Why do I call this the best kitchari recipe? Because you just can’t mess it up. It is easy, you can totally adjust the spices, amount of liquid, cooking time and it goes a long way in making you feel great. There’s nothing like a comforting bowl of golden kitchari – also called kichiri – to heal your body and soul. This porridge-like rice dish is renowned in Ayurveda for its cleansing benefits because it is rich in nutrients and amazing for your immune system while being incredibly easy to digest. Perfect if you’re feeling stressed, bloated, or even just a little under the weather. It also happens to be delicious thanks to all its aromatic spices, and you can dress it up with cooked veggies or additional flavors like cardamom or chili.
And a little bonus: unlike normal basmati rice, kichari is meant to be creamy and even slightly soupy depending on your taste, which is good news for all of those who always end up overcooking their basmati rice!
Serves 2 big eaters or 4 “normal” ones
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp ghee
- 2 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp caraway seeds (optional)
- 1 tsp mustard seeds (optional)
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 1/2 cup moong dal, that have been soaked for 4-5 hours or overnight
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tsp turmeric powder
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp aestefida (optional)
- 5 + 1 cups water
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- Extra ghee for serving
Instructions
- Soak the basmati rice in water for 1 hour, changing the water once. Alternatively, rinse the basmati rice until the water runs clear.
- In a large pot, melt the ghee over medium heat and add all the seeds, tossing them gently while they crackle and pop for just under a minute
- Add the rice and moong beans, mixing until well coated. Then add the water and all the other ingredients, stir well, and increase the heat to medium-high, bringing the rice to a boil. Once it is boiling, turn the heat down to medium-low and let it gently simmer, uncovered for a good 30 minutes. Stir it regularly until it starts looking like porridge. If it gets too thick or is not cooked through, you can a bit more water and stir for an extra 5-10 minutes.
- Serve in a bowl with a teaspoon of ghee and some freshly chopped coriander
