Kedgeree facts for kids
Kedgeree
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| Place of origin | India/Scotland |
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| Main ingredients | Rice, smoked haddock, eggs, parsley, butter or cream |
Kedgeree is a tasty dish that mixes cooked, flaky fish with rice, fresh parsley, and hard-boiled eggs. It often includes a touch of curry powder, butter, or cream. The fish traditionally used is haddock that has been smoked. Sometimes, you might even find sweet sultanas (dried grapes) in it!
You can enjoy kedgeree warm or cold. While smoked haddock is the classic choice, other fish like tuna or salmon can also be used. However, these are not part of the original recipe.
In India, there's a similar dish called khichari. This is a wide variety of dishes made with legumes (like lentils) and rice. Each khichari recipe uses its own special mix of spices. The British later changed this Indian dish a lot, creating kedgeree, which looks quite different from the original khichari.
The History of Kedgeree
Kedgeree is believed to have come from an Indian dish called khichuṛī. This rice-and-bean or rice-and-lentil dish has been around since at least 1340. Many people think that British people brought kedgeree to the United Kingdom. They had enjoyed it while living in India during the British Raj (British rule).
When they returned home, they introduced it as a breakfast dish. This happened during the Victorian era, becoming a popular part of Anglo-Indian cuisine.
One of the earliest mentions of kedgeree in a recipe book was in 1790. This book belonged to Stephana Malcolm from Burnfoot, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. The book The Scottish Kitchen suggests that Scottish soldiers might have created the dish. They probably missed the flavors of India while serving there.
The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb loved a version of khichdi called Alamgiri Khichdi. This special type included fish and boiled eggs. Later, during the time of British rule, this version became known as kedgeree. The British then took this recipe back to their own country. By the 1800s, kedgeree had become a fancy breakfast or brunch meal in England.
See also
In Spanish: Kedgeree para niños
