Kitchari Cleanse #1 Recipes

Kitchari Cleanse #1

This traditonal Indian dish as many variations but always delivers gentle gut medicine. Kitchari helps for when you need lighter meals for a day or more, are healing digestive issues or you gut is unsettled for whatever reason, or maybe your sick and need easy to digest nourishment for increased immune system energy. It's our go-to for seasonal shifts, during stressful times the gut is distressed, or giving the body a break after over-indulging during holiday gatherings too. Often it's just a perfectly warm morning breakfast here.

Serves: 4-6 - stores well in refrigerator to use up in 2-3 days

​INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup yellow mung beans
• 1/2 cup basmati rice (option: double mung beans and leave rice out)
• 4-5 cups water
• 2 Tbsp ghee, coconut or sesame oil
• 1 tsp cumin seeds - black cumin seeds work too
• 1 tsp brown mustard seeds
• 1 cloves fresh garlic, minced (optional)
• 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
• 1 bunch cilantro leaves, washed and chopped finely
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp black pepper - reduce if the heat is too much for you
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
• 2 pinches clove powder
• 2 pinches cayenne (optional: added just before serving) 
• Lime wedges + extra fresh cilantro for serving

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Soak mung beans and basmati rice for at least 30 minutes and rinse well.
2. Measure out and prepare all your spices first. 
3. Warm ghee/oil in a small heavy skillet and add all spices except cayenne for the end. Sizzle for 1 minute.
4. Add the fresh cilantro, stir to sizzle 1 minute and then add the rinsed basmati rice and mung beans and stir 1 minute.
5. Add 4 cups water and bring to a slow simmer. Simmer for about 30 to 40 minutes.
6. Add more water as needed to get the consistency you like. Add cayenne. Stir well.
7. Serve with fresh lime, more fresh chopped cilantro, and an optional spoonful of plain yogurt,

New to all the spices? (These are the medicine.)
Maybe your pantry needs an update on some of the ingredients?
Have a palate that needs simple?

You can still start anyway. Take a look at the simplest Kitchari recipe below as a starting option. Children enjoy this one too.

Gentle Start Kitchari Recipe: with a little less spices if you need an easier start.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup yellow mung beans
• 1/2 cup basmati rice
• 4 cups water
• 1 tablespoon ghee, coconut, sesame, or avocado oil
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger, or a pinch of ground ginger powder
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

​
For Garnish: fresh cilantro, plain yogurt, and slices of lime

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Soak mung beans and basmati rice for at least 30 minutes and rinse well.
2. Measure out and prepare all your spices first. 
3. Warm ghee in a small heavy skillet and add all spices and stir while sizzling for 1-2 minutes.
4. Add the cilantro, stir to sizzle 1 minute and then add the rinsed basmati rice and mung beans and stir 1 minute 
5. Add 4 cups water and bring to a slow simmer, stir occasionally for about 30 to 40 minutes.
6. Add more water as needed to get the consistency you like.
7. Serve with lime and more fresh chopped cilantro.

​​Enjoy! Much Love, Jen