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Khichari

Khichri is used as one pot meal in many ayurvedic detox treatments, mono diet  and fasting programs.  Khichari means mixture, usually of rice and some variety of beans. Generally, Khichari is made from rice and split mung beans(mung dal).

This is easy to make and easy to digest recipe of khichari.

Ingredients-

1 cup basmati rice or any other variety of rice( Note: cooking time will change in case you choose different rice than basmati rice)
½  cup mung dal (split yellow)
6 cups (approx.) water
2 cm ginger root, chopped or grated
 ¼ tsp of salt  or as per taste)
2 tsp. ghee
1/2 tsp. coriander powder
1/2 tsp. cumin powder
1/2 tsp. whole cumin seeds
1/2 tsp. mustard seeds
1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
1 pinch asafoetida (hing, optional)

Handful of fresh coriander leaves for garnishing
1 and 1/2 cups assorted vegetables of your choice (optional)

Choose vegetables as per dosha.

Preparation method-

1.Wash rice and dal separately in at least 2 changes of water. Keep on the side.

2. In a heavy pan heat the ghee. Add whole mustard, cumin and let it pop. Add hing, turmeric, powdered cumin, coriander and fresh ginger,sauté it for a minute on low flame to release the flavours.

Make sure to keep the flame low or powdered spices might burn.

3. Add washed rice and dal. Sauté for 2-3 min.

4.Add finely cut vegetables and sauté for another couple of minutes.

5. Add the 6 cups of water and salt to taste.  Stir the mixture.  Cook covered until it becomes soft, about 20 minutes.

While cooking, stir occasionally to check the consistency. Add extra water if necessary to make softer khichri.

Add chopped fresh coriander leaves and serve hot.

Variations-

Vata- Add extra ghee on top after serving

Pitta- Leave out mustard seeds. Reduce amount of spices if necessary

Kapha-Add a pinch of dry ginger powder

Variation of mung beans-

  1. Use whole mung beans in pale of mung dal. In that case remember to soak the mung beans in water for 6 to 8 hours or overnight before cooking.
  2. Sprouted( small sprouts of 1 or 2 days) can also be used in place of mung dal.

Mung Dal Yellow

Green Mung Dal

Whole Mung Beans

Sprouted Mung Beans

**Vegetables for khichari – Choose as per dosha

Carrot, French beans, onion, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, cabbage, green peas, fennel bulb, potatoes, parsnips, celery root, zucchini, capsicum, tomatoes, etc