Kichadi
I find Kichadi magical. It's the first food given to babies after breast milk to turn babies' digestive system on. It's a safe and health promoting way to cleanse and rebuild your health without deprivation. It's s the Indian version of chicken soup! Kichadi is a primary Ayurvedic meal that has been prescribed for centuries for its many healing properties. It is the food for convalescence and it tastes delicious.
- 1/2 cup organic quinoa or brown basmati rice
- ½ cup organic yellow split mung dal
- 1 inch piece of kombu (soaked prior for 20 min to remove excess salt)
- 1 TBSP sesame seeds
- 3-4 cups water
- 1 TBSP Digestive and anti-inflammatory organic spice blend (at least use the spices with an *: Turmeric*, Cumin*, Coriander*, Fennel*, Fenugreek, Black Pepper, Black Mustard Seeds, Cinnamon, Sesame Seeds*, ginger)
Soak the grains and dal together overnight to increase digestibility. Then bring all ingredients in a pot of water, bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer covered for 15-20 min if using quinoa and 35-40 min if using brown rice.
Cook until very mush. You can make it soupy or drier like It takes about 15 minutes for the quinoa kichadi (start with that one) and 35 minutes for the brown rice kichadi in a regular pot.
Add one or two veggies with it. You can choose leafy greens (kale, dandelions, and chard), broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, zucchini, mushrooms, or carrots.
- You can top with fresh cilantro or parsley. It is cooling to the digestive tract.
If you are sick with a compromised digestive system, chose white not brown organic Basmati rice. Quinoa is fine too.
