India – Khichdi

This dish is one I had never heard of before coming to India, and for many it may seem like an odd choice for a recipe to represent a country well known for such diverse curries and thalis.

However, this dish is as classic and well known in Indian culture as any staple dish to you or I. This dish was served throughout childhoods, as a comfort food when feeling sick, and is still regularly eaten as part of a family meal.

The first thing that sprang into my mind when I ate it was a hug in a bowl. Savoury, buttery and warming, it’s almost as if someone combined a risotto with a lentil dhal – and it’s wonderful.

So about the place I discovered this wonderful dish… Varanasi Diljeet Cafe. Truth be told, I hadn’t planned on going there for lunch, and had my plans to visit elsewhere. But something kept telling me not to stick to my initial plan, and so after a quick scan online, this cafe came up as one of the highest rated, and I decided to go.

 

When you enter, you almost feel as if you are entering someone’s home, greeted by family and welcomed into a large, airy living space, complete with low tables and floor cushions.

The high, open windows allow a glimpse of the busy streets below, and a hum of 50s Indian music plays from the radio in the corner. Quite simply, it’s an oasis. The rooftop evokes a similar feel, with spaces to relax and unwind and watch the city light up at night.

 

College friends and business partners Diljeet, Bhupendra and Atul opened this beautiful cafe in October 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, which may seem like a crazy idea to some – but to them this was a dream from childhood, and having worked in restaurants pre-Covid, it seemed like their now or never moment.

 

The name of the cafe very obviously came from Diljeet, who is the Chef behind the recipes at Varanasi Diljeet Cafe.

From only the age of 8, having just lost her Father, Diljeet began cooking to look after her Grandmother, preparing meals before going to school and again as soon as she returned. Learning to cook this way has given her a familiarity around ingredients that resulted in her not measuring anything, and creating recipes based purely on instinct. She has honed these skills over the years to deliver a menu in her cafe that is all home-style cooking, always with the freshest ingredients, and always from scratch.

 

After one year of business, Diljeet, Bhupendra and Atul launched a crowdfunding campaign and brought on a fourth partner, Anurag. Their restaurant is now one of the highest rated in Varanasi, yet still maintains its authentic family feel. Their dream is to open more cafes outside of India promoting the same kind of dishes, to show us that Indian food is more than just the curry classics we associate it with. 

 

A reminder that your purchase supports Diljeet, Bhupendra, Atul and Anurag in the continued running of the wonderful Varanasi Diljeet Cafe, and the more you are able to donate towards this recipe, the more they will receive to ensure traditional recipes like this are kept alive for future generations.