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.
How Can This Ayurvedic Recipe Make You Feel Great?
AYURVEDIC ANALYSIS
Kitchari is Ayurveda's perfect food, indicated in times of recovery as well as plain old digestive discomfort. Kitchari can even be the centerpiece of a mono-diet or fast, as it is a simple food that supplements the healing process. You can try our Kitchari Cleanse Kit today to start your cleanse! As with Chinese congees and Grandma's chicken soups, there are as many ways to make kitchari as there are reasons to consume it. Typical modifications include vegetables such as carrots, greens, zucchini, or potatoes. Spices like cumin, cinnamon, or black pepper can be included, as well as even toasted nuts or coconut. Technically, a kitchari is any dish combining rice and legumes. Typically, however, kitcharies use mung beans because they are the easiest legume to digest. This kitchari is especially suited to Vata dosha.
Ayurveda's signature healing recipe is a simple yet dynamic bean and rice mixture called kitchari. Kitchari is a cleansing yet heart warming synergy of mung beans, basmati rice, and digestive spices. It is a complete protein, rich in fiber, cleansing to the digestive tract, and will act to bulk up stools for easier elimination, making it a great healing meal for a Vata imbalance! Those who avoid beans because of digestive difficulties need not avoid kitchari. Mung beans are among the easiest to digest legumes. They are natural antacid, helping to soothe fiery digestive conditions, and won't promote gas and bloating.
What makes spices a great Ayurvedic remedy?
As a staple in the Ayurvedic diet, spices are the difference between a tasty meal and a bland one, and also the difference between healthy and poor digestion. A well-spiced dish digests better than a bland one. Just as spices stimulate the tongue, spices also stimulate the stomach. The tongue is a mirror of the digestive tract. This Vata kitchari recipe contains Asafoetida, also called hing. It is a sharp and heating spice that stimulates the tongue. As with all spices, hing not only makes food more interesting - it also has many health promoting qualities. Hing assists digestion, soothes spasms, and prevents and expels gas. The spice's pungency stimulates the body to increase blood flow and gastric juices to the intestines. The extra juice and enhanced blood flow improves your digestion in the process. Reach for spices with enthusiasm, but remember: Too much spice is harsh and can leave a burning feeling the intestines. Pay mind to your body's reaction to spices. Those with ulcers or inflammation will not benefit from an ingredient with the spicy strength of hing, but it is helpful for those with sluggish digestion.
Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. An Ayurvedic diet is
tailored to your individual body type and the specific imbalances you are working with
at any given time. Ayurveda shows you your specific body type’s needs and what
should be favored in your Ayurvedic menu. Watch as you eat less but feel more satisfied because what you
are eating truly nourishes you. Since Ayurveda believes all disease begins in the digestive
tract, food is your first medicine. By eating a healthy diet that’s ideal for your body, you
experience optimal health.
Is Mung Dal Kitchari (Vata Reducing) Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?
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 for you. Time to complete: approximately 1 minute.
AYURVEDIC MEDICINAL QUALITIES
INCREASES
Increases These Qualities (Gunas)
Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main characteristics
(gunas).
Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance.
By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick.
Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold).
You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic.
Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food.
Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body.
Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food.
Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods.
Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion.
Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste.
One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes.
The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent.
Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?
People tend to get sick, over and over again, due to similar causes and habitual imbalances that are unique to the person.
Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness.
Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency.
Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses.
The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history.
The 3 functional body types
(doshas),
are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).
Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy.
Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy.
Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass.
Catabolic people tend to be easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry.
Metabolic people tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed.
Anabolic people are heavy, stable and grounded, but if they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion.
Sattvic foods promote awareness and a refreshed mind by nourishing the body without taxing digestion. Sattvic foods do not stimulate desire or nervous energy. They create clarity instead of drowsiness or heaviness.
Prana is the Sanskrit word for vital life energy, similar to Qi in Chinese Medicine. Many herbs stimulate your energy, or improve the flow of prana through your body. Generally, prana needs to be increased in spring after a sleepy winter.
Ojas is the essence of healthy tissue, immunity, stable energy and happiness. Substances that improve ojas are recommended after long-term illness, debility, emotional and physical trauma, and even sadness.
Herbs that increase tejas improve metabolism & brightness by stimulating the fire element at a cellular level. Destroys toxicity, excess fluids, & improves digestion. Also helps with mental function such as poor memory, lack of inspiration & depression.
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary.
The list of actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.
Bone & Joint:
Antiarthritic
ANTIARTHRITIC
Herbs that ease arthritic pain and promote joint health.
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.
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.
Herbs which stimulate blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus. They are used to increase scanty menstruation, relieve menstrual pain, and other functions.
John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a
healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda.
His approach to Ayurveda exudes a certain ease, which many find enjoyable and insightful.
His online course Balance Your Ayurvedic Diet in a Week provides tools for gracefully healing with Ayurveda to thousands.
