This lentil & rice bowl is packed with vegetables which your picky eaters can’t detect as they get all mixed while cooking and all you get is a delicious, comforting bowl of goodness served with chilled cucumber yogurt! Meatless meal at its best.
Hello #meatless meal day! Though it’s not monday but can we declare thursday another meatless meal day, please? This bowl is PART#2 of my one pot lentil & rice bowl which I had posted a while back. But don’t be fooled. The flavors, the texture are entirely different yet equally or even more yummier and since this is my mom’s recipe, you know it’s a WINNER! Mother’s recipes are ALWAYS ALWAYS the best. No questions!
It’s funny because a while back when I was posting my one pot lentils & rice with spinach yogurt, I wasn’t sure if people will even like it. I mean it’s something we make quite often around here and making these sort of meals is second nature to me. I was raised eating lots of different sorts of lentil & rice & chapati meals and apart from being super easy & healthy, they are comforting to me and remind me of my childhood. I wasn’t sure until I got your response and realised that you guys love #meatless meals when served with lots of flavors & a tangy yogurt side!
Yesterday I got the best comment from a reader and it simply made my day. An AWESOME reader named Zarah commented on this and it goes like this:
“So amazingly GOOD! Thank you! This will be a regular in our dinner rotation. <3”
And as if this wasn’t enough, she went ahead and made my day even better and wrote this on another favorite meatless recipe of mine as well “Sweet Potato Quesadillas” : “Looks so good I am almost hungry again even though I just ate (your one-pot lentils & rice with spinach yogurt. Oh My Yum!!). Will definitely try this!”
Comments like these makes me keep going and improving day after day at what I do and love my job even better with each passing day! And while these motivations help and make me want to do this 24*7, I will admit that there are days when I plan to do absolutely nothing and tomorrow is going to be one of those!Are you excited for OITNB?!!
A bowl of this and netflix is in my near future!
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- 1 tbsp ghee or butter plus additional for drizzling on top
- ½ tsp cumin seeds
- 4-5 green chilies, chopped ( this made it spicy so if you want less spicy, I suggest adding only 2-3)
- 2 medium sized red onions, thinly sliced in half moon shape
- 1 tsp ginger paste
- 2 potatoes medium sized, chopped in cubes
- ¾ cup fresh/frozen green peas
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 cup cauliflower, chopped in big-medium size
- 1.5 cups basmati rice, cleaned in water and rinsed
- 1 cup moong dal (split green gram with skin removed. You can find these easily in all major grocery stores or in Asian stores)
- Salt to taste
- ½ tsp garam masala (optional, this turned out pretty spicy so I left it out but if you want you can always add some)
- ½ cucumber, washed and grated (you can peel the skin or leave it on. It's upto your preference)
- 1 cup yogurt (I used 2% fat)
- Salt to taste
- 1-2 green chilies, chopped
- 2-3 garlic cloves, grated or minced
- 1-2 tsp chaat masala or 1 tsp roasted cumin seed powder (you can simply roast cumin seeds and grind them. It is wonderful when added in yogurt, on vegetables)
- In a pressure cooker or pot, add ghee. Once hot, add cumin seeds and let them splutter. To it add onions, green chili and ginger paste and saute on med-low flame for around 5 mins. Now add potatoes & green peas and saute for another 2-3 mins and add cauliflower & turmeric and stir around. Step by step sauteing helps in making sure each vegetable is nicely infused with the flavors of the spices.
- Now add 1 cup cauliflower and saute for another 1-2 mins. Add cleaned & rinsed rice, lentils along with 5 cups water and salt to taste. Stir it around. Taste and adjust salt.
- If cooking in a pot, bring it to a boil and cover and let it simmer on med-low while keeping an eye and stirring it occasionaly so it doesn't stick. You might need to add more water if you feel the lentils & rice are not cooked yet and still has a bite.
- If cooking in pressure cooker, cover the lid and cook on med heat and let it blow whistle 2-3 times. Let it release all the steam before opening the lid.
- Serve with chilled cucumber yogurt and store bought papadams if you wish.
- For cucumber yogurt, simply mix all the ingredients & taste and adjust salt & chaat masala or cumin powder to taste.
Similar recipes:
https://www.naivecookcooks.com/easy-dal-makhani
i will have to try this! yum!
Yes!! Let me know if you do!!
This looks so good. I love lentils but have never had it like this. Love it with the cauliflower and rice…very satisfying!
Thanks Monica!! Hope you try this!
Love this yummy one pot dish, Ami! Warm lentils and cold yogurt, delicious always!
Isn’t it the best comforting meal Savita?!! Thanks for stopping by!
One-pot meals are the best! Love this veggie, lentils and rice version. The flavors sound fantastic!
Thanks girl!! Have a great weekend!
Yum! This sounds wonderful. I especially love the sound of that cucumber yogurt!
Thanks Ashley and hope you try this!!
Lentils, rice and yogurt is always a winning combination! love this Ami!
Thanks Manali 🙂 have a great weekend!
So loved this one pot rice lentils (khichdi) meal. So comforting, light, easy and delish meal with lots of good health! A perfect yogurt to pair with! YUMMY!
Thanks Anu!!
WOW! This looks amazing! Beautiful, healthy and delicious! I love love LOVE lentils!! YUM YUM!
Thanks Cailee! Hope you try 🙂
Oooh this sounds and looks amazing! Just my kind of dish. I love one pot meals, and they’re perfect for weekdays, so I will definitely have to try this! It has all of my favourite spices, and I just bought some ginger paste, perfect timing for this!!
Girl let me know how you liked it!! Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Ami, love lentils and this dish is comprised of all my favorites. One pot meals are the best.
Cheri I love one pot meals too!! Easy & delicious!
What is it about mom’s recipes? This looks so delicious Ami. You can’t go wrong with rice and lentils.
Yes, those comments always make me feel so happy and inspired to do better. Love it!
Thanks friend!!
Love this!! Lentils are such a great delicious but healthy meal. 🙂 And that yogurt sounds SO refreshing! Yum!
Thanks Jess!!
Cucumber yogurt, aka tzatziki sauce? One of my all-time favorite condiments 🙂
Admittedly I’ve never had it on anything besides a gyro, but I bet it goes great with this as well. I’m going to have to try it!
Yes, lentils and rice are always a winning combination. Looks yummy. It is my kind of comfort food.