Vegetarian Kitchari, or, Hung Over? Fantastic!

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Vegetarian Kitchari, or, Hung Over? Fantastic!

April 21, 2010 by Bad Mama Genny

“Ahmaga! AHMAGAHH!” The Boy was clearly trying to tell me something.

“What?” I asked, half-afraid he didn’t like the kitchari. I knew I liked it, but he’d never tried it before. Probably because I’d made him a steak out of misplaced guilt or something. I do that.

Oh, God, I AM turning into my mother!

Anyway. The Boy was making frantic fanning gestures at his mouth.

“HAAAHT! Is haht! ::cough cough swallow::”

What’s that, The Boy? You’re trying to tell me I’m hot? Well, way to point out the obvious, but thanks, nonetheless, my good man!

“I was trying to say, the kitchari is really hot. But oh, man, I could eat this every day!”

Oh. Right. Well, that’s still complimentary. I guess.

But kitchari isn’t exactly pretty or elegant–in fact, it’s best described as, well, gruel. But he’s right–kitchari kicks all kinds of ass.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with kitchari, it’s a dish that’s very popular among those who live according to the principles of Ayurvedic medicine. Ayurveda is a philosophy and healing art designed to restore the harmony and balance of the body. The main premise is that people can generally be classified as having one of four main body types, and that this type determines how you should eat, sleep, and exercise for the best health and longevity.

Whatever, man. I just think it’s really good.

So what is it? Well, it’s a thick, stew-y dish of split yellow peas, rice, vegetables, and easily-digested spices, with a texture that I can best liken to a very thick, starchy oatmeal. Because it’s low in fiber, non-challenging for compromised digestive systems, and extremely nutritious, it’s often used as the sole means of sustenance for ill people trying to get their bodies back into balance.

READ: I eat it when I’m hung over.

But that doesn’t mean kitchari is bland–the spice blend of fresh fennel and mustard seeds, along with crushed cumin, coriander, and turmeric makes this savory, warm, and not boring at all. Try kitchari if you’re recovering from digestive upset and feel you may not be getting the nutrition you need. Ulcer-sufferers, IBS patients, vegetarians, those poor, poor people making unkeepable promises to never, ever drink again, and even just healthy people who want a big, warm bowl of something primitively nourishing can all benefit from a big, warm bowl of this MAGICAL STUFF THAT TOTALLY BROUGHT ME BACK TO THE LAND OF THE LIVING OH GOD.

What’s that you say? You’re horribly hung over, you say? You feel sick as a dog, you say?

FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC! Let’s eat!

Kitchari Recipe
Makes, like, a whole bunch

Go Get:
1 cup Brown Jasmine Rice (traditional recipes recommend white/basmati rice…I love the scent and texture of brown jasmine so that’s what I use. You use what you like.)
2 cups Mung Dal (split yellow peas); I’ve also used half yellow split and half green split with great results
7 cups water
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 Tbs. Ghee (I just use regular melted butter, unclarified; use oil to make this vegan)
1Tbsp Fennel Seeds
3 tsp. Mustard Seeds
2 tsp. Cumin Seeds
2 tsp. Turmeric Powder
2 tsp. Coriander Powder
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
Generous pinch ginger
1 heaping cup frozen peas
2 medium yellow potatoes
Large handful baby carrots, sliced into wheels
Large handful chopped cilantro leaves

Go Do:
Rinse and sort mug dal thoroughly. Heat the butter/ghee/oil in a large, thick-bottomed pot, like a Dutch Oven. Sauté the seeds in the fat until they start to pop. Then add the other spices. Add the mung dal and salt, and sauté for 1 or 2 minutes. Add water, bring to boil, then simmer for 30-40 minutes or until the dal is about 2/3 cooked.

Add rice and these vegetables. Stir to mix, adding extra water if the mixture is too thick. Bring back to a boil, then simmer for 20-30 minutes or until rice is fully cooked. Keep checking to see if you need to add more water. You want to achieve as little remaining water as possible, so make sure you leave the lid on the pot when you’re not stirring or checking it. You’re not making a soup, or even a stew–remember my thick oatmeal analogy. When the rice is cooked through, taste the mixture to see if it needs additional salt. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the chopped cilantro.

