Ayurvedic Mung Bean Or Lentil And Rice Stew Recipe

This recipe for kitchari is a soupy ayurvedic mung bean and rice stew. Kitchari (mishmash in hindi) is traditionally used as a restorative food after illness or childbirth, but also as part of the ayurvedic cleansing protocol called panchakarma. This simple dish is composed of rice and mung or lentil dal cooked with spices. It is great to eat if you are doing a home cleanse. The chinese think very highly of mung beans as food for detoxification, and kitchari is particularly strengthening for the stomach, liver and large intestine. This recipe is an adaptation of vasant lads original. Unlike contemporary ayurvedic cleansing recipes, this one utilizes whole grain rice which has excellent nutritive properties, and olive oil instead of ghee (clarified butter). You can either grind your own spices (our preference) or use pre-ground spices for this dish.