Previously, when I thought of kitchari, a bowl of savory, smooth, creamy and comforting brilliant yellow….mush, would come to mind. Adorned with cilantro and ginger, drizzled with ghee and sizzled spices. Maybe this is your idea of kitchari too.
But this past month, as I’ve been cooking for The First Fourty Days of a dear friend, I started to think about kitchari a little bit differently. I’ve had beautiful breakfast kitcharis before, cooked by the practitioners who have led the panchakarmas I’ve attended over the years. Typically there are apples, and raisins, and spices; a sweet treat at the end of a week of eating traditional kitchari alone. There are lots of ways of making an easy-to-digest, bowl of lentils + rice that will soothe the senses, the soul, the nervous system and the gut, but some are just BETTER than others. And knowing that there is a world of kitchari yet to be explored – that’s how this Carrot Cake Kitchari came to be.
Sweet, spiced, and loaded with easy-to-digest goodies, this is the kind of kitchari that you might want to have for breakfast, or dessert. But it’s still going to ground, soothe, detoxify and smooth things over in the most lovely way.
Kitchari, also spelled as “khichdi” or “kichadi,” is a traditional Indian dish that’s both nutritious and easy to digest. We make it by cooking rice and lentils together with various spices and vegetables…or in this case, some spices, fruits and veggies. The specific ingredients and spices used can vary based on regional preferences and personal taste which is to say that there are NO RULES IN KITCHARI. And so a sweet one is totally on the table.
In India, kitchari is often considered a comfort food and is commonly consumed during times of illness or during detoxification periods because it’s gentle on the digestive system while still providing essential nutrients. In Ayurveda, we celebrate kitchari for it’s ability to balance all three doshas and promote overall well-being. This particular kitchari just happens to be a slightly sweeter way to do it.
In Ayurvedic medicine, we recognize that the body doesn’t comprehend or even care about “macronutrients.” The body cares about flavors, and the flavor that it prizes most for it’s ability to nourish, ground, soothe the nervous system, remineralize and revitalize the system is sweet. That’s right. Sweet flavors are found in all grains, fruits, sweeteners, meats, dairy products and even root vegetables. And, of course, in a dense, decadent slice of carrot cake there are a whole lot of sweet ingredients wrapped up in a very sweet, very tantalizing package.
This Carrot Cake Kitchari takes all of the best parts of that slice – sans the sugar – and drives it right into a bowl of nervous-system grounding, digestive-system boosting, brilliantly easy and delicious kitchari. So while you’re not eating a cake, you are treating yourself to something that will love your body right back. And that feels good, right?
If you’re looking for a meal that’s packed with protein, easy to digest carbohydrates, and all Six Flavors, then look no further than this particular bowl of kitchari. Kitchari is typically enjoyed for lunch, or dinner, or as part of a reboot protocol to help calm the nervous and digestive systems…but depending on your schedule and state of being, you just might benefit from having a power-packed bowl of soothing kitchari for breakfast every morning.
And why not? The only difference between this bowl of kitchari for breakfast and a bowl of oatmeal is the protein boost provided by the lentils (which you actually don’t even know are there!)
Enjoying kitchari for breakfast is a solid play if you’re looking to nourish your day, and enjoy a warm, easy, breakfast.
Oh I am SO GLAD YOU ASKED.
Kitchari is such an incredible meal to have anytime you’ve overdone it. Whenever your mind, body or spirit need a rest. Whenever you feel like you’re having a hard time “digesting life.” Or, when you just don’t have the attention span or desire to cook. Kitchari comes together easily in an InstantPot, and making it in one ensures that you don’t need to lift many of your little fingers to make a delicious, from scratch meal with the freshest, most nutritious ingredients…which is really saying something.
This kitchari is a wonderful meal to make or serve the new mama in your life. It’s sweet flavors, abundance of coconut, dates, and carrots will help to rebuild her mycobiome after birth, support digestion, and provide easy-to-digest nourishment so she can keep right on recovering from the marathon of birth and raising a baby.
If you’re an athlete looking for a super-nutritious breakfast, or recovery meal, and you aren’t wild about all of the spices in my winter or spring kitchari recipes, then this one is for you.
If you’re not sure whether you *like* kitchari yet, this is a great gateway drug.
If you’re looking to make your breakfast ahead, this Carrot Cake kitchari is also at your rescue.
And, if you’re trying to figure out a way to get your little person to eat kitchari, give this recipe a try. (Little Leo loves all other kitchari too, but this one is by far his favorite!)
I pulled this recipe together with ingredients that were already in my pantry, and perhaps that will be the case for you too! If you don’t yet have moong dal, or basmati rice on hand, you’re gonna want to have a nice supply of these (once you realize just how incredible kitchari is as a meal!) And then, there’s some room for improvisation. I list all the ways you can tweak this to be your own in the recipe notes below.
Note that if this kitchari isn’t a stand-in for the savory version of the same dish because there is an abundance of sweet flavors, which means that it will be more supportive of grounding vata and pitta doshas, but will be less supportive of reducing kapha dosha. So, enjoy it in moderation, when you need a special break from the other brilliant yellow mush we love.
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