the healing power of kitchari
If I really want to give my digestion the TLC it deserves—like when much of the body’s resources are being summoned to alleviate an infection or I sense my body is going through emotional healing—I like to go on a "kitchari fast.” The nice thing about this Ayurvedic form of cleansing is that it's nourishing enough to keep you going all day, while allowing your body to devote more of its resources to healing the body. Digestion requires a lot of energy, so this respite from the daily digestion grind does the body good.
The split and de-skinned mungs (called moong dal) are easy to digest, even for weakened digestive tracts. I made the kitchari above with quinoa , but I normally choose organic white Basmati rice. Add veggie or bone broth in lieu of water and, with all those wonderful Indian spices, you have yourself one satisfying and gut-nurturing meal!
my easy recipe
*adapted from Banyan Botanicals
Ingredients
• 3/4 cup white basmati rice
• 1/4 cup organic yellow split mung dal
• 4 cups bone broth, vegetable broth, or water
• 1 tablespoon ghee (+ more for serving)
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
• ½ teaspoon Himalayan or Celtic sea salt (+ more to taste)
• ½ teaspoon turmeric
optional:
• ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
• 1 sheet kombu (sea vegetable high in iodine)
Directions:
Wash rice and mung dal and soak for 2-3 hours or overnight. Drain soak water.
In a saucepan, warm the ghee over medium heat. Add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds, and ginger, and sauté for one to two minutes. Add rice and mung beans and sauté for another couple of minutes. Then add 4 cups of broth or water and bring to a boil.
Once the kitchari has come to a boil, add the salt, turmeric, fennel and kombu (if using), and reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and cook until everything is tender (approximately 25-40 minutes).
If you need to add more water to prevent scorching, please do so. The consistency should be that of a vegetable stew as opposed to a broth.
Garnish to suit your taste, i.e. ghee, avocado, fresh lime juice, more salt, black pepper.
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