Pressure Cooker Khichuri (Bengali Red Lentil Risotto)

Note: I was sent a copy of Instant Indian: Classic foods from every region of India made easy in the Instant Pot for review. All opinions are mine alone.

I really enjoy Indian recipes. I’ve dabbled a bit in Indian cooking on my blog so far, although most of my recipes aren’t terribly authentic. I’ve even taken a class with Haneeda’s Kitchen to learn more about the cuisine. But a lot of the recipes can be pretty involved, and take quite a bit of time to make, so knowing ways to speed up the cooking process without sacrificing flavor are always welcome!

Cookbook author, blogger and cooking teacher Rinku Bhattacharya has put together a collection of 100 authentic Indian recipes all made in a multi-cooker, cutting down the time to make these recipes without sacrificing flavor. Instant Indian: Classic Foods from Every Region of India Made Easy in the Instant Pot showcases the diversity and range of the foods of India, where every state and region boasts its own unique dishes. Rinku Bhattacharya provides techniques and recipes that showcase the rich culinary diversity of Indian food.  Her recipes are culled from the culinary regions of North India, Western India, Eastern India and South India.

The cookbook features recipes covering everything from spice blends to meat dishes to desserts. Nearly all the recipes are gluten free, and there are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options throughout the cookbook too!

Khichuri (or khichdi) is a classic rice and lentil mixture that can be found throughout India, with different regions having their own spin on it. This version is from Bengal and uses sautéed red onions, red lentils, cauliflower, potatoes and peas. The version below for Pressure Cooker Khichuri is gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan.

Note: I used my COSORI 6 Qt Electrical Pressure Cooker to make this recipe, so the directions are written with that in mind.

Ingredients: (serves 6)

Adapted  from Instant Indian by Rinku Bhattacharya/Hippocrene Books/October

Khichuri:

  • 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
  • 3/4 cup red lentils
  • 1/2 cup basmati rice
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
  • 2 cups cauliflower florets
  • 1 medium Yukon gold potato, peeled and cut into bite-sized cubes
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas

Toppings:

  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin seeds
  • 2 whole dried red chilies
  • the juice of 1 lime

Continue reading Pressure Cooker Khichuri (Bengali Red Lentil Risotto)

Slow Cooker Butter Chicken

As someone who does her best to cook a bunch of meals over the weekends to eat during the week, my slow cooker is one of my most used appliances. I recently tried to move it into a closet to declutter my kitchen, but I keep asking my husband to help me retrieve it so often that he’s questioning its removal from our counter top.

One of my favorite takeout meals is Butter Chicken, so I wanted to learn how to make a version at home.

I based this recipe off a recipe from NY Times food, but adjusted it for the slow cooker, because we all know how much I love a slow cooker recipe. My version makes about 8 servings.

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ cups Greek yogurt
  • Juice and zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 ½ tablespoons ground turmeric
  • 2 tablespoons garam masala
  • 2 tablespoons ground cumin
  • 3 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 1 ½ tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
  • 2 onions, chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 4 whole tomatoes from a 14oz can of whole tomatoes (~1/2 of the can), chopped
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 1 ½ cups cream (or coconut milk, if desired)
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup ground almonds (or almond flour)
  • Cilantro, for garnish
  • 3 cups cooked rice, for serving

Continue reading Slow Cooker Butter Chicken

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