Kitchari: The Food of Angels
Kitchari, a dish of mung beans and rice, has healing qualities so respected that it has been called “the Food of Angels.”
An ancient story from India tells of a saint who lived on a simple diet of mung beans and rice with yogurt, known as kitchari. His radiance was said to come from the purity of this food alone. People traveled great distances to see him seeking healing, and whatever illness they carried, he gave them mung beans and rice with yogurt, and they were cured. Since then, mung beans have been known as a heavenly food, capable of sustaining life simply and healthfully for years.
In the traditional Kundalini Yoga preparation, kitchari is an invigorating, porridge-like soup made from mung beans, rice, vegetables, onions, garlic, ginger, and spices.
Mung beans contain protein, carbohydrates, minerals, and essential vitamins. Combined with rice, they form a balanced meal that is nutritious, easy to digest, and very satisfying.
As a mono diet, mung beans and rice offer a gentle and effective cleanse, supporting the kidneys, colon, and digestive organs, strengthening and reorienting liver function, and helping digest unwanted tissue. Their calming, warming, and alkalizing effects build and tone the organs, nerves, and glands and support higher meditation, making mung beans and rice especially supportive during the winter months, when the body needs warmth, steadiness, and nourishment and the immune system is often compromised. They are beneficial when you feel a cold coming on or anytime the system feels taxed and in need of a soothing, wholesome meal.
In this Kundalini Yoga preparation, onions, garlic, and ginger, known as the Trinity Roots, are cooked together with the mung beans and rice. These roots are essential for cleansing, sustaining, and producing energy in the body, and their benefits are amplified through combined cooking. They support the internal organs, glandular system, immune system, and nervous system.
This combination of mung beans and rice gives the body exactly what it needs. It allows the cells to detoxify while rekindling the digestive fire, or agni. When agni functions well, it supports digestion and awareness around daily food choices.
With mung beans and rice, supported by green vegetables and the Trinity Roots, one can live younger and live better for the rest of life.
Mung Beans and Rice (Kitchari) Recipe
Ingredients
1 cup mung beans
1 cup basmati rice
9 cups water
4–6 cups chopped assorted vegetables
2 onions, chopped
⅓ cup minced fresh ginger
8–10 cloves garlic, minced
1 heaping teaspoon turmeric
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 heaping teaspoon garam masala
1 teaspoon crushed red chilies (to taste)
1 tablespoon sweet basil
2 bay leaves
Seeds of 5 cardamom pods
Salt or tamari to taste
GheeOptional: olive oil, coconut oil, or water
Preparation
Wash the mung beans and rice and set aside.
Heat ghee over medium heat and cook the onions and ginger until softened.
Add the garlic, then the spices, stirring gently.
Add the vegetables, mung beans, rice, and water.
Bring to a boil, lower the flame, and cook gently over low heat, stirring often.The finished consistency should be rich, thick, and porridge-like, with the ingredients barely discernible.
Angad’s Tips: Favorite Ways to Prepare & Enjoy Kitchari
When I cook, I keep the process simple. I cook the onions and ginger in ghee, add the garlic, then the spices, followed by the vegetables, mung beans, rice, and water. I bring everything to a boil, lower the flame, and let it cook gently. If preferred, olive oil, coconut oil, or water can be used instead of ghee.
The recipe above reflects a classic proportion. When cooking for myself, I use less rice (about ¼ cup) and add lots and lots and lots of vegetables.
I love making kitchari with extra ghee, ginger, and celery. I enjoy a version with mushrooms, corn, and red pepper. Broccoli rabe and collard greens are also favorites, and I often add New Mexico green chilies. I almost always include zucchini.
I love using Kitchari Spice Mix from Duals Natural
https://dualsnatural.com/products/kitchari-spice-mixKitchari is also wonderful with simple additions added to the bowl when you eat it. Some of my favorites are pickled beets, pressed garlic with lemon, yogurt, cottage cheese, or spicy kimchi. Extra ghee can be added at the table, or the kitchari can be poured over a salad or fresh, uncooked arugula.