Kitchari

A nourishing lentil dish, Kitchari is a traditional Ayurvedic recipe from India. this dish is a delicious, nutritious and warming dish where the lentils, rice and spices are slowly cooked for a long time.

Don't be put off by the range and quantity of spice in this recipe. It's fairly mild (though can easily be spiked with some fresh green chillies) If you don't have any/many of these dried herbs and seeds, I highly recommend all of them and looking into what you can do with them. They are all fairly common in South Indian and Sri Lankan cooking and really worth it. The combination and quantity means that every mouthful is an aromatic explosion of flavour.

INGEEDIENTS

• 2 tbsp Oil (I use sunflower or coconut)

• 2 tbsp Cumin seeds

• 1 tsp Fennel seeds

• 1 tsp Coriander seeds

• 1/2 tsp Black mustard seeds

• 10 Cardamom pods

• 1 thumb sized piece of ginger, grated

• 1 tsp crushed black peppercorns

• 2 tsp Turmeric

• 1/2 Tin of chopped tomatoes

• 1/2 Cup of red lentils

• 3/4 Cup of white Basmati rice

• 1.5 tsp Salt

• 6 Cups water

• 2 tbsp Desiccated coconut

OPTIONAL

(for a spicy version)

• 10 Curry leaves

• 2 Green chillies

• 6 Cloves garlic

METHOD

• Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the cumin, fennel, coriander & mustard seeds, with the cardamom and stir until they start to release an aroma, being careful not to burn them. (about 30 seconds)

• Add the ginger and stir for another 30 seconds

• Add the black pepper and turmeric and stir (if using chillies and curry leaves, pop them in at this point. Thinly slicing the chillies, deseeding them if you want a milder version)

• Add the chopped tomatoes and stir everything well, reducing the temperature if necessary

• Add the lentils, rice, salt and water and let it all simmer gently, stirring from time to time when needed (add the garlic at this point if using, just peel and add them either whole or halved)

• It is ready when all the water has been absorbed. This is about 40 minutes.

You could add a handful of spinach to wilt in there too or whatever vegetables you have left over in your fridge.

Serve with some fresh coriander. Would be nice with naans or flatbreads too.

Enjoy! Joseph x