. Remove of the heat and add to the rice. Wash the rice and daal together and add the required water for cooking. In an other pan, heat oil. Add the jeera and peppercorns. Let them splutter and add the ginger, onion, green chillies and curry leaves. Saute for a minute and remore from heat. Add to the rice. Add and adjust salt. Water should taste a bit salty. Close rice cooker and let cook till done. Fluff the rice after done. Serve Hot with achaar or pickle or curry. Enjoy!!!

Prep time: less than 10 min for prep work and the time required to cook in the rice cooker.