khichuri
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

''Khichdi'' or ''khichri'' (, , , ,
Odia Odia, also spelled Oriya or Odiya, may refer to: * Odia people in Odisha, India * Odia language, an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family * Odia alphabet, a writing system used for the Odia languag ...
: ଖେଚୁଡି) is a dish in South Asian cuisine made of rice and lentils ('' dal'') with numerous variations. Variations include ''bajra'' and mung ''dal'' ''khichri''. In Indian culture, in several regions, especially in the northern areas, it is considered one of the first solid foods that babies eat. See ''MasterChef'' (American season 6) ''Khichri'' is a salty porridge. ''Dalia'' is another similar sweet porridge made from the crushed wheat or barley mixed with sugar and milk.


Etymology and spelling

The word ''Khichdī'' is derived from Sanskrit ', a dish of rice and legumes. Some divergence of transliteration may be noted in the third consonant in the word ''khicṛī''. The sound is the retroflex flap , which is written in Hindi with the Devanagari letter ⟨⟩, and in Urdu script with the Perso-Arabic letter ⟨⟩. In
Hindustani phonology Hindustani is the ''lingua franca'' of northern India and Pakistan, and through its two standardized registers, Hindi and Urdu, a co-official language of India and co-official and national language of Pakistan respectively. Phonological differe ...
, the etymological origin of the retroflex flap was when it occurred between vowels. Hence in Devanagari the letter ⟨⟩, representing , was adapted to write by adding a diacritic under it. In Urdu script, the phonological quality of the flap was represented by adapting the letter ⟨⟩, representing , with a diacritic added above it to indicate the retroflex quality. The occurrence of this consonant in the word has given rise to two alternative spellings in English: ''khichri'', which reflects its phonology, and ''khichdi'', which reflects its etymology.


History

The Greek king
Seleucus Seleucus may refer to: Monarchs and other people related to the Seleucid Empire * Seleucus I Nicator (Satrap 311–305 BC, King 305 BC–281 BC), son of Antiochus and founder of the Seleucid Empire * Seleucus II Callinicus (246–225 BC) * Sele ...
during his campaign in India (305-303 BC), mentioned that rice with pulses is very popular among people of the Indian subcontinent.
Strabo Strabo''Strabo'' (meaning "squinty", as in strabismus) was a term employed by the Romans for anyone whose eyes were distorted or deformed. The father of Pompey was called "Pompeius Strabo". A native of Sicily so clear-sighted that he could see ...
also notes that Indian food mainly consisted of rice porridge and a beverage made of rice, presently called Arak. The Moroccan traveller
Ibn Battuta Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Battutah (, ; 24 February 13041368/1369),; fully: ; Arabic: commonly known as Ibn Battuta, was a Berbers, Berber Maghrebi people, Maghrebi scholar and explorer who travelled extensively in the lands of Afro-Eurasia, ...
mentions ''khichdi'' as a dish in India composed of rice and mung beans, during his stay around 1350. ''khichdi'' is described in the writings of
Afanasiy Nikitin Afanasy Nikitin (russian: Афана́сий Ники́тин; died 1472) was a Russian merchant from Tver and one of the first Europeans (after Niccolò de' Conti) to travel to and document his visit to India. He described his trip in a narrative ...
, a Russian adventurer who travelled to the Indian subcontinent in the 15th century. It was very popular with the Mughals, especially
Jahangir Nur-ud-Din Muhammad Salim (30 August 1569 – 28 October 1627), known by his imperial name Jahangir (; ), was the fourth Mughal Emperor, who ruled from 1605 until he died in 1627. He was named after the Indian Sufi saint, Salim Chishti. Ear ...
. ''
Ain-i-Akbari The ''Ain-i-Akbari'' ( fa, ) or the "Administration of Akbar", is a 16th-century detailed document recording the administration of the Mughal Empire under Emperor Akbar, written by his court historian, Abu'l Fazl in the Persian language. It for ...
'', a 16th-century document, written by Mughal Emperor
Akbar Abu'l-Fath Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar (25 October 1542 – 27 October 1605), popularly known as Akbar the Great ( fa, ), and also as Akbar I (), was the third Mughal emperor, who reigned from 1556 to 1605. Akbar succeeded his father, Hum ...
's vizier,
Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak, also known as Abul sharma, Abu'l Fadl and Abu'l-Fadl 'Allami (14 January 1551 – 22 August 1602), was the grand vizier of the Mughal emperor Akbar, from his appointment in 1579 until his death in 1602. He was the au ...
, mentions the recipe for ''khichdi'', which gives seven variations. There is an anecdotal story featuring Akbar, Birbal and khichdi. The Anglo-Indian dish
Kedgeree Kedgeree (or occasionally ) is a dish consisting of cooked, flaked fish (traditionally smoked haddock), boiled rice, parsley, hard-boiled eggs, curry powder, butter or cream, and occasionally sultanas. The dish can be eaten hot or cold. Other ...
is thought to derive from khichri.Anne Chotzinoff Grossman and Lisa Grossman Thomas (1997) ''Lobscouse and Spotted Dog; Which It's a Gastronomic Companion to the Aubrey/Maturin Novels'', Norton, p. 12.


