Badshahi Khichri - when my city is soaked in rains

Cooking Kichri is synonymous to writing love letter!...Why? Because more and more punch and accompaniments are required to make it tasty. With punch I mean - a romantic thunderstorm, dark rolling clouds in the sky, torrential rains with bursting clouds and your soul craving the great Khichri. 

And accompaniments? They are fried or frittered brinjal/pumpkin, fired pointed gourd / potato /cauliflower / fish or omelette or onion rings...whatever you like to have. If you believe in a bit of opulence in food, I am suggesting some more luxurious accompaniments as dry roasted papad, chutney, butter fried coconut pieces, these are optional but quintessential. Otherwise you can have Kichri itself as a complete meal. 

How to make Badshahi Khichri

What ingredients I used: (For 2 persons)

Basmati Rice - 1 cup 
Moong Lentil - 1 cup  
Poppy seeds - 1 tbsp
Cashew - 7-8 pcs
White Curd - 2 tbsp
Ginger + Chili paste - 1 tbsp
Whole garam masala - 3 cardamom, 3 cloves, 2 cinnamon
Bay leaves - 2 
Garam Masala Powder - 1 tbsp
Turmeric Power - 1 tsp
Ghee - 1 tbsp
Sugar 1 tsp
White oil - 2 tbsp
Lots of water
Biryani Masala - a pinch (optional)
A few peanuts and raisin (optional)

How I cooked Badshahi Kichri:

1. Dry-roast the rice and lentil in a frying pan for 10 minutes. Wash them properly and rinse the water. Keep them aside. 
2. Make a smooth paste with cashew and poppy seeds. Then add curd to the paste. Mix well.
3. Add while oil in a deep bottom frying pan. Once oil becomes hot, add bay leaves, whole garam masala and sugar. Fry them for 2 minutes. 
4. Add ginger-chili paste and stir for 1 minutes or until the raw smell gets off.
5. Add the paste made of cashew, poppy seeds and curd. Stir well. 
6. Add turmeric powder and stir again. 
7. Now add rice and lentil. Stir well and then add lots of water. I prefer to add 1 litre of water at this stage. Then I add more water if required later. 
8. At this stage you can add Biryani Masala, peanuts and raisins. 
9. Now let the rice and lentil be boiled. Once it is cooked nicely, add little ghee and garam masala powder. And mix well. 

Your Badshahi Khichri is ready. You can enjoy your Kichri with any of the accompaniments mentioned above.