The Cleansing Dish can be eaten at any time, not just when you are on The Elemental Cleanse. There are many variations of the dish so you can easily add it into your daily routine. This dish is very nutritious and easy to digest so that gives your digestive system a little break.
This dish is especially good if you are experiencing any digestive disorders.
There are millions of variations of kitchari. It is basically India’s staple food and is eaten daily there. You can also Google kitchari for more ideas.
To prepare The Cleansing Dish you’ll need:
- 1 bag mung dal, if split, you do not have to soak. If whole, soak for an hour or even overnight. Mung dal or lentils are red, yellow and green. Dal is a Sanskrit word for lentils. The red dal tends to be more heating.
- Vegetable broth or water
- Garlic, minced
- Onion, chopped
- Celery, chopped
- Carrots, chopped
- Organic salt/pepper, to taste
- Cumin, 2 or more tablespoons
- Cayenne pepper, to taste
- White or brown rice, prefer basmati (see note below)
Always rinse your beans before cooking and remove any discolored beans. Place mung dal (lentils) in pot and cover lentils with vegetable broth. Bring to boil and then reduce to simmer. Add garlic, onions, celery, carrots, salt, pepper, cumin, and cayenne pepper. Simmer on low until beans are cooked through. You may cover with a lid. You will have to keep checking the liquid level and adding broth or water to keep moist. This should take 40 minutes or so.
You may add the rice to your pot and cook all as one or cook rice separately.
Note on rice: Serve with brown rice for daily consumption or white rice if you are resting your digestion or performing the last week of the Elemental Cleanse.
Notes on making the Cleansing Dish recipe unique to you:
Even when using broth, it is nice to throw in some organic mushroom bouillon cubes. These really give a blast of flavor.
Don’t be afraid of spice. Add everything to taste. You may want to double the amount of cumin you use. Try other spices as well.
All veggies are good in this. You can add peas, spinach, kale, or potatoes. Anything you have in your refrigerator will do.
If you want even more flavor, sauté your veggies in ghee before you add them to the pot.
If you want a soupier soup, add more broth. If you want a denser meal, let the water simmer off.
If you want crunchier lentils, don’t cook as long.
If you want a richer kitchari, pour some coconut milk in.
If you want to turn this into a breakfast treat, make the following changes. Instead of veggies, use dried fruit like raisins. Instead of peppery spices, use sweet spices like nutmeg and cinnamon. Add a little
*The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of ayurveda, yoga, and meditation. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease. If you have any serious acute or chronic health concern, please consult a trained health professional who can fully assess your needs and address them effectively. Check with your doctor before taking herbs or using essential oils when pregnant or nursing.