Kitchari Recipe

Kitchari is the perfect dish for the end of season because it helps us to detox and clear out any congestion in our bodies. This delicious dish is packed full of spices and vegetables that support digestion and promote gut health. It also helps to remove toxins from both your mind and body making it the ideal dish for a cleanse.

We also highly recommend this dish to postpartum mothers as it helps to promote healing and recovery after giving birth.

The below Kitchari recipe was written by the talented Katie Calcaterra. You can find her website here.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup basmati rice
  • 1/2 cup split mung dahl
  • 6 – 8 cups water (more water earlier for earlier postpartum)
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped vegetables (asparagus, okra and/or carrot)
  • 3 Tbsp ghee (or sesame oil)
  • 1 tsp yellow or brown mustard seeds
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 cloves freshly minced garlic (optional)
  • 1 inch grated ginger root or 1 tsp ginger powder
  • pinch asafoetida powder, hing (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1/3 cup chopped cilantro
  • lime slices for garnish
  • sea salt

**For high Vata, add an additional 1/2 tsp cardamom powder

**For high Kapha, add a pinch of ginger powder

Preparation:

  1. Carefully pick over rice and dahl to remove any stones. If time permits, soak the rice and dahl separately for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours. Rinse each separately until water runs clear, or in at least 2 changes of water
  2. Bring 6 – 8 cups water to a boil in a large heavy bottomed pot. Use more water for earlier in postpartum. Then add rice and dahl, and allow to simmer on low 35 – 40 minutes, covered with the lid slightly ajar.
  3. While that is cooking, prepare any vegetables by cutting them into small, bite-size pieces. When dahl and rice are cooked and tender, add the vegetables and cook for 10 minutes longer. In a separate saucepan, melt ghee, then add mustard seeds. Once they begin to pop, add the minced garlic. When the garlic is beginning to turn golden, stir in the ground spices and grated ginger and stir to combine and release the flavors and then turn off heat, as it can burn quickly. Stir the sautéed spices into the cooked dal, rice, and vegetable mixture.
  4. Sprinkle with sea salