Bitter Field Beans Pulav / कडव्या वालाची खिचडी

Bitter Field Beans Pulav / कडव्या वालाची खिचडी 

While the White pulav, Veg pulav have been the front runners when it comes to Indian vegetarian meal but given a chance to design a full course SKP vegetarian meal, then with no doubt in our mind the rice position will be awarded to our very favorite "वालाची खिचडी" (Valachi khichdi)

Bitter beans come from the family of field beans, mostly grown in the Konkan belt of Maharashtra, India. They are sown in rice fields post reaping of rice. This happens approximately around month October-November whereas the final product is available around the Month of May.

There are a variety of dishes prepared from Val/वाल like Valache birde / 

वालाचे बिरडं , Valacha dalichi bhaji/वालाची डाळीची भाजी, Valachi ampty/वालाची आमटी,Val shiralachi bhaji / वाल शिराळची भाजी also it is used in Popati/ पोपटी  (it's a traditional barbeque). वालाचे बिरडं has prime importance in gods offering plate (नैवेद्य). So indeed it truly becomes "Signature lentil of the community"

Below is how we prepare Valachi Khichadi/वालाची खिचडी

Ingredients:

Bitter Field Beans / कडवे वाल: One and a half cup(soaked overnight in water, next day tie soaked beans in the muslin cloth to get a sprout and then peel the brown cover of the beans)

So you have to plan your khichadi well in advance😉.

Onion: 2 finely chopped

Curry leaves/कडीपत्ता : 5-6 leaves

Potato: 2 Peeled and chopped in medium size cube.

Rice: 1 and a half cup (soak in water for at least half hours), use tukda basmati 0r ambe mohor rice for best result

Oil: 2 tbsp

Fresh Coconut: Grated coconut for garnishing 

Coriander: 2 tbsp finely chopped for garnishing 

Ginger Garlic paste: 2 tsp

Asafetida: 1/4 tsp

Jeera / Cummin seed: 1 tsp

Mustard seeds: 1 tsp

Bay leaf: 1 

Turmeric Powder: 1 tsp

Pachkalshi Masala/ Homemade masala: 2 tsp

Salt to taste 

Clarified butter/ Ghee: for garnishing on rice 

Water - 3 cups

Procedure:

1) Take a pressure cooker (you can also prepare it in cooking pot) on medium flame, add 2 tbsp oil and wait until its heated. Once the oil is heated add asafetida, cumin seeds, and mustard seeds, and let it crackle. Later add Bay leaf , curry leaves and add ginger garlic paste saute until it loses its raw smell. Add finely chopped onion along with a pinch of salt, the salt will help onion to cook fast.

2) Once the onion turns pink, its time for dry spices to get in. so firstly we will add turmeric powder then Panchkalshi masala and give a nice mix to the onion mixture. You can use garam masalas or goda masalas, but in authenticate walachi khichadi we normally don't use it.

3) Add bitter field beans/ कडवे  वाल in onion mixture along with peeled potatoes and combine well.

4) Add soaked rice in the cooker along add 3 cups of  warm water and again combine well. 

5) Cover the pressure cooker with its lid and wait for 2 whistles. 

6) Once the वालाची खिचडी/ bitter fields beans pulav is cooked, serve in a plate add ghee/ clarified butter on top of the rice, and garnish it with freshly grated coconut and finely chopped coriander.

Enjoy वालाची खिचडी/ bitter field beans pulav with homemade mango pickle, urad dal papad (roasted one) and yogurt/curd. 

Surely try this finger-licking recipe.

See you until our next recipe till that time enjoy वालाची खिचडी 😀