Ayurvedic Comfort Food
Kitchari | Khichari | Kichari means “mixture”, noted for being a cleansing food in Ayurvedic medicine.
Kitchari
Kitchari is typically a blend of rice and mung beans cooked into either a wet or a dry dish. You can buy dried mung beans whole and green, or split into little yellow nuggets. For the purpose of this recipe we used split mung because it doesn’t require soaking, and cooks faster.
Kitchari is recommended for Vata Dosha. If you missed previous posts then check out Insights Into Ayurveda with Laura Plumb our Ayurveda partner. Laura’s knowledge runs deep, and she has a lot to share on how to eat well using Ayurvedic principles.
In terms of food, if you’re a Vata dosha then to maintain balance you need warm, nourishing food with plenty of fat and warm spices. This is because Vata is dominated by the elements air and space which run cold.
In the final post of our Ayurvedic series this comfort food recipe is delicious on its own, topped with a dollop of yoghurt, toasted cashews or a mild mango chutney.
Interview with Laura, Meg and Jane
Don’t forget to check out Laura’s interview with Meg and Jane on youtube here.
Kitchari
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp ghee
- 1/2 onion
- 1 1/2 tsp ginger
- 1 1/2 tsp garlic
- 1 tbsp curry powder
- 1/2 cup moong dal rinsed in colander under cold water, and drained
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 2 cups broth * for stovetop version increase liquid to 4 cups
- 1/2 tsp (seaweed) salt
Toppings
- cilantro
- 1/2 cup cashew nuts, toasted
- mango chutney and yogurt
Instructions
Pressure Cook
- 1) Heat oil on sauté function; soften the onion for 3 minutes
- 2) Turn off sauté; stir in the ginger, garlic and curry powder
- 3) Stir in the mung dal, rice, and broth
- 4) Secure the cooker lid, seal pressure valve; cook on Manual/Pressure for 5 minutes
- 5) Vent with Quick Pressure Release and serve
Stove Top
- 1) In a large saucepan heat ghee on medium and soften the onion for 3 minutes
- 2) Stir in the ginger, garlic and curry powder to coat
- 3) Stir in the mung dal, rice, and broth and bring to the boil
- 4) Reduce the heat and cover the pot for 20-30 minutes until soft
Zen Moment
“Possessing strength and stillness is a sign of balance: power and serenity combined in one moment. It’s challenging enough to hold either one, let alone both, in perfect equipoise, but that is the goal if we want to be balanced.”
― Sebastian Pole
