Swang ke Chawal Ki Khichdi Recipe | Barnyard Millet Khichadi, Navratri Special

October 19, 2015

This is our 10th huge successful FoodieMonday BlogHop, theme is Vrat Special/ Navratri Special... My dish for this special theme - "Swang ke Chawal ki Khichdi"

Navratri - This is important festival of Hindus, celebrated with lot of enthusiasm and excitement all across the country. It's a "Nine Days Festival" and it is dedicated to nine forms of Goddess Shakti. Navaratri falls in the month of September or October. Twice in a year.

During the festival of Navratri, Goddess Durga is worshiped in nine avatars. Each goddess has a different form and a special significance. Nava Durga, if worshiped with religious fervor during Navaratri, it is believed, lift the divine spirit in us and fill us with renewed happiness.

All 9 days fasting is kept during navratri festival. Before starting the festival, we clean our home and temple because Durga Maa is coming into our home...We do daily worship of Durga Maa (morning and evening)..Before starting pooja we offered new Red/pink Chunari on Durga Maa and kept Panch Mewa (5 dry fruits) and fruits as a prasad.

Let's come to our dish Vrat ki Khichdi - It is easy to prepare, easy to digest and very healthy recipe made with swang ke chawal. Samak ke chawal is not the rice variety it belong to millet family.

It known by many names like barnyard millet, samak ke chawal, samvat rice, vrat ke chaawal, farali khichdi . I love this khichdi very much and I usually make it in normal days(when no fasting is there) also.

This recipe is adapted by My Mom, she is used to prepare when we keep fasting during navratri days..It is easy to make and you can serve with plain curd, cucumber raita. I usually prepare this khichdi in cooker, it will take less time to prepare, mushy and yummy khichdi....filled your tummy for a day !!

I made this dish on my first navratri fast. Very light and comfy meal !!

If you are looking for more Vrat/Fasts recipes then do check
‎Sabudana‬ ‪‎Khichdi
Kaddu ki Sabzi
Aloo Cheela
Sweet Raita
Apple Cinnamon Smoothie with Toasted Almonds
Sweet Lassi
and many more.....

Let's start making of khichdi recipe with step by step photos.

Ingredients :

Swang ke chawal/barnyard millet/samak rice - 1 cup
Cubed raw potatoes/aloo - 1/2 cup
Cumin seeds/jeera - 1 tsp
Water - 3 - 4 cups
Ghee or oil - 2 tbsp (I use desi ghee)
Chopped coriander leaves - 2 tbsp
Rock salt/sendha namak as required
Red chilli powder - 1/4 to 1/2 tsp (according to your taste)

Preparation Method :

1. In a bowl, soak the samak chawal for 10 to 20 minutes. Drain and then keep aside.

2. In a thick bottomed pan/cooker, heat 2 tbsp ghee or oil, add 1 tsp cumin seeds...fry the cumin seeds till they change color.

3. Then add cubed potato, stir and saute for two to three minutes. Season with rock salt/sendha namak, red chilli powder and stir well.

4. Then add the drained samak chawal. Stir and saute for a minute.

5. Add 4 cups water, stir again. 4 cups water makes the khichdi thick, which I prefer (if you don't want thick, add less water). Stir well.

6. Close the lid and let it cook after 1st whistle, slow the flame for 3 to 4 minutes after pressure builds up. Switch off the flame.

7. Serve hot swang rice khichdi topped with a bit of ghee and garnished with coriander leaves with plain yogurt or raita.