In short: Kadhi khichdi is the Gujarati comfort supper: a bowl of soft rice-and-dal khichdi with a smooth buttermilk and gram-flour kadhi poured over it. Gujarati kadhi is sweet, sour and made without onion or garlic; Kathiyawadi kadhi is sharper and spicier with garlic; Punjabi kadhi is thick and comes with pakoras.
What is kadhi?
Kadhi is buttermilk (or curd thinned with water) whisked with gram flour, spiced and simmered until it thickens into a smooth, tangy curry, then finished with a vaghar (tempering) of mustard seeds, cumin, curry leaves and hing.
Gujarati vs Kathiyawadi vs Punjabi kadhi
| Gujarati | Kathiyawadi | Punjabi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taste | Sweet and sour, gentle | Sharp, spicy, garlicky | Tangy and thick |
| Onion and garlic | No | Yes | Yes |
| Texture | Thin and smooth | Smooth | Thick, with pakoras |
| Eaten with | Khichdi, rice | Khichdi, bajra rotla | Rice (kadhi chawal) |
| Ours | Gujarati Kadhi | Kathiyawadi Kadhi | Kadhi Pakoda |
What kinds of khichdi are there?
- Plain khichdi: rice and moong dal with turmeric and a little ghee: the lightest meal in the Indian kitchen. Our Ghee Khichadi is exactly that.
- Vaghareli khichdi: tempered with onion, garlic, green chillies and curry leaves for more flavour, like our Girnari Vaghareli Khichadi.
- Masala khichdi: cooked with toor dal, onion, tomato and spices; a meal in itself, like our Dal Masala Khichadi.
What goes with kadhi khichdi?
- Roasted or fried papad
- A spoon of pickle
- A dry shaak, such as a potato sabzi
- A glass of chaas, and ghee on the khichdi
A ten-minute kadhi khichdi
Heat a khichdi pouch and a kadhi pouch side by side in a pan of boiling water for 3–4 minutes. Pour the khichdi into bowls, add a spoon of ghee, ladle the kadhi over and serve with papad. Supper, done. More ideas in our guide to the Gujarati thali.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between Gujarati and Punjabi kadhi?
Gujarati kadhi is thin, sweet and sour and made without onion or garlic; Punjabi kadhi is thicker, tangier and served with gram-flour pakoras.
Why do people eat kadhi with khichdi?
The light, soft khichdi and the tangy kadhi balance each other, and together they make an easy, comforting supper.
Is khichdi good when you are unwell?
Plain moong dal khichdi is the traditional light meal in Indian homes for days when you want something easy on the stomach.
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