To all challengers and all yogis!

Here is a dish that Kalee Mund our friendly and knowlegeable Ayurvedic Counsellor would recommend to anyone looking to nourish and detoxify their sysytem with just one dish!  Maybe you would like to try it!

Kitchari (kitch-a-ree) is such an amazing dish! Used for complete nourishment, easy to digest, great source of protein because of the mung dal.  Its excellent for detoxification and de-aging of cells and its used in Ayurveda when fasting or doing a cleanse. Kitchari nourishes all the tissues of the body. So when your feeling a bit off or need to reset and recharge your digestive system this is a great dish!

1/2 cup mung dal
1 cup basmati rice
3 cups water (if you want it more moist/soupy, use 4 cups water)
3 tablespoons of ghee
1 inch piece of fresh ginger (root), peeled, chopped up well
1 tsp ajwan seeds (caraway)
1 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
3 cinnamon sticks
1/2 tsp tumeric
1 cup chopped fresh green beans, carrots, peas, cauliflower, yams, broccoli or whatever veggies you wish to add.

***you can use mung beans on their own or make a "dal" see link here:

http://www.7spice.net/sides-n-snacks/moong-mung-dal/

First, wash the mung dal and the rice really well. Wash & strain, wash & strain. Then heat the water till it boils. Throw in the mung dal & rice. Cover. Turn heat down to low. While that’s going, crush the three seeds (ajwan, fennel & cumin). In another pan, heat the ghee on medium and add the ginger, seeds, tumeric, cinnamon sticks – it should smell really good! If you are adding veggies, add them to the spices once the spices are roasted.

When the water is no longer covering the mung dal & rice…but you still know there is 1/2 water in the pot, add the spices and veggies. Stir. Cover. Turn on low heat and  cook until all water is absorbed. Serve with ghee and you can add a little salt. 
Kitchari has many many variations.