Kadhi Chawal is a traditional North Indian dish that is sure to please with its aromatic rice and creamy yogurt-based sauce. Even though this comfort food is known for being simple, its rich and spicy flavours always make people happy.
It’s the thick yogurt-based gravy called kadhi that makes this dish memorable. To make it, you mix yoghurt, besan (gramme flour), and spices like cumin, fenugreek, and ginger. The blend is then slowly heated until it gets thicker. This gives it a velvety smooth, creamy, and tangy feel.
Spices like mustard seeds, cumin seeds, dried red peppers, and curry leaves are heated in hot ghee or oil and added to the kadhi to give it more flavour. This seasoning gives the dish a depth of flavour and smell that is hard to avoid.
Serving the kadhi hot with chawal, which is cooked basmati rice, rounds out the meal. The fluffy rice soaks up the creamy kadhi, making a perfect mix of textures and tastes that makes every bite feel like home.
Kadhi Chawal is a food that you can enjoy on a lazy afternoon or as a hearty meal any day of the week. It has a creamy texture, a tangy flavour, and a warming smell. So, give yourself the comfort and warmth of Kadhi Chawal and enjoy the pleasure of simple but tasty Indian food.
Kadhi Chawal Recipe
Ingredients
For Kadhi (Yogurt Curry):
- 1 cup Yogurt plain
- 3 tablespoons Besan gram flour
- 2 cups Water
- 1 Onion finely chopped
- 1 Tomato finely chopped
- 1 Green chili slit
- 1/2 teaspoon Cumin seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon Mustard seeds
- 1/4 teaspoon Fenugreek seeds methi
- 1/4 teaspoon Turmeric powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Red chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Coriander powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Asafoetida hing
- Salt to taste
- Fresh coriander leaves for garnish
- 2 tablespoons Cooking oil
For Chawal (Steamed Rice):
- 1 cup Basmati rice
- 2 cups Water
- Salt to taste
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Kadhi (Yogurt Curry)
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together yogurt and besan (gram flour) until smooth, ensuring there are no lumps.
- Heat oil in a deep pan or kadhai over medium heat. Add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, and fenugreek seeds. Allow them to splutter.
- Add chopped onions and sautรฉ until they turn golden brown.
- Add chopped tomatoes and slit green chili. Cook until the tomatoes are soft and mushy.
- Lower the heat and add turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, and asafoetida. Stir well to combine.
- Pour in the yogurt-besan mixture slowly, stirring continuously to prevent lumps.
- Add water and salt to the kadhi mixture. Stir well and let it simmer on low heat for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the kadhi thickens.
- Once the kadhi is cooked and thickened, remove it from heat. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves.
Step 2: Prepare the Chawal (Steamed Rice)
- Rinse the basmati rice under cold water until the water runs clear.
- In a saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add salt to the boiling water.
- Add the rinsed basmati rice to the boiling water. Stir gently.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover the saucepan with a lid, and let the rice cook for 15-20 minutes or until all the water is absorbed and the rice is cooked through.
- Once the rice is cooked, fluff it with a fork and remove it from heat.
Step 3: Serve Kadhi Chawal
- Serve the hot and comforting Kadhi over a generous serving of steamed rice (Chawal).
- Enjoy the delicious Kadhi Chawal with some pickle or roasted papad on the side for added flavor.
Tips and Information
Tips and Information
- Consistency: Adjust the consistency of the kadhi by adding more water if it becomes too thick or simmering it longer if it’s too thin.
- Variations: You can enhance the flavor of the kadhi by adding vegetables like okra (bhindi), spinach (palak), or pakoras (gram flour fritters).
- Tempering: For extra flavor, you can prepare a tempering (tadka) of ghee, cumin seeds, dried red chilies, and curry leaves and pour it over the kadhi before serving.
- Leftovers: Kadhi Chawal tastes even better the next day as the flavors have a chance to meld together. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

To sum it up, Kadhi Chawal is a classic North Indian meal that has just the right amount of warming flavours and healthy nutrition. The yoghurt sauce is creamy, and the cooked rice is fluffy. Kadhi Chawal is a healthy meal that tastes great. If you eat Kadhi Chawal for dinner during the week or at a special event, it will make you feel warm and happy.