• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Spice your Life! logo
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Blogging Marathon Details
    • Next BM Announcement
    • BM Participants
  • Also on: Cooking 4 all Seasons
  • Nav Social Menu

menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Index
  • ×

    Home » Vegetarian Side Dishes » Manipuri Khichdi with Ooti from Manipur

    Manipuri Khichdi with Ooti from Manipur

    Published: Apr 16, 2014 · Modified: Oct 5, 2020 by Srivalli · 21 Comments

    Sharing is caring!

    21 shares
    • 1
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    We are now on M and the one that starts with the North East states Manipur. With my chosen Bread theme, I had such difficulty finding bread in these states. That's when I had to resort to the other clause I had for myself. And started looking at their staple food or at least with Rice. I had decided that if I didn't get any Bread variety, I would check out for dishes with Rice or any famous dish made with flour.

    Some years back we had a popular event happening in the blogosphere, better known as RCI or Regional Cuisines of India. When I had started blogging, RCI - Andhra just got over and I was upset I missed a chance. I just took the time to check out my RCI entries and enjoyed reading about TN, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa,  Gujarat,  Bengali and so many states that I participated. I tried my best to take part in this event as Regional Cuisine has always been my passionate topic. Can you believe, I had done for Sikkim as well! And there went off my chance of having something ready to make.


    Anyway, with the chance of finding bread from Manipur being very bleak, I decided to go with Rice dish. My Bihari colleague said she has Manipuri friends, and I was pestering her to get recipes from her. It took such a long time as this friend was busy and finally, I landed myself in Aparna's post from where I got to know about Anthony's recipes on Manipuri Khichdi and Ooti.
    He was so eloquent in describing this Khichdi and Ooti, that I wanted to try this right away. So I had to shop for the white peas.

    Somehow I never liked this variety and never stock it. When the dried peas get cooked, I detest the aroma that comes out. Surprisingly in Ooti, there was none. And the Khichdi, though mine little dry, was tasting and lived up to what Anthony was praising. I remember reading this Bachelor's Cooking blog during my initial days of blogging and never thought it was authored by a Manipurian and someday he will come to my rescue!

    After doing our research and study of these North-East states, I felt there is an urgent need for people from these states to record their recipes online. I am sure my friends would agree on this and we could've saved ourselves, hours of logging over these states, trying to find something that we can cook, especially vegetarians.

    Now let's check out this delicious combination. I am sure if you want some more.


    Manipuri Khichdi

    Ingredients Needed:

    Basmati rice 1 cup
    Toor Dal - 1/4 cup
    Onion, finely chopped - 1 small
    Ginger Garlic paste - 1 tsp
    Peanuts roasted and skinned - 2 tbsp
    Cumin seeds 1 tsp
    Bay leaves - 2 medium
    Cardamom pods - 3
    Cloves - 3
    Red chilies - 3 nos
    Turmeric powder a pinch
    Salt to taste
    Oil - 1 tbsp
    Ghee - 2 tbsp

    How to make the Khichdi

    Wash and soak the rice for 15 mins.

    Wash and pressure cook the Toor dal along with turmeric powder till so soft.

    Then add the rice to the dal and simmer.

    Meanwhile, heat a nonstick pan with oil and a tsp of ghee, add the jeera, bay leaves, cardamom, and cloves.

    Now add the onions and fry till golden brown and add the ginger garlic paste. Pour it into the boiling cooker of dal-rice. Cover the cooker and let go of two whistles and let cool.

    Heat remaining ghee and then fry the Peanuts. Saute them and add to the dal rice once the pressure falls down. Mix well.

    The Khichdi is ready to serve with Ootti. You can also serve with pickle.


    Notes:

    This is your regular Khichdi, so make sure you add enough water. I didn't realize that Anthony was using raw peanuts. So like me, if you are using fried peanuts, you can add them in one shot in the beginning.

    Ootti / White Peas Subji

    Ingredients Needed:

    White Peas - 1 1/2 cups
    Onion finely chopped - 1 big
    Ginger, finely chopped - 1“
    Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
    Red chilies - 3-4
    Bay leaves - 2 medium
    Oil - 1 tbsp
    Salt to taste

    How to make Ootti

    Soak the peas in water overnight and pressure cook till done.

    In another pan, heat the oil and add the bay leaves, cumin, and chilies. Just sauté and add the ginger and onion. Saute till onions are brown. Pour this into the peas and mix well.