John also directs Joyful Belly's School of Ayurveda
, which specializes in digestive tract pathology & Ayurvedic nutrition.
John and his wife Natalie recently published Explore Your Hunger: A Guide to Hunger, Appetite & Food.
John's interest in Ayurveda and digestive tract pathology was inspired by a complex digestive disorder acquired from years of international travel, including his public service work in South Asia.
John's commitment to the detailed study of digestive disorders reflects his zeal to get down to the roots of the problem. His hope and belief in the capacity of each & every client to improve their quality of life is nothing short of a personal passion.
John's creativity in the kitchen and delight in cooking for others comes from his family oriented upbringing.
In addition to his certification in Ayurveda, John holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University.
John enjoys sharing Ayurveda within the context of his Catholic roots,
and finds Ayurveda gives him an opportunity to participate in the healing mission of the Church.
Jesus expressed God's love by feeding and healing the sick.
That kindness is the fundamental ministry of Ayurveda as well.
Comments & Impressions of 'Mung Dal Kitchari (vata Reducing)'
Do you like 'mung dal kitchari (vata reducing)'?
Why or why not?
What makes it unique? Is there something 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.
Love your recipe for kitchari, John. Freshly grated coconut or coconut milk made from freshly grated coconut would be a great addition to the recipe. I give it 5 stars!
Is there a slow cooker version? Can I just add everything to a slower cooker without frying the spices I find frying spices make them dark and unappetizing . Thanks for the recipie can't wait o try it.
Dear Jenn, Caraway and ajwain are different spices. I usually use the whole ajwain seed. Hing is also different from fennel. Hing is made from a resin and never appears in seed form. Thanks for asking! Warm Regards,
Can you please tell me if one would use brown basmati rice or white - does it make a difference? Also, when using as a cleansing, how much should you eat per day?
Thank you!
Dear Helen, Make sure the dal is completely cooked before you add the rice. Otherwise the rice will soak up all the water and the dal will remain hard.
An Ayurvedic practitioner told me that whole mung beans are better to be used in Kitchari because it is less constipating. I found various sources online that argue both. Which is your opinion?
The spices cooking in the ghee fills the house with the most tantalizing aroma. I can hardly wait the hour and half it takes to fully cook... but oh so worth it. Delicious!
- Catherine Inglese, Studio city, CA, 08-22-13 (Reply)
I have done a 4 days kitchari cleanse and became so constipated that I couldn't go on longer with it. I drink plenty of filtered water. Any suggestions to avoid that situation? I really would love to do a longer cleanse. Or is this protocol not suitable for me? I am Pitta-Vata (almost even). Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks for verifying the cook dal first thing. I can't believe some of the recipes I've seen online for kitcheri--no wonder it has a reputation for causing constipation!
Oh my goodness! My first Ayurvedic recipe--I needed to acquire the proper spices and order mung dal, which isn't available locally. The first batch was a bit bland because I was hesitant to add all the spices called for. The second batch was much better, and now I'll begin using more/different spices as I learn the Indian tastes. After a lifetime of failing miserably to be healthy on western foods, I think I've found the cuisine that works for me. I have a Joyful Belly!! ? Yay!
Is it meant to be dry? Mine totally absorbed all the water and is quite dry, tasty but dry... I also added some veggies and nuts at the end.I assume if I want more wet just add more water with the rice??ThanksM
Yes Martine, if you want your kitchari to be more soupy, add more water.
- Kimberly Kubicke, Asbury park, NJ, 07-25-17 (Reply)
I followed this recpe and soaked split mung beans with Brown Basmati rice; the only spice I did not have was ajwain. During cooking the food was very sticky to the pan and I had to add water numerous times. I was concerned that the brown rice would not cook thoroughly as the water was reduced. The flavor was very good but I experienced a lot of gas. I normally do not have gas from Kitchari. Kindly advise your thoughts. I am tridoshic.D Swann
Dear Deborah - Did you cook the mung beans on their own for a good while as the recipe instructs? They need much more cooking time than the rice.
- Kimberly Kubicke, Asbury park, NJ, 06-12-18 (Reply)
This is nasty. It's easy to make but tastes like crap. I don't consider myself a picky eater! I will pretty much eat everything! But I could not eat this. Did anyone else find the taste of this to be very unappealing? This is my first recipe of kitchari that I've experimented with. I had to order the ingredients for this recipe on amazon because I couldn't find them anywhere. I'll probably never use them again. Haha! Oh well. Anyway, hopefully I can find a recipe that i like for kitchari.
We have several other kitchari recipes on the site you might try if you did not like this one.
- Kimberly Kubicke, Asbury park, NJ, 09-04-18 (Reply)
Everyone has different tastebuds, but I find it to be delicious, and more importantly, makes my stomach feel so good. Ajwain was suggested as a spice that might be beneficial for my liver and kidneys, as well as help with indigestion and gas, and it happens to add a flavor that I love as well. Thanks so much for the recipe!I have made this recipe several times and always return to it.
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