Mung Dal Kitchari (vata Reducing) |
| 2 tbsp | |
| 4 c | |
| 1 tsp | |
| 1 tsp | |
| 1 c | |
| 1 inch | |
| 1/2 tsp | |
| 1/2 tsp | |
| 1/2 c | |
| 1/4 tsp | |
| 1/4 tsp |
Optional: Add 1 tbsp jaggery (raw sugar).
1. Use split mung bean if possible.
2. Soak the mung beans for several hours before cooking and drain.
3. Bring the mung beans and 4 cups of water to a boil, scooping off any foam that forms on the top. Then, strain out the liquid, and add another 4c to the mung dal.
4. Meanwhile mash the ginger with a mortar and pestle, or slice thinly. Set the mustard seed aside. Mix the remaining spices together with 1 tsp water, making a paste.
5. Fry the mustard seeds in ghee until they begin to pop.
6. Add the spice paste, spreading it in the pan, and fry for thirty seconds.
7. Add the spices to mung bean. Take some of the broth and wash any remaining spices from the frying pan into the simmering mung bean.
8. After an hour, or when mung beans begin to soften add white basmati rice and another cup of water. If you are going to use brown rice, be sure to add an extra cup of water and cook for longer - until the rice is soft.
9. Cook until tender on low heat for 20-25 minutes.
Constitutional nutrition is tailored to the individual. In the kitchen, especially during your family’s formative years, you shape your family's lifelong health.
Understanding your child's constitution is key to raising resilience, instead of wiring in disease. Study constitutional medicine to discover the keys to personalized nourishment.
Rooted in the insights curated from Ayurveda and Greek medicine, constitutional medicine teaches you which foods match your body, so you and your family have true vitality, strength, and balance. See How it Works.
Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Mung Dal Kitchari (Vata Reducing)' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed, Cumin, Water, Turmeric, Ginger (Fresh), Salt (Mineral Salt), Hing (Asafoetida), Ajwain, Mung Bean
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed, Basmati Rice, Cumin, Ghee, Hing (Asafoetida), Ginger (Fresh), Mung Bean, Ajwain
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed, Hing (Asafoetida), Ginger (Fresh), Ajwain, Turmeric
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed, Cumin, Ajwain, Ginger (Fresh), Turmeric, Mung Bean
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed, Cumin, Hing (Asafoetida), Turmeric, Ajwain
Active Ingredients: Cumin, Mustard Seed, Salt (Mineral Salt), Hing (Asafoetida), Ginger (Fresh), Ajwain
Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.
Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.
Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.
The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).
Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.
Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed, Cumin, Ginger (Fresh), Hing (Asafoetida), Ajwain
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed, Ajwain
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed
MILD QUENCHES-THIRST An herb or substance that relieves thirst.
Active Ingredients: Water
STRONG DIGESTIVE Herbs that encourage healthy digestion.
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed, Cumin, Turmeric, Ginger (Fresh), Hing (Asafoetida), Ajwain, Salt (Mineral Salt)
STRONG CARMINATIVE Stimulates the release of gas. Helpful for bloating or cramping abdominal pain. Propels food downward. Carminatives typically expel gas by relaxing the muscles of the intestines.
Active Ingredients: Cumin, Mustard Seed, Hing (Asafoetida), Ginger (Fresh), Turmeric, Ajwain
Active Ingredients: Water, Ghee
STRONG INTERNAL-DETOXICANT Liquefies, dissolves, decongests or dislodges internal stagnant toxins. Decongests the lymphatic system.
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed, Cumin, Water, Ginger (Fresh), Turmeric, Hing (Asafoetida), Ghee, Salt (Mineral Salt), Mung Bean, Ajwain
STRONG BURNS-TOXINS An herb that detoxifies by helping your body metabolize toxins, as opposed to eliminating them.
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed, Cumin, Hing (Asafoetida), Turmeric, Ginger (Fresh), Ajwain
STRONG WAKES-YOU-UP Invigorates the body and nervous system, increases energy.
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed, Ginger (Fresh), Ajwain
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed, Salt (Mineral Salt)
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed
STRONG STIMULATES-ENERGY This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs.
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed, Hing (Asafoetida), Ginger (Fresh), Ajwain
MILD SATISFIES-STOMACH Provides a sense of gratification and fullness in the stomach.