Posted in Carrots, Fennel/Fennel Seeds, Main Dishes, Peas, Rice, Type of Recipe | Tagged ayurveda, Dinner, hangover cure, healing, IBS, possibly vegan, vegetarian | 13 Comments

13 Responses

on May 18, 2010 at 12:52 am The Other Girl

Ooh, I want to try this. Love me some spices. Curious – is “unclassified” butter some kind of joke that whooshed right over my head or perhaps you meant “unclarified”? Or maybe it’s some other kind of butter I know nothing about. I never used to like butter so I have some catching up to do. Sometimes I really wish I could go back to the days when I did not like butter…
on May 18, 2010 at 2:18 am alchemygen

Dude, I totally did NOT believe that I had typed “unclassified”…I had to check for myself. Would love to know what I was thinking about when I typed that!

So, yeah, I definitely meant unclarified! I’ll go back and fix that posthaste.

Oh, I don’t think I ever stopped liking butter…though I did stop eating butter for a while. Back in the ’90′s, when everyone thought low-fat was the key to weight loss, better sex, thicker hair, a more fruitful garden, world peace, blah blah blah…
on May 26, 2010 at 6:05 pm Molly

This looks so good! I have a big jar of split peas that I’ve been looking to use, but it’s not quite soup weather any more.

Thanks for sharing! yum
on May 26, 2010 at 6:09 pm alchemygen

Thanks, Molly–let me know what you think!
on January 3, 2012 at 4:05 pm Anu

Its actually khichdi…FYI! and in India, its one of the beginner foods for babies….but just the dal and rice with very few spices.
on January 3, 2012 at 4:19 pm Bad Mama Genny

That’s really interesting! According to the Ayurvedic Institute, “kitchari” is one of many alternate spellings… perhaps it’s the Americanized version for the faint of heart then. Makes perfect sense that this is baby food since when I’m extremely hungover I am generally predisposed to having people coo at me and tell me I’m precious even though I am hell on wheels. Thanks, Anu!
on January 9, 2012 at 4:28 pm Ros

OK – have sent off for the rice and beans (I am geographically challenged with regards to “specialist” shops), then I will be making this and I almost can’t wait; the other half is looking nervous wondering where the steak comes into the recipe. Thanks for a great blog – for once a food blogger not totally up themselves!
on January 9, 2012 at 5:40 pm Bad Mama Genny

Aw, thanks, Ros! I’m also glad that I’m not up myself. Being up oneself takes a level of coordination I’m just not capable of.

The other half will live–it may not be meat, but it IS really comfort food-y in a starchy, gluttonous way. Sorta like mashed potato-y, but with bits and pieces. Sort of.

BMG!
on January 14, 2012 at 2:27 pm Ros

Served with emergency chicken curry on the side. Seconds demanded including some of that “other stuff – really nice”. Heaps left, will try freezing.

Also – solved a 30 yr old mystery. As a tiny teen I wandered into a cool North London market and had some “vegetarian food” (we didn’t really understand veggy food back then in the UK; or foreign food; or any food really). Always since wondered what it was, now I know (the yummy crunchy bits if you let it stick to the pan ever so slightly also gave it away – TRY IT). I may sober up in celebration of a quest fulfilled.

Or not.
on January 14, 2012 at 2:29 pm Ros

PS taken up cooking with coconut oil. Wow stuff. If you don’t like it you can smear it all over your hair/body. Before you heat it up.
on January 14, 2012 at 2:54 pm Bad Mama Genny

Yes! So glad to be of service, Ros! I use coconut oil all the time, usually on my body and nails right after a shower, occasionally on my hair to prevent split ends.

The kitchari freezes fairly well (label it “other stuff”!); you’ll just have to add a little water to reconstitute. Those thirsty starches can take on endless amounts of liquid.

Thanks for letting me know how it worked for you! Happy sobering (or not),

BMG
on February 7, 2012 at 7:57 am Ros

Froze. De-froze. Added water. Heatedy up. Lunchtime. Happy, happy tummy all the way into March if I can pace myself. Thanks again. PS is your site searchable or have a contents somewhere? I wanna read all…
on February 7, 2012 at 10:41 am Bad Mama Genny

Thanks, Ros! Dayum if that kitchari isn’t flexible, right?! There’s a search box in the right sidebar, all the way at the bottom. A few blocks above that is an “Archives” box. I’m currently working on a better/more intuitive way for people to navigate, so stay tuned!

BMG