Ayurvedically speaking...preparing for Spring
Spring is coming! As temperatures begin to rise, the hard landscape outdoors begins to soften, and quietly winter melts away and nature becomes alive! If you have ever watched a nature show showing the changing seasons it is beautiful and effortless, all of nature works together. Not always the case for humans, we may experience, heaviness, allergies, colds, the constant runny nose, this is winter melting within our bodies. One of the best ways we can work together with nature is to begin to change our diet, a spring cleanse. Eating easily digestible food is a safe and healthy way to cleanse and Kicharee is one of the best dishes to make as we move into Spring. Included is a spring kicharee using Barley and another using Basmati Rice. Enjoy!
Spring Kicharee
This kicharee is mildly laxative and diuretic, as well as being a liver-bile stimulator. Add 1 parsnip to sweeten and cool the dish if you wish.
½ cup split Mung Beans
1 cup pearl Barley
1 inch fresh ginger – peeled and chopped
2 tbsp of ghee
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp Coriander powder
1 tsp Cumin powder or Cumin seeds
1 pinch of sea salt
1 pinch of hing (asafetida) (spice in the white container that smells)
½ stick of Komba
6 inch Burdock root, chopped
1 bunch fresh dandelion greens
6 cups water
In a large pot – heat ghee on Med/High Add ginger mustard sees, cumin seeds, turmeric, hing, coriander and stir 1-2 mins until spices become aromatic, Add beans and stir till all grains are coated “Dry Roast” 3-4 mins stirring continuously Add water, burdock root and komba bring to a boil Cover – Reduce heat to med and cook for 50 mins or until barley it tender
Add additional water to keep the kicharee moist if needed
Pearl Barley – cooling and diuretic in action
Kombu – sea vegetable packaged in wide, dark dehydrated strips that will double in size upon cooking. It improves the digestibility of grains and beans. Also a great source of glutamic acid.
Burdock Root – Renowned as one of nature’s finest blood purifiers and skin clarifiers, has a very centering grounding energy.
Daikon Radish – Aids in the digestion of fat and protein as well as to help the body to assimilate oil and cleanse organ tissue.
Kicharee
½ cup split Mung Beans ½ & ½ Rice & Beans + Twice the liquid gives solid Kicharee
½ cup Basmati Rice ½ & ½ Rice & Beans + 3-5 the liquid gives “Soup”
1 inch fresh ginger – peeled and chopped
2 tbsp of ghee
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp Coriander powder
1 tsp Cumin powder or Cumin seeds
1 pinch of sea salt
1 pinch of hing (asafetida) (spice in the white container that smells)
2-6 cups water (Vegetable broth gives more flavor)
(add 3-5 times the amount of stock as total Rice/Beans mix for soup –
add 2-3 times the amount to make Kicharee)
In a large pot – heat ghee on Med/High Add ginger mustard sees, cumin seeds, turmeric, hing, coriander and stir 1-2 mins until spices become aromatic, Add rice and beans and stir till all grains are coated “Dry Roast” 3-4 mins stirring continuously Add water and salt and bring to a boil Cover – Reduce heat to med and cook for 30 mins for “solid kicharee” or 40 – 60 mins for soup.
If the broth or water is evaporating while cooking just add more
Variation: Add sliced vegetables - for cleansing, broccoli, dandelion greens, cabbage, cauliflower are great to add.
Recommended Herbs for March: Supporting the Immune System
1.Tulisi (Holy Basil)
Next to the Lotus, Tulisi is perhaps the most sacred plant of India, its quality is pure Sattva opening the mind and heart. It is an effective diaphoretic in most colds, flus and lung issues, removing excess phlegm from the nasal passages and lungs and increasing prana and strengthens the nerve tissues. Enjoy it as a tea with honey.
2. Elder Berry
Another great diaphoretic is the Elder Berry/Flower which helps cleanse the lymphatics and plasma along with subtle channels and capillaries, working primarily on the lungs and respiratory system. Elder Berry is a cooling diaphoretic which have additional cleansing action on the liver and blood. Enjoy as a tea or syrup!
