ahhhh……kichadi

I always turn to this healing Ayurvedic dish when I need a simple cleanse. I prepare kichadi with various vegetables for a few days—to one week—alongside plenty of water, fresh fruits, steamed vegetables, and cumin and coriander kashaya. It always feels cleansing and nourishing.

This dish has endless variations, depending on the herbs, spices and vegetables used. Whenever my tummy feels sensitive, kichadi is always medicine to my body and has the same soothing quality and nostalgia as a bowl of warm porridge.  All healing begins with the digestive tract.  Kichadi is suitable for all body types, and depending on your constitution, a few adjustments to the recipe can help balance out your constitution.

dosha imbalances

• If you tend to have a pitta imbalance, moderate the use of heating spices like pepper, ginger, mustard seeds, and chilli. Imbalances are usually seen in skin rashes, burning sensations, ulcerations, fever, rapid mood changes, and anger.
• Kapha imbalance, avoid extra ghee or oil and yoghurt, which can cause slow digestion and excess mucus. Imbalances are likely seen as colds, congestion, depression, excess weight and headaches.
• Vata imbalance, avoid eating too many cold raw foods and increase the heating of spices. Imbalances may be seen in aching joints, dry skin and hair, nerve disturbances, constipation and mental confusion. A skilled Ayurveda physician can access your pulse and give you the correct information about your constitution.

asafoetida

• It has a strong smell due to its sulphur compounds. Asafoetida is available in solid wax-like pieces or powder form.  When used sparingly, it gives a flavour similar to garlic and shallots in vegetables, stews, and sauces. The smell quickly disappears with cooking. It is a frequent ingredient in Indian dishes, especially as a replacement for garlic and onion, which yoga practitioners do not use in cooking.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but all my recipes don’t use onion or garlic. Garlic and onion are avoided because they can agitate or excite the body and stimulate the nervous system, making meditation practice difficult.

• Another practical use is as a natural pesticide to ward off unwanted animals in the garden.  Mix two tablespoons of powdered asafoetida with 1½ litres of water, shake hard, then apply around plants.

healing kichadi

For a lighter spring or summer kichadi, see the recipe here or here. One of my favourites is this barley kichadi.

ingredients

½ cup whole moong dal (mung beans)

½ cup brown basmati  rice

4 cups/1 litre water

3 cardamom pods

1 cup broccoli or cabbage, finely chopped

1 tsp rock salt

1 tsp jaggery or brown sugar

¼ cup dried shredded coconut

1 heaped tsp finely chopped ginger

voggarane

1 Tbsp  ghee

½ tsp black mustard seeds

1 heaped tsp cumin seeds

1 medium red chilli

10 fresh curry leaves

⅛ tsp asafoetida powder (hingu)

⅛ heaped tsp turmeric powder

juice of half a lemon or more to taste

¼ cup coriander, chopped

1 cup roughly chopped kale

extra ghee for serving

preparation

1. In a heavy saucepan, rinse the rice and dal until the water runs clear, drain, then pour in the 1-litre water, add the cardamom pods and bring to boil, then lower the heat to maintain a rapid simmer – simmer for 15 minutes uncovered, then add the cabbage.
2. Simmer until the dal and rice have broken down and softened—approximately 30 – 40 minutes. You may have to add water as needed. While waiting for the dal and rice to cook, chop the chilli into three pieces, tear the curry leaves in half (this way, everyone is guaranteed to consume a curry leaf and benefit from its medicinal properties), and measure the spices for the voggarane.
3. Add salt, jaggery, dried coconut, and chopped ginger. Simmer for 1-2 minutes more, then turn off the heat, cover, and set aside.

prepare the voggarane

4. Add the ghee and mustard seeds to a small pan over medium heat. When the seeds start to splutter and pop, turn down the heat and add cumin seeds and chopped chilli. Fry until sizzling and fragrant.
5. Add the curry leaves, asafoetida, and turmeric powder and fry for 30 seconds, swishing the pan around to ensure the spices are evenly fried.
6. Pour the voggarane into the cooked dal and rice. Stir in the lemon juice.
7. With your hands, break up the fresh coriander and roughly chopped kale and stir them into the kichadi.  Check for seasoning, adding more salt or lemon if needed.

to serve

Garnish with fresh coriander and drizzle with ghee.  Top with a dollop of spicy avocado puree or plain yoghurt and pickle.

Goodness shared from Stacey