Regional variations

Khichdi is a very popular dish across the Indian subcontinent, including in Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan also. The dish is widely prepared in many Indian states, such as Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and
Maharashtra Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a states and union territories of India, state in the western India, western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the List of states and union te ...
. Vegetables such as
cauliflower Cauliflower is one of several vegetables in the species ''Brassica oleracea'' in the genus ''Brassica'', which is in the Brassicaceae (or mustard) family. It is an annual plant that reproduces by seed. Typically, only the head is eaten – the ...
, potato, and green
pea The pea is most commonly the small spherical seed or the seed-pod of the flowering plant species ''Pisum sativum''. Each pod contains several peas, which can be green or yellow. Botanically, pea pods are fruit, since they contain seeds and d ...
s are commonly added. Hindus, mainly from north/northwest, who avoid eating grains during fasting, eat
Sabudana khichri Sabudana khichri is an Indian dish made from soaked sabudana (tapioca pearls). It is the dish of choice when an individual observes a "fast" during Shivratri, Navratri, or a similar Hindu religious occasion. It is typically prepared in Indian ...
made from sago.Sean Williams, 2015
"The Ethnomusicologists' Cookbook, Volume II: Complete Meals from around the world"
Routledge Taylor & Francis group, page 37.
Uma Aggarwal, 2009
"The Exquisite World of Indian Cuisine"
Allied Publications, page 106.
In the southern part of India, however, the word ''khichri'' is not that popular. While people of Tamil Nadu and Andhra regions cook ''Pongal,'' and Kannadigas prepare ' which is mung dal khichdi and '','' a pigeon pea variation with vegetables, Keralites have no similar dish. Khichdi was the inspiration for Anglo-Indian
kedgeree Kedgeree (or occasionally ) is a dish consisting of cooked, flaked fish (traditionally smoked haddock), boiled rice, parsley, hard-boiled eggs, curry powder, butter or cream, and occasionally sultanas. The dish can be eaten hot or cold. Other ...
and was said to be related to the
Egyptian Egyptian describes something of, from, or related to Egypt. Egyptian or Egyptians may refer to: Nations and ethnic groups * Egyptians, a national group in North Africa ** Egyptian culture, a complex and stable culture with thousands of years of ...
koshary Koshary, kushari or koshari ( arz, كشري ) is Egypt's national dish and a widely popular street food. A traditional Egyptian staple, mixing pasta, rice and brown lentils, and topped with a zesty tomato sauce, garlic vinegar and garnished wi ...
, though the latter has more Italian influence. ''Khichdi'' is a popular traditional staple in Haryana, specially in the rural areas. ''Haryanvi khichdi'' is made from pearl millet and mung ''dal'' (split mung bean) pounded in mortar (''unkhal''), and often eaten by mixing with warm ''ghee'' or '' lassi'', or even yogurt.1990
"Haryana District Gazetteers: Sonipat"
Government of Haryana publication, Page 83.
1912
"Haryana District Gazetteers: Delhi district gazetteer"
Government of India Gazetteers Organisation, Page 90.
1987
"Haryana District Gazetteers: Hisar"
Government of Haryana publication, Page 65.
Charmaine O' Brien, 2013
"The Penguin Food Guide to India"
Penguin Books Penguin Books.
Sometimes, ''jowar'' is also mixed with ''bajra'' and ''mung dal''. ''Khichri'' is salty and ''dalia'' is another similar sweet porridge made from the crushed wheat or barley mixed with sugar and milk. The Hyderabadi Muslim community, of the erstwhile
Hyderabad State Hyderabad State () was a princely state located in the south-central Deccan region of India with its capital at the city of Hyderabad. It is now divided into the present-day state of Telangana, the Kalyana-Karnataka region of Karnataka, and t ...
, in present-day Telangana, Marathwada, and Kalyana-Karnataka regions, make ''khichdi'' as a common breakfast dish, and is an important part of Hyderabadi cuisine. The dish is called ''khichri'', ''kheema'', ''khatta'', or other switch-around versions of the previous, named after the three parts of the meal, ''Khichri'', ground beef, and a sour sauce, made of tamarind and sesame. '' Khichra'' is similar to '' haleem'', a meat dish, while ''khichri'' is a vegetarian dish with rice and pulses or lentils, with no spices.


National dish controversy

In 2017, Indian media unofficially designated it as the "national dish", as it is being globally promoted by the government of India as "queen of all foods". The report that the government may designate ''khichri'' as India's "national dish" brought significant ridicule from the opposition politicians. However, India's
Minister of Food Processing Industries The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MOFPI) is a ministry of the Government of India responsible for formulation and administration of the rules and regulations and laws relating to food processing in India. The ministry was set up in the ye ...
Harsimrat Kaur Badal clarified that while ''Khichdi'' is considered nutritious and healthy food in India, the government did not have any plans to designate a national food.


In popular culture

''Khichdi'' has lent its name to media synonymous with ensembles or potpourri as depicted in the popular culture through movies such as '' Khichdi: The Movie'', and TV sitcoms such as '' Khichdi (franchise),
Khichdi (TV series) Khichdi, or Khichri, is a South Asian rice and lentil dish. Khichdi may also refer to: * ''Khichdi'' (franchise), Hindi language franchise of sitcoms and film ** ''Khichdi'' (2002 TV series), 2002 Indian TV series ** '' Khichdi: The Movie'', 20 ...
'', and '' Instant Khichdi''. The dish has been cooked at both MasterChef Australia and America.


See also

*
Congee Congee or conjee ( ) is a type of rice porridge or gruel eaten in Asian countries. It can be eaten plain, where it is typically served with side dishes, or it can be served with ingredients such as meat, fish, seasonings and flavourings, most o ...
, a type of rice porridge eaten in many Asian countries * Koshari


References

{{Lentil dishes Indian rice dishes Lentil dishes Pakistani rice dishes Vegetarian dishes of India South Asian cuisine Indo-Caribbean cuisine Fijian cuisine