    Serve hot.

    We enjoyed the Manipuri Khichdi for lunch with Ootti, appams, and some pickles.

    Konda and I enjoyed our meal very much and I took this for my colleagues as well, who was very surprised that the meal was very tasty.

    An InLinkz Link-up
    Print Pin

    Manipuri Khichdi with Ooti from Manipur

    Course Main Dish - Rice, Main Dish – Gravies
    Cuisine Manipuri
    Author Srivalli

    Ingredients

    For Manipuri Khichdi

    • 1 cup Basmati Rice
    • 1/4 cup Toor Dal
    • 1 small Onions finely chopped
    • 1 tsp Ginger Garlic Paste
    • 2 tbsp Peanuts roasted and skinned
    • 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
    • 2 medium Bay Leaves
    • 3 Cardamom Pods
    • 3 Cloves
    • 3 nos Red Chillies
    • A Pinch Turmeric Powder
    • Salt to taste
    • 1 tbsp Cooking Oil
    • 2 tbsp Ghee

    For Ootti / White Peas Subji

    • 1 & 1/2 cups White Peas
    • 1 big Onions finely chopped
    • 1“ Ginger finely chopped
    • 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
    • 3 - 4 nos Red Chillies
    • 2 medium Bay Leaves
    • 1 tbsp Cooking Oil
    • Salt to taste

    Instructions

    How to make the Khichdi

    • Wash and soak the rice for 15 mins.
    • Wash and pressure cook the Toor Dal along with turmeric powder till so soft.
    • Then, add the rice to the dal and simmer.
    • Meanwhile, heat a nonstick pan with cooking oil and a tsp of ghee, add the jeera, bay leaves, cardamom, and cloves.
    • Now, add the onions and fry till golden brown and add the ginger garlic paste. Pour it into the boiling cooker of dal-rice. Cover the cooker and let go of two whistles and let cool.
    • Heat remaining ghee and then fry the Peanuts. Saute them and add to the dal rice once the pressure falls down. Mix well.
    • The Khichdi is ready to serve with Ootti. You can also serve with pickle.

    How to make Ootti

    • Soak the peas in water overnight and pressure cook till done.
    • In another pan, heat cooking oil and add the bay leaves, cumin, and chilies. Just sauté and add the ginger and onion. Saute till onions are brown. Pour this into the peas and mix well.
    • Serve hot.

    Notes

    This is your regular Khichdi, so make sure you add enough water.
    I didn't realize that Anthony was using raw peanuts. So like me, if you are using fried peanuts, you can add them in one shot in the beginning.
    Tried this recipe?Mention @spicingyourlife_ or tag #spicingyourlife_!
    « Thalipeeth, Thecha from Maharashtra
    Pukhlein ~ Rice Jaggary Bread from Meghalaya »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Priya Suresh says

      April 16, 2014 at 7:37 pm

      Lol Valli, totally agree with you, while searching recipes for NE i was complaining myself that blogger from these regions should upload their recipes just to help people like us.Manipuri khichdi is almost like our regular one pot meal and that ooti sounds a prefect side dish for this khichdi.

      Reply
    2. divya says

      April 16, 2014 at 9:40 pm

      Awesome....simply awesome...

      Reply
    3. vaishali sabnani says

      April 17, 2014 at 2:19 am

      Yes even I had decided to this ooti..but after I got those black rice , I switched over to do the kheer..both the dishes are simple and delicious.

      Reply
    4. Suma Gandlur says

      April 17, 2014 at 2:47 am

      Same pinch, valli. I too made the same dishes. And genuinely loved that khichdi.

      Reply
    5. The Pumpkin Farm says

      April 17, 2014 at 3:23 am

      valli this state was the most familiar name among the ne states but it gave me the most pain in terms of the recipe hunt..so really think this BM of ours is going to help the blog world a lot...your recipes are very nice and there is no repulsion for any vegetarians to try them out, good find

      Reply
    6. Usha says

      April 17, 2014 at 12:11 pm

      So agree with you on the food from these NE states to be documented. You guys have did an awesome job coming up are searching for some delicious Manipuri food. I have not checked everyone's posts at but from the pictures from the linky, everything looks so good.

      Coming to Ooti & & Khichidi, you found some yummy dishes for the state.

      Reply
    7. Rajani S says

      April 17, 2014 at 4:24 pm

      i really liked ooti. there is a fresh peas version as well. will try that sometime. yeah. 。how i wish there were more resources online for NE

      Reply
    8. Varadas Kitchen says

      April 18, 2014 at 3:20 am

      Nice combo. I ran across tat blog too and almost made this same combo but changed my mind. It has come out really well.

      Reply
    9. Harini-Jaya R says

      April 18, 2014 at 3:30 pm

      I agree with you Valli. Waiting for inputs from friends is very frustrating as they have their own priorities 🙂 Lovely find though!

      Reply
    10. Nivedhanams Sowmya says

      April 21, 2014 at 10:23 am

      I so agree with you on waiting for comments!!! so frustrating!!! khichdi is such a wholesome meal! love it..

      Reply
    11. Jayanthi Padmanabhan says

      April 22, 2014 at 11:45 am

      i love the ooti. you could pair it with a whole lot of things other than the khichdi and it'll be great

      Reply
    12. Gayathri Kumar says

      April 25, 2014 at 8:25 am

      Even I made from Anthony's blog. The kichdi and ooti looks good...

      Reply
    13. shobha says

      April 26, 2014 at 11:13 am

      Healthy & delicious khichdi……….looks inviting.

      Reply
    14. Pavani N says

      April 29, 2014 at 1:15 am

      Love that Khichdi & ooti combo -- will have to try this soon. I remember Anthony's blog from my beginner blogging days 🙂

      Reply
    15. Chef Mireille says

      April 30, 2014 at 4:41 pm

      the ooti looks so creamy and perfect to pour over rice

      Reply
    16. Archana Potdar says

      May 03, 2014 at 3:08 pm

      yes Valli searching for NE states was difficult. I too had wanted to make Khichidi with ooti it still is on my to do.

      Reply
    17. Padmajha PJ says

      May 06, 2014 at 1:47 pm

      RCI was my fav event too! And that was the first place I went to look for recipe ideas!
      And this looks like a wholesome meal. The spread looks inviting...

      Reply
    18. Sandhya Ramakrishnan says

      May 11, 2014 at 2:36 am

      This is something that my family would love...So many similarities between the states 🙂

      Reply
    19. Priya Srinivasan says

      May 13, 2014 at 4:16 am

      I made this first for manipur and then changed my mind and made sana thonghba again. Loved this khichdi, very simple, yet the taste aas great, peanuts added nixe crunch to the rice.

      Reply
    20. Manjula Bharath says

      May 27, 2014 at 7:04 pm

      seriously true the north east people should share some recipes in english so that it might us na I found many links but it was in their own language which was difficult for google to translate .. Khichidi and ooti from manipur is my fav 🙂 they are superb pair and I wud love to finish them right away 🙂

      Reply
    21. Just another opinion says

      August 12, 2016 at 11:57 am

      Ooti becomes more tastier when you put bamboo shoots in them, try eating khichidi and Ooti on red lotus leaf atleast once..the fragrance of red lotus leaf makes khichidi even more heavenly

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Search Recipes

    Vegetarian Side Dishes

    Pappu Pulusu

    Pappu Pulusu – Pappu Charu Andhra Style - Lunch Box Recipes

    Fresh Toor, Peanut, Mocha Kurma | Kurma with Fresh Toor, Peanut and Mocha | Step By Step Recipe

    Moghlai Aloo | How to make Mughlai Aloo

    Onion Curry | Easy Side Dish for Chapati

    Thalis and Spreads

    Gummadikaya Pulusu

    Gummadikaya Pulusu ~ Vegetarian Lunch Thali

    Onam Sadya Recipes Preparation | How to plan for Onam Sadya

    Baby Aloo Masala - Simple Lunch Thali

    Baby Potato Masala Gravy

    Mumbai Street Food

    Mumbai Street Food

    Most Popular Posts

    Chena Tarkari

    Chhena Tarkari | Odia Style Paneer Curry

    Mofo Sakay

    Mofo Anana | Malagasy Mofo Sakay

    Ice Cream Sandesh

    Ice Cream Sandesh | How to make Khoya Kulfi Sandesh

    Sprouted Moong Dal Idli

    Sprouted Moong Dal Idli ~ Low Carb Indian Vegetarian Recipe

    Popular One Pot Meals

    Qubooli
    Iyengar Style Vendhaya Keerai Sadam

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2022 Spice your Life!