Kitchari, a seasoned mix of rice and mung dal, is a foundational dish to an Ayurvedic way of conscious living. This dish creates harmony in all who eat it and nourishes the cells while helping detoxify.
The basic recipe is 2 parts basmati rice, 1 part dal with balancing spices cooked in ghee before simmering this fast and nutritious dish.
Kitchari – Great dish for fasting
I recommend this dish for all Mega Red Days in the Conscious Calendars (these are the eclipse days which are good for withdrawing from the world and nourishing your soul and body).
This simple dish provides balanced nutrition with plenty of protein, is easy to digest and gives strength and vitality. I am calm and happy when I eat kitchari, I’ve personally noticed.
This is a tridoshic meal, balancing all three doshas or body-types. The recipe below is tridoshic and is from Ayurvedic Cooking for Self-Healing by Usha and Dr. Vasant Lad.
Mung Dal Kitchari – Tridoshic
Serves 4 to 5
1 cup Yellow split mung dal (It’s important to get the split mung dal)
1 cup basmati rice
1 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and chopped fine
2 tblsp. shredded, unsweetened coconut
1 small handful cilantro leaves
1/2 cup water
3 tbsp ghee
1 1/2 inch piece cinnamon bark
5 whole cardamom pods
5 whole cloves
10 black peppercorns
3 bay leaves
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 cups water
Wash the split mung dal until the water is clear. Soak the dal for a few hours then drain; this increases the digestibility. (If you have a hard time digesting beans or want to reduce gas, pre-cook the dal for 20 minutes using the 6 cups of water).
(If you have these ingredients: In a blender, combine the ginger, coconut, cilantro and the 1/2 cup water.)
Heat a large saucepan on medium heat and add the ghee, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, peppercorns and bay leaves. Stir for a moment until fragrant. Add the blended items to the spices, then the turmeric and salt. Stir until lightly browned.
Stir in the mung dal and rice and mix well.
Pour in the 6 cups of water, cover and bring to a boil.Let boil for 5 minutes, then turn turn down heat to low and continue to cook on low, lightly covered until the dal and rice are soft, about 25 – 30 minutes.
This kitchari is especially balancing for all three doshas and is tridoshic.
The best meal on Red Days and Mega Red Days
This is so easy to digest and helps balance body and mind, that it is perfect to eat on the lowest energy of each month or the Red Days adn Mega Red Days, or eclipse days in Conscious Calendars. Our digestion and minds move a little slower on Red Days and especially on solar eclipse days. So, I suggest kitchari or easy to digest vegetable soup on these spiritually charged days.
Photo by CalaJay on Unsplash
