Simple Healing Kichari
Updated: May 8
"The possession of anything begins in the mind.”
- Bruce Lee
Kichari is a simple dish to support the purification of body and mind. It is the staple of an ayurvedic cleanse, and can also be taken any time you feel that your digestion needs a little TLC, such as under stress, at the change of seasons, after travel, or before menstruation.
In classical texts, it is said that 40 days of a kichari diet has the power to heal any disease. I haven't tried it for anything serious, but I can vouch for this dish's ability to support a clear, calm mind and stable energy levels throughout the day.
Easy Healing Kichari
Ingredients:
1 cup yellow mung beans (ideally soaked for 1-8 hours)
1 cup basmati rice (or quinoa) (ideally soaked for 1-8 hours)
3 tbsp ghee
1 inch fresh peeled ginger
1/4 inch cinnamon bark
5 whole cardamom seeds
5 whole cloves
10 black peppercorns and/or cumin seeds and/or coriander seeds
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
6 cups water
Optional: 2 cups chopped vegetables (e.g. kale, chard, sweet potato, etc)
Optional garnishes: ghee, coriander, lime, black pepper, sesame seeds, extra spices
Preparation:
1. Rinse and wash the dahl and rise and set aside.
2. Place 3 tbsp ghee in a steel saucepan and heat on low flame. Add ginger and all spices, and sautee lightly.
3. Once the smell of the spices has been awakened, add mung beans and rice to the pan, and sautee lightly with the spices.
4. Add 6 cups of water and cook until the rice and dal are soft (about 20-30 minutes). Add vegetables while cooking.
5. To serve, you may wish to garnish with extra spices, black pepper, salt, chopped coriander or a squeeze of lime.
About the Author
Briya Freeman has been creating spaces for healing and spiritual awakening since 2011. She is passionate about exploring the potentials of human consciousness in a way that unites and transcends global culture.
Her background includes 20+ years of study and practice in hatha yoga, Ayurveda, Breathontology, meditation, bioenergetics and shamanism.
As a guide, she is known for an approach that is down-to-earth, intuitive and deeply seated. She can be reached at hello@briyafreeman.com