Dress up your kitchari

Eating a mono diet of kitchari can get boring, especially for our vata types who don’t always like regularity, and our pitta types who just really like to eat (kapha is steady and stable and can stick with the mono diet for quite some time). If you find that you are getting bored with your kitchari there are a few ways to dress it up.

You might just start by adding some simple garnish. I like chopped cilantro or chopped mint as well as a little squeeze of fresh lime. That’s often all it take to vary the taste just enough to get you through another meal. Another great garnish is coriander chutney. I don’t generally follow a recipe for this, but instead just throw some cilantro, mint, grated coconut, fresh lime juice, a little ginger and some water into the VitaMix and go. But if you are a recipe follower, here’s a good recipe to follow. Another garnish I love to add is a few slices of ripe avocado.

At breakfast I like to add in golden raisins. They add a nice texture and just a hint of sweetness. If you just can’t do another meal of kitchari, cooked rolled oats with golden raisins or cooked apples (remove the skins) can make a nice breakfast during your cleanse.

Remember, in Ayurveda the mid day meal should be the most substantial. At this meal I like to add in some steamed vegetables. Anything will do, but during the cleanse stick to veggies that are easy to digest like sweet potato, summer squash, dandelion greens, or kale. When adding greens they can be tossed in to wilt during the last few minutes of cooking. For vegetables like sweet potato or squash, steam until tender and add stir into the kitchari before serving.

If none of these ideas are enough to break the boredom, try eating some steamed vegetables on the side, or simply eat a snack (a handful of raw nuts, half an avocado, or a piece of fruit) to satisfy your desire for varying taste.