Ayurveda can simply mean “The Science of Life,” and it continues to be one of the world‘s most sophisticated mind–body health systems. It offers deep wisdom, guiding human beings in a vibrant and healthy way to notice how their body works as a whole. Ayurveda seeks to bring balance and harmony to the three wellness domains of our mental state, physical body, and emotional constitution while being aware of the interplay and ripple effects between the three. A way to bring this state of harmony to the body is by doing a cleanse with the “chicken soup” of Ayurveda, Kichari.
Kichari is known to bring balance back to all three states of our being, leaving us feeling nourished and full of vital energy. It is neutral, light, and soft food that both cleanses and nourishes the bod, without supporting an imbalance of any kind. Kichari is known to remove toxins from the body and as it cleanses the gut, it starts to restore a sense of balance in the mind, leaving you feeling more grounded, present, and light. This is a one-pot meal that contains soaked basmati rice, split yellow peas or hulled mung beans, and an array of spices and seasonal vegetables.
Why is a cleanse with this dish a staple for the fall? As we enter fall, we are entering a time of transition and letting go so its beneficial to our entire being if we find the time to remove toxins, remove excess heat that was brought on by the summer, get the GI tract ready for the fall vegetation, and helping the mind feel at ease during a crispy, cold, breezy time of the year. Fall can bring a lot of change and that can leave us feeling ungrounded and under the weather. To restore ourselves we must simply nourish ourselves.
Below I will list the recipe for Kichari and will also leave a link that will direct you to my site where you can find more information on the Kichari Cleanse that I will be hosting Virtually October 15. I hope you will jump on board with me and others for this cleanse, it is a perfect way to start this season.
https://primal-harmony.com/kichari-cleanse/ – Join Me for the Fall Kichari Cleanse!
Kichari
Ingredients:
1 Cup white basmati rice
3/4 cup split yellow mung beans (mung dhal)
6 cups filtered water
1 T. Ghee
3 t. cumin seeds
2 t. brown (looks black) mustard seeds
1 inch fresh grated ginger
3 t. ground coriander
1 t. salt
1 inch turmeric (fresh grated)
1/2 t. black pepper
1” piece of kombu seaweed – optional but highly recommended Up to 2 c. chopped veggies
Soak the mung dhal for 1 – 2 hours. Thoroughly rinse the rice and mung dhal twice. Use a large pot and heat ghee and add cumin seeds & mustard seeds, after 1 – 2 minutes add ginger, mung dual and rice and cook for another couple minutes. Add water to pot and bring to a boil for 5 minutes, uncovered, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to low, add kombu (if using), rest of the spices
& salt and cover, leaving the lid slightly ajar. Cook until tender, about 25 – 30 minutes. Add chopped vegetables (if using) at the last 10 minutes.
Vegetable Suggestions: asparagus, sweet potato, spinach, fall/winter squash.
About the author:
Chelsea Shapouri is a Lifestyle Consultant for woman and an Elemental Yoga Instructor based in Santa Cruz, CA. In her work, she offers Ayurvedic lifestyle modalities, Yoga, Breath work, Meditations, and Ayurvedic Recipes. Every client and student is rare and special to her. Chelsea’s mission is to find their unique rhythm, their primal-natural state, and from there support them with techniques and recipes that are meant for their bio-individuality. Harmony for the emotional body, physical body, and mental state is the embodiment she lives by and wishes to offer. Bringing people back home to themselves with techniques they can simply do themselves is what she lives for. The art of service is the art of love and she shares what has helped her heal for the hope to help others heal. Stay connected to Chelsea and read her story through social media or her website. Primal-harmony.com