Active Ingredients: Basmati Rice, Mung Bean
MILD REFRESHING Stimulates and wakes up the body, leaving it feeling cool, fresh, and energized.
Active Ingredients: Ginger (Fresh), Ajwain
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed
STRONG WARMS-CHEST Warms the chest and lungs, clearing mucus and allowing for clear breathing. Often these herbs are hot, aromatic, and pungent.
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed, Turmeric
STRONG FLUSHES-SINUSES An herb that relieves sinus congestion by flushing out mucus.
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed, Turmeric, Salt (Mineral Salt)
STRONG IRRITATES-THROAT Creates abrasive feeling in the back of the mouth. May stimulate coughing.
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed, Ginger (Fresh)
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed
STRONG ANTHELMINTHIC Kills parasitic worms (hookworms, tapeworms, roundworms, etc).
Active Ingredients: Cumin, Hing (Asafoetida), Turmeric, Ajwain
Active Ingredients: Turmeric, Ginger (Fresh)
STRONG CARDIAC-STIMULANT Herbs that increase the heart rate. Useful in cardiovascular health, blood stagnation, and subjective feeling of heaviness in the chest area.
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed, Ginger (Fresh), Ajwain
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed
STRONG VASODILATOR A vasodilator is an herb that widens the blood vessels by the relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls, thereby increasing circulation systemically or to a local area.
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed, Ginger (Fresh), Turmeric, Hing (Asafoetida), Ajwain
STRONG DIURETIC Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed, Cumin, Ajwain, Mung Bean
Active Ingredients: Turmeric, Ghee, Salt (Mineral Salt)
STRONG GALACTAGOGUE Increases production of breast milk, often by raising prolactin and diaphoresis.
Active Ingredients: Cumin, Ginger (Fresh)
STRONG EMMENAGOGUE Herbs which stimulate menstruation. Emmenagogues are used for scanty menstruation, to relieve menstrual pain, and improve blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus.
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed, Hing (Asafoetida), Turmeric
Active Ingredients: Turmeric, Hing (Asafoetida)
STRONG ANTIARTHRITIC Herbs that ease arthritic pain and promote joint health.
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed, Ginger (Fresh), Turmeric
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed
STRONG ANTISPASMODIC Herbs that reduce or inhibit muscle spasms or cramping, such as in asthma, menstruation, heart palpitations, migraine, or IBS.
Active Ingredients: Mustard Seed, Cumin, Turmeric, Ginger (Fresh), Hing (Asafoetida), Ajwain
MILD 5A-REDUCTASE-INHIBITOR Active Ingredients: Turmeric
MILD FLAVONOIDS Flavonoids are a colorful type of polyphenol. As all polyphenols, they have a strong antioxidant effect. Many flavonoids have an anti-inflammatory, and/or antiallergen effect.
Active Ingredients: Turmeric
MILD FATS Active Ingredients: Ghee
MILD TANNINS Active Ingredients: Mung Bean
MILD CARBOHYDRATE Active Ingredients: Basmati Rice
MILD SODIUM Active Ingredients: Salt (Mineral Salt)
John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle through constitutional nutrition (Ayurveda & Greek Medicine). His approach is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful. John also directs the Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda, offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.
John's hobbies & specialties include advanced digestive disorders, medieval Catholic philosophy, & botany. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University. John, his wife Natalie and their 8 kids live in Asheville, NC
Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’
Do you like 'mung dal kitchari (vata reducing)'? Why or why not? What makes it unique? Is there something else you'd like to know about 'mung dal kitchari (vata reducing)'?
There are many variations of kitchari. Your suggestions are good ones. Adding cooked garlic and onion can help sedate Vata.
Plantains could create a food combination for weak digestion. If your intent is to enjoy kitchari and you can digest it, plantains are an exciting variation. Otherwise, if you are using kitchari to cleanse, I would stick with the simpler version presented here. If you find you need some variety, try adding carrots, kale, or coconut flakes.
Dear Terri,
Mung beans are easier to digest than most other beans. Unless your digestion is very weak, most Vata types can handle split mung dal. The spices also help. Vata people should include the mung beans in this recipe.
Thank you everybody for your comments, questions, and suggestions.
Warm Regards, John"
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