Dalia (Broken Wheat) and Moong Sprouts Kichidi ~ Lil Dumplings New Favourite

Dalia (Broken Wheat) and Moong Sprouts Kichidi

It was a pleasant day to wake up to… The sun was shining brightly on a clear blue sky dotted with white, soft cotton ball clouds and little birds singing cheery tunes to spread happiness around... I got up with a big smile on my face as my lil dumpling’s warm body nestled close to my heart. He was still in deep slumber as his long, dark lashes fanned sweet, soft chubby cheeks. While a soft snore escaped from his kissable lips, his sweet breath tickled my nose. I just continued to lie there, trying to capture that precious moment in my heart for ever… It is such moments I wish to capture in a little glass bottles forever. Whenever I want to re live those moments or experience again, all I have to do is just open the bottle lid, re live them for moment and then close the lid and lock it away in a safety locker for another day! Only if… Only if something like that was possible…

As I gently pushed the soft curls away from his brows, he sighed contently and tucked his body even closer to mine. He looked so small, innocent, defenceless and vulnerable… such contrast to the real world! This is what childhood is all about; pure, innocent and beautiful! And then suddenly he stretched his little body, waking me from my day dreams, and wrapped his small arms around my neck. While his sweet breath on my neck warmed my heart, the fluttering of his lashes tickled my cheeks. And then he smilied... A smile that lit up the whole room as well as my spirit and made the bright sun rays paler in comparison!!! What seemed like a good day, just became ‘extra’ special day.

Dalia (Broken Wheat) and Moong Sprouts Kichidi

And that day I decided to cook something ‘extra’ special dish for my ‘extra’ special little man. I have made it a point to introduce him to different grains every now and then which is not just interesting for him but also introduces him to some new texture and taste. And that ‘extra’ special I cooked for my ‘extra’ special little man was Dalia (Broken Wheat) and Moong Sprouts Kichidi, a delicious, simple and nutritious one pot meal of Broken Wheat and Moong Sprout savoury porridge. I served this yummilicious Dalia (Broken Wheat) and Moong Sprouts Kichidi with creamy yogurt for lil moppet and found his new favourite food to have! He licked clean my fingers (shoot me if you want but I rather feed him with my fingers than spoons or fork!), and also his fingers and made me one happy mom in a whole of universe!!! The whole episode just made me wonder why I have never made this Dalia (Broken Wheat) and Moong Sprouts Kichidi before! Since then, I cook this at least twice a week with different vegetables, green leafy vegetables, grains, sprouts etc and each and every time my lil dumpling has relished every mouthful with pleasure!

Dalia/Broken Wheat/Crushed Wheat for Dalia (Broken Wheat) and Moong Sprouts Kichidi

Sprouted Moong Dal for Dalia (Broken Wheat) and Moong Sprouts Kichidi

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Dalia (Broken Wheat) and Moong Sprouts Kichidi (A delicious and nutritious one pot meal of Broken Wheat and Moong Sprout savoury porridge)

Prep Time: 5-10 mins

Cooking Time: 20-30 mins

Spice Level: Mild

Recipe Level: Easy/Beginner

Serves: 4-6 people

Shelf Life: 2-3 days when refrigerated

Serving Suggestion: With yogurt or Raita, papad and pickle of your choice

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Ingredients:

2 cups Dalia or Broken Wheat or Crushed Wheat

2 cups Moong Sprouts

1 cup Mixed Vegetables of your choice (I used carrots, green peas, sweet corn and cauliflower)

1 large Onion, finely chopped (Optional)

1-2 Green Chillies, slit (adjust acc to taste)

1 inch Ginger, peeled and finely chopped or grated

8-10 cups of hot, boiling water

Salt to taste

Spices Used:

1 inch Cinnamon Stick

4 Green Cardamom, lightly bruised

4 Cloves

½ tsp Turmeric Powder

1 tsp Pulao Masala/Garam Masala (Optional)

For Tadka/Tempering:

1 tsp Mustard Seeds

1 tsp Jeera/Cumin Seeds

Few Curry Leaves

¼ tsp Hing/Asafoetida

2 tbsp Oil/Ghee

A spoonful of goodness: Dalia (Broken Wheat) and Moong Sprouts Kichidi

Dalia (Broken Wheat) and Moong Sprouts Kichidi

Method:

Wash Dalia or Broken Wheat 2-3 times and drain all the water. Keep it aside till required.

Heat oil or ghee in a pressure cooker or heavy bottomed pan and add cinnamon stick, cardamom and cloves and cook for 30 seconds.

Next, add all the tadka ingredients one by one. When mustard seeds start to pop and splutter, mix in finely chopped onion (if using), slit green chillies, and ginger and cook for a minute till onion turn translucent.

Add 8-10 cups of hot boiling water and let it come to gentle boil. Mix in Dalia or Broken wheat, moong sprouts, mixed vegetables, turmeric powder, pulao or garam masala (if using) and salt to taste and give it a good mix.

Cover the lid of pressure cooker or pan and cook undisturbed for 3 whistles. If using pressure cooker, it takes about 20 minutes to cook and if using pan, it takes about 30 minutes. Remember that the Kichidi should be mushy and little watery!

Once cooked, release the pressure from pressure cooker and open the lid. Mix in little more water if needed to get required consistency.

Add finely chopped coriander leaves and serve this delicious and highly nutritious bowl of Dalia (Broken Wheat) and Moong Sprouts Kichidi with yogurt or Raita, papad and pickle of your choice and taste a slice of heaven!

Grab your spoon: Dalia (Broken Wheat) and Moong Sprouts Kichidi

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Sia’s Note:

• Addition of Pulao or Garam Masala is purely optional and to taste.
• You can also incorporate split moong dal for a touch of traditional Kichidi recipe.
• I have added about 10 cups of water to get mushy Dalia (Broken Wheat) and Moong Sprouts Kichidi as I made this one for our lil moppet. You can add more or less water depending on how you mushy you like your Kichidi.
• You can also add green leafy vegetables like spinach, fenugreek leaves etc for high nutrition.
• You can also substitute Dalia or Broken Wheat with Rice for different flavour.

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A humble request: Being away from blogging for many months’ means I am unaware of many blog events, new bloggers and competitions! One of the readers just notified me through email that she has nominated Monsoon Spice for Babble’s Top 100 Food Mom Blogs!!! I wasn’t even aware of such competition and I think it’s still on (correct me if I am wrong!).The Mom part in the competition’s title is what I like the most :) Jokes apart, if you like Monsoon Spice and think it deserves few votes, please head over to Babble’s Top 100 Food Mom Blogs and vote for Monsoon Spice (you will find it somewhere in the bottom pile among many lovely and well deserving blogs) and/or any other great mommy food bloggers listed. Many thanks in advance for all your love and support and I sincerely hope I have not embarrassed you and myself by asking this favour!

Before I signoff, I would like to wish all my fellow Indians a very Happy Independence Day. Jai Hind!

Warm regards
Sia