MOONG DAL, COCONUT & CORIANDER KITCHARI

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

1 CUP BASMATI RICE

1/3 CUP CORIANDER OR CILANTRO (CHOPPED FRESH)

1/3 CUP COCONUT FLAKES

2 TBSP GHEE

2 CM PIECE OF GINGER (CHOPPED FRESH)

½ CUP TO 1 CUP MOONG DAL

½ TSP SALT

1 TSP TUMERIC

6 CUPS WATER

PREPARATION

Wash the moong dal and rice separately.

Soak the moong dal for a few hours if you have the time, then drain. (Night before is easy option)

Place the chopped ginger, coconut flakes, fresh coriander and ½ cup water into a blender or food processor and blend until liquefied.

Heat the ghee on medium in a large saucepan and add the blended items, turmeric and salt.

Stir well and bring to a boil to release the flavour.

Next mix in the rice, mung dal and the six cups of water.

Return to a boil. Boil, uncovered, for five minutes. Then cover, leaving the lid slightly ajar. Turn down the heat to simmer and cook for 25-30 minutes, until the dal and rice are tender.

Prep Time – 10 minutes plus soaking, Cooking Time 60 Minutes.  Best to Eat in Summer and Spring as Pitta Reducing.  Great for Cleansing or Repairing or the Digestive System.

WHY IT IS GOOD FOR YOU AND BEST TO EAT IN SUMMER or SPRING

Just like a comforting bowl of grandma’s chicken soup, kitchari will leave you feeling nourished and content. This Pitta Pacifying Kitchari contains Ayurveda’s top foods to reduce inflammation. It cools and soothes internally so you’ll feel refreshed and at ease after eating.

Although this dish is actually tridoshic (perfect for all doshas), this kitchari is especially suitable for Pitta types or anyone that is prone to feeling overheated, irritable or stressed out. The coriander and coconut are cooling foods that remedy these qualities.

This dish holds a combination of mild and subtle flavours, this helps calm a fiery digestive tract. Hearty yet light, it satisfies your hunger but is still easy to digest. Kitchari is a staple in the Ayurvedic diet and is considered the signature cleansing meal. It can, however, be enjoyed at any time to give your stomach a well deserved break from eating complicated foods or eating on the run.

Kitchari is the perfect meal to call on when you are feeling under the weather, recovering from an illness, when you just want to reset or when you want to do an Ayurvedic cleanse.

About Pitta Dosha and Inflammation

Inflammation is the body’s defence mechanism to help clear and remove irritants or pathogens. While it serves an important function, chronic inflammation can be detrimental to the digestive tract. Pitta dosha is responsible for all heat in the body, therefore inflammation is a Pitta imbalance.

Tissues become red, hot and swollen and over time, and the delicate lining of the digestive tract can become damaged. Eventually, this can progress to inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis or leaky gut. A stressful lifestyle and diet of highly processed foods, sugar, alcohol and coffee are all contributing factors to chronic inflammation.

Foods that Reduce Inflammation

The two main ingredients of this soft, savoury meal are moong dal from the mung bean and basmati rice which are both cooling foods that are nourishing, easy to digest and also key foods to reduce inflammation. Mung beans have a natural antacid effect, helping balance acidity in the stomach and soothe internal heat.

Their astringent taste is cooling and also tones and tightens bodily tissues. This means they can be useful to alleviate “hot” digestive symptoms like diarrhea, acid reflux, halt bleeding and help seal perforated tissues. Emotionally, astringent taste can help you cool off and collect your thoughts.

Cool Down with Anti-Inflammatory Herbs

Pungent spices, like dry ginger or black pepper, will aggravate those with ulcers or inflammation. Instead, this recipe blends anti-inflammatory digestives which maintain digestive strength (agni) without overheating you.

Turmeric reduces inflammation and boosts agni by increasing blood flow to digestive organs. Coriander and lime are both cooling digestives and are often used to mellow a spicy dish and add a freshness to the meal.

Cleanse & Refresh with a Kitchari Mono Diet

Do a Kitchari Cleanse in order to give the digestive tract a holistic cleanse. A time-tested recipe, its rich fibre content is cleansing to the GI tract and helps to bulk up stool for easier elimination. Digestive spices detoxify by clearing metabolic wastes (ama) in the gut that can cause irritation and inflammation.

Your digestive tract is constantly challenged on a daily basis – morning cups of coffee, complicated meals like pizzas or burritos and greasy, fried foods. Even foods that are normally deemed “healthy” such as raw salads and chilled green smoothie can all take a toll on digestive strength. Favour these nourishing foods to reduce inflammation to restore your energy and vitality.

Medicinal Properties of These Ingredients

Antiarthritic for Bones and Joints.  This means that these foods and herbs ease arthritic pain and promotes joint health.

Great Digestive aiding digestions.  Meaning these foods encourage healthy digestion.

Carminative which stimulates the release of gas.  This is helpful for bloating, cramping or abdominal pain.  It helps propel food downward.

Antacid, these are herbs and foods that help neutralise acidity in the gastrointestinal tract and the stomach in particular.

Cleansing and Detoxifiying which means foods and herbs that eliminate or metabolise toxins from the body.  Also Burns-Toxins, these are herbs and foods that detoxify by helping your body metabolise toxins as opposed to eliminating them.

Stimulates Energy, so great for Vitality and Strength.  These are herbs and foods that are adrenal and thyroid stimulating.

Nutritive, herbs and foods that are strengthening and nourishing to the body at the cellular level.

Vasodilator.  A vasodilator is a herb or food that widens the blood vessels by the relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls thereby increasing circulation systemically or to a local area.

Blood Tonic.  A herb or food that produces more blood cells in the body or otherwise strengthens the blood.  Helpful for anemia and other types of deficiency.

Alterative.  Literally a herb or food that restores the proper function of the body. In practice, alteratives are usually blood cleansers and blood chemistry balancers.  They were traditionally used to revitalise and detoxify after a long winter.

Refrigerant.  A herb or substance that strongly cools the body.  Can be helpful in cases of all heat conditions.

Anti-Inflammatory on the Immune System, so literally reducing inflammation in the body.  Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

Cholagogue for the Liver and Gall Bladder.  Cholagogues stimulate the release of bile from the gall bladder for improved digestion.

Flushes sinuses and relieves sinus congestion by flushing out mucus.

Hypolipidemic for weight loss.  This is scraping fats and cleansing blood vessels.

GINGER BASIL LIMEADE

Serves 8

INGREDIENTS

Chop ginger into chunks.

Add 1 cup water to a blender with ginger, lime juice, lime zest, raw sugar and a handful of fresh basil leaves. Blend until smooth.

Combine ginger-lime juice with an additional 3 cups of water in a pitcher. Garnish with fresh basil. Chill and serve.

Salt the rim of your glasses to complete this mock-tail while satisfying all six tastes!

WHY DOES THIS BEAUTIFUL AYURVEDIC DRINK MAKE YOU FEEL GREAT?

Sour lime mixes with spicy-sweet fresh ginger in this chilled beverage which will wake up your mind as it delights your palate. A refreshing glass of this Ginger Basil Limeade will help you feel as light and bright as the summer day.

Pour yourself a glass for a midday break on your front porch. You’ll feel enlivened and stimulated by this perfect, late afternoon pick-me-up. Ginger and basil wake up your taste buds. Lime will pucker your lips and make your mouth water with refreshment. For extra fun, take out your favourite glass and salt the rim!

Ginger increases circulation and lime stimulates your whole body, helping you feel radiant on sluggish days.

A touch of lime, salt and sugar restores your strength as it replenishes electrolytes lost due to sweating.

Fresh basil clarifies your thoughts with its light pungent herbal taste. This sassy limeade adds verve and pep to your day. Your mind will wake right up, bringing back your sparkle and sharpness. Feel like yourself again!

Ginger limeade strengthens your digestive fire or “agni” when the temperature is hot outside. Ginger is a revered tridoshic digestive that will perk up a lazy appetite on a hot day. Lime is also a cooling way to kickstart your digestion and lubricate your entire GI. A touch of salt and sugar also aids in the digestion.

Here are the Medicinal Properties and herbal actions of Ginger Basil Limeade:

Antiarthritic for the bones and joints so therefore easing arthritic pain and promoting joint health.

Quenches thirst to help your digestive system and a Digestive to encourage healthy digestion.

Sialagogue.  Sialagogue increases saliva.  Sour foods are often great sialagogues and increase output of all exocrine glands.  Salty taste is very moistening as well.  Bitter and pungent and sweet tastes also increase salivary output but to a lesser degree.  Astringents.

Antispasmodic.  These are herbs or substances that help reduce or inhibit muscle spasms or cramping that can occur in conditions such as asthma, colic or IBS.

Stomachic.  These are herbs that increase appetite or settles a nauseas or nervous stomach.  These generally increase the digestive fire, therefore relieving symptoms of sluggish or difficult digestion.  Also, Antiemetic.  These are herbs that reduce nausea or stop vomiting.

Appetizer.  These are herbs or substances that cleanse the palate and stimulate hunger or a desire to eat.

Carminative.  These stimulate the release of gas. Helpful for bloating or cramping abdominal pain.  Propels food downward.

Detoxicant.  A herb or substance that eliminates or metabolises toxins from the body. Also, Burns-Toxins, which are herbs or substances that detoxify by helping the body metabolise toxins as opposed to eliminating them.

Stimulates Energy.  This helps bring energy and vitality to the body via stimulating the adrenals and the thyroid.

Cardiac Stimulant.  These are herbs that increase the heart rate.  Useful in cardiovascular health, blood stagnation, and subjective feeling of heaviness in the chest area.

Alterative.  Literally a herb or substance that restores proper function of the body.  In practice, alteratives are usually blood cleanser and blood chemistry balancers. They were traditionally used to revitalise and detoxify after a long winter.

Vasodilator.  A vasodilator is a herb that widens the blood vessels by the relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls, thereby increasing circulation systemically or to a local area.

Anti-Inflammatory for the Immune System.  Reduces inflammation in the body.  Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

Flushes Membranes.  Herbs and substances in this category stimulate mucus membranes to release fluids, flushing them out.

Cholagogue for the Liver and Gall Bladder.  Cholagogues stimulate the release of bile form the gall bladder for improved digestion.

Lung Tonic.  Strengthens the lungs.  These herbs are helpful when recovering from either acute of chronic lung issues like bronchitis or pneumonia.

Decongestant.  A herb or substance that reduces mucus congestion in the sinus or lungs by restricting blood flow to mucus membranes.

Expectorant.  Herbs that help you cough up and eliminate mucus.  These herbs often work by increasing the quantity of mucus or thinning the mucus.

Galactagogue.  Increases the production of breast milk.

Diaphoretic.  A herb that induces sweating, often by dilating blood vessels close to the skin.  Great for natural skin care and beauty.

Stool Softener.  A gentle type of laxative that helps softens stools that may be hard or difficult to pass.  Some foods are stool softeners, such a warm milk with ghee.