How to Make Kitchari the Ayurvedic Way

When you cook rice and dal mixed then these two staples of Ayurveda combine into a delicious thick soup like dish called kitchari. Kitchari is very easy to digest and is a nutritious and whole food that will sustain you. It makes a delicious meal and balances all the three doshas as described in Ayurveda.

Ayurpvedic-pizza

Duration: 1hr

Kitchari The Ayurvedic Way

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The recipe is simple and does not require any grueling work on your part.

  • 1 cup rice
  • ½ cup yellow mung dal
  • 6 cups water
  • 3 teaspoons spices of your choice
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 tbs ghee
  • Chopped vegetables (optional)
  • Take a medium saucepan and warm the ghee and add the spices for your choice.
  • Add the rice and mung dal and sauté for couple of minutes.
  • To this mixture add the water and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce the flame to medium-low and cover the saucepan to cook the mixture for 30-45 minutes till the rice and dal become tender.
  • If you wish to add vegetables then you should add the vegetables that take longer to cook halfway through the procedure of cooking the kitchari, and the ones that take less time to cook should be added towards the end.
  • You can add more water if necessary. Kitchari has the consistency that a vegetable stew has and should be eaten hot or warm
  • The rice and lentil combination in traditional Indian kitchari provides the right combination of dietary fiber, carbohydrates and protein. This meal is gluten free and contains within itself all the 10 essential amino acids which means that it is a complete source of protein. White rice is full of essential minerals and vitamins like potassium, vitamin B, folic acid, phosphorous and manganese.
  • The mung dal is also a rich source of protein and other vitamins and minerals. Apart from ayurvedic doctors, even allopathic doctors advise people to have kitchari when you are ill. The balancing of the doshas means that you will naturally keep good health according to Ayurveda and the nutrional benefits mentioned here are the reasons that modern doctors recommend kitchari to their patients.
  • If you have an upset stomach then kitchari is the best food for you. This is because kitchari is very easy to digest. In case of loose motions you should cook the kitchari without spices adding only salt and turmeric. This will help a lot in setting your health right. In case of loose motions it is a good idea to accompany the kitchari meal with yoghurt. If your stomach is upset then you should make the consistency of the kitchari even thinner. Kitchari tends to become thick when cooled, so it is advisable to add more water than you think is necessary.
  • Kitchari is the ultimate Indian comfort food and is cooked in almost all Indian households regardless of region or state. Throughout India there are different recipes for making kitchari. In fact, there are different recipes in different households. The spices added to kitchari are widely varied and Ayurveda also advises cooking kitchari with grains other than rice like millet and jowar.