This one-pot iconic Indian comfort dish was served on all 5 days of World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos

Time and again, Indian food has marked its presence on the global platforms. The most recent one was at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where Indian food emerged as the star among all the other international delicacies being served during the 5-day celebration. As per a PTI report, at one of the food courts, the Akshaya Patra Foundation served khichdi to delegates and the response was overwhelming. As per reports, they served 1000 daily servings of khichdi to attendees in the cold. In a video posted on X by PTI, a visitor from Japan on tasting khichdi said, "Eating this feels like home. It is so good to have this warm food in this cold." The counters also served dishes like samosas and pakoras.

A delegate from Japan told PTI that the dish was both comforting and practical. “It is extremely cold here. Eating khichdi feels very good and keeps me warm. There are many food options available, but I chose this because it suits the weather perfectly,” the delegate said.Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma shared an image of the Indian food truck at Davos, calling it one of the highlights of the summit. “India food truck for desi veggies. EU pitching India deal as the mother of all deals. India is definitely happening at Davos,” he wrote.

It is a traditional one-pot Indian dish made with rice, lentils, veggies and spices, and is further tempered with cumin, ghee, and hing. It is light on the stomach, easy to digest, and is packed with essential nutrients. In Ayurveda, also spelled as Kitchari, it is esteemed as a nourishing and balancing dish, often utilized for its therapeutic benefits. Popularly made with rice and moong dal, it is considered tridoshic, meaning it can balance all three doshas—vata, pitta, and kapha, which makes it a suitable dish for all age groups.

It is said to be light on the stomach and the combination of rice and lentils provides prebiotics, which aids good gut bacteria. In Ayurveda, it is often used in cleansing therapies like Panchakarma to help eliminate toxins from the body.

It is believed that the pairing of rice and moong dal creates a complete protein supply, especially all essential amino acids, which makes it a wholesome meal that nourishes body and overall health as well. It is light, soft, and gentle on the stomach, and as per Ayurveda, it is ideal during illness, recovery, fasting days, or gut issues.

It is low in calories and fat, which makes it a lighter meal that aids weight loss. It keeps you full for longer and prevents unhealthy snacking. And the use of spices like turmeric and cumin enhance digestion.

Khichdi is a very versatile dish and one can play around the ingredients to suit the body needs. If you need more fiber, you can add fibrous vegetables in it. And if you are diabetic, you may use barley instead of rice for effective weight loss.

No khichdi is complete without a dollop of ghee on top. In Ayurveda, ghee is considered a superfood that balances all three doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) and promotes longevity and vitality. It contains butyric acid, which nourishes the gut lining and reduces inflammation. It also helps reduce acidity and internal heat and keep the gut light. It slows down glucose absorption, preventing sugar spikes and the presence of omega-3 and omega-9 fatty acids support cognitive health. Even celebrity nutrition expert Luke Coutinho also swears by khichdi as a "superfood" and a complete, balanced, one-pot meal that aids digestion, gut health, and immunity. He advocates for it as a nutritious, affordable staple that can be easily customized with veggies, millets, and spices for daily consumption.

The most popular versions of this one-pot meals include Moong Dal Khichdi, Urad Dal Khichdi, Pongal, Andhra’s Keema Khichdi,Gujarati Khichdi, Karnataka’s Bisi Bele Bhath, Bihari Khichdi, Sabudana Khichdi, Bengali Khichuri, Rajasthani Bajra Khichdi and more.

Ingredients: 1/2 cup dhuli moong dal, 3/5 cup rice, 2 tbsp ghee, 2 tsp cumin seeds, 1 tbsp garlic, 2 green chillies, 1 tomato, 1 tsp turmeric powder, salt to taste, 1 tsp red chilli powder, 2 tbsp coriander leaves, 1/2 tsp hing, 2 dried red chillies, and ghee for tempering
Method: Wash rice and dal, keep it aside. Heat a pressure cooker, add ghee, cumin, and dried red chillies. Let them splutter. Add chopped garlic and saute it well. Also, add chopped tomatoes, cook for 2 minutes. Add rice and dal along with spices and mix well. Cook for 2-4 minutes. Add 2 cups of water and pressure cook for 2 whistles. Let the pressure release naturally. Make a tempering of ghee, hing, and red chilli powder. Top it on the prepared khichdi, mix well, and serve hot.
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