Khichdi in a Jar - Mixed Veg Kitchari Mix

Khichdi in a Jar: My Go-To Weeknight Meal

As a busy working mom, finding time to cook healthy and delicious meals can feel like a constant uphill battle. Between work, school pick-ups, and all the other demands on my time, I often find myself resorting to quick, less-than-healthy options. That's why I've become obsessed with meal prepping, and this Khichdi in a Jar recipe is my absolute saving grace.

The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and versatility. It's essentially a pre-portioned mix of lentils, rice, and spices, all ready to be transformed into a hearty and flavorful khichdi in minutes. I love that I can customize it to suit my mood and the vegetables I have on hand. One day, it might be a vibrant mix of carrots, peas, and spinach. Another day, I might add cauliflower, broccoli, and a touch of ginger for a warming winter meal. The possibilities are endless!

The Magic of Meal Prepping:

For me, meal prepping is more than just saving time; it's about ensuring that my family eats nutritious meals consistently. It's about eliminating the decision fatigue that comes with deciding what to cook every single night. It gives me peace of mind knowing that there’s always a healthy meal waiting in the fridge. This Khichdi in a Jar perfectly embodies that philosophy. I spend a couple of hours on the weekend assembling these jars, and the payoff is huge. It eliminates the stress of dinnertime chaos and allows me to focus on enjoying quality time with my family instead of being glued to the stove. The jars also make fantastic gifts, especially for friends who are also busy working parents or for anyone new to cooking or who just needs a quick and convenient way to make a delicious, comforting meal.

Beyond the Instant Pot:

While the Instant Pot makes this recipe incredibly quick and convenient, you can absolutely make this khichdi in a regular saucepan. The cooking time will be longer, but the results are just as delicious. This is my absolute favorite way to get a perfectly comforting meal, and that’s saying something since I’ve always had the hardest time with comfort food. The convenience of this meal prepping method is that you can just switch up how you’re cooking it.

A Culinary Adventure:

More than just a practical solution for busy weekdays, this Khichdi in a Jar recipe is a culinary adventure waiting to happen. Each time I make it, I find myself experimenting with different spice combinations and vegetable additions. It's a testament to the versatility and adaptability of Indian cuisine. I've found that even the simplest tweaks can make a big difference in the final flavor profile of the khichdi. This is something I've learned to love about food itself. The freedom to experiment with flavors, different approaches, ingredients, and styles, allows you to come to some really stunning food creations that you can call your own.

Beyond the Jar:

The Khichdi in a Jar isn’t just a simple, quick, and nutritious meal. It is a representation of my time-management skills. The beauty of the method is in its simplicity – all the ingredients in one place, ready whenever you need them. The jars themselves are aesthetically pleasing to look at, neatly organized, and full of culinary potential. I’ve found that this meal-prepping method has greatly eased my mind – allowing me to have one less thing to worry about when it comes to managing my hectic schedule. In turn, this allows me to have more time to focus on what truly matters: my family, friends, and of course, my work.

This dish has become a staple in my home and a favorite for my family. It's healthy, delicious, versatile, and incredibly convenient—everything a busy woman like me could ever want in a weeknight meal. I encourage you to try it, customize it to your liking, and enjoy the ease and deliciousness of Khichdi in a Jar.

Step-by-step

• Assemble the jar: Layer the rice and lentils.
• Toast the cumin seeds and cloves on stove top over medium heat until cumin seeds change color slightly. This step is optional. Toasted cumin seeds add a deeper tastier flavor. Cool completely.
• Add toasted cumin, cloves, rest of the spices to small ziplock bag and add to the jar.
• Close the lid.
• Store for upto 3 months.
• Instructions to make the khichdi On the jar: Wash the lentils and rice, (optional).
• To the Instant pot, Add 3.5 to 4 cups water (depends on your preference of consistency of the stew), washed lentils & rice, spice bag contents, 3/4 to 1 tsp salt and 1 tomato finely chopped.
• Add upto 2 cups of chopped vegetables and mix in.
• Close the lid and cook on Manual(hi) for 2-5 minutes (5 for mash consistency).
• Release the pressure after 5 mins. Fluff lightly.
• (For Saucepan, add 5 cups of water instead of 3.5 and the rest of the ingredients as above. Cover partially and cook for 22 minutes, then check the consistency and doneness and continue to cook more until done.)
• Garnish with cilantro, lemon juice and pepper flakes and serve as is or with chutneys, or papadums/crackers.
• To make directly: Assemble the ingredients.
• Heat 1 tsp oil on saute in IP, or saucepan on medium.
• Add the cumin seeds and cloves and cook until fragrant.
• Add bay leaves, turmeric and garam masala and mix for a few seconds.
• Add the rest of the ingredients, water, salt and cook as step 5.