DIET RECIPE FOR KHICHADI – THE PERFECT
Approximately 1 hour after completing shankhaprakshalana and soon after completing vamana dhauti, the specially prepared food, kichadi (rice and lentils), must be taken. The 3 components of the kichadi are helpful in the restoration of correct digestive function. The clarified butter (cow’s ghee) is necessary to coat the intestinal walls until the body produces new lining. Rice provides simple easily digestible material in the form of carbohydrates and creates mucus, which also protects the inner lining of the alimentary canal. The lentils supplement the diet by giving the body an easily digestible source of protein. It’s an all round nutritional meal and sufficient quantity of it must be eaten to help the intestines and keep the walls of the gut stretched, otherwise they may cramp due to the absence of the bulk to which they are accustomed. This bulk also aids the intestine to resume peristalsis and helps prevent indigestion, diarrhea and constipation.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup green gram lentils
- ½cup rice
- Cow’s ghee butter (clarified butter)
Method:
- Soak the green gram lentils and rice for 2 hours.
- Wash/rinse ingredients well after soaking.
- Put the gram and rice in a pressure cooker with 6 cups of water and boil on a low flame for c. 30mins. Once the cooker starts whistling (usually after 30mins), turn off the flame.
- Alternatively if you do not have a pressure cooker, boil in a pan on the stove over a low flame for c. 30mins-1hour. When it begins to boil, turn the mixture down to simmer and turn off flame when mixture is soft and very little liquid remains.
- Serve each serving with 1 teaspoon of melted ghee butter.
Additional info:
- Serves approximately 2 generous portions.
- We advise no additional condiments to be added to the first meal (e.g. no salt, sugar etc).
After eating, we recommend further rest (please note: we do not recommend sleeping for the first hour after completing the kriyas as this may lead to physical lethargy and headache). Complete rest should be taken for the remaining of the day and also for the following days. For the next 48 hours, we recommend being as silent as possible, avoiding electronic equipment and any physical and mental work, but rather advise our students take the time to look inward and observe the beautiful changes to one’s body and mind.
Second meal: Khichadi should also be prepared for the late afternoon or evening meal, about 4- 6 hours after the first meal. For this meal you may add a few condiments (e.g. salt, pepper) in addition to sparingly introducing spices and a small amount of vegetables. We also recommend you gradually re-introduce more complex foods to your diet over the next few days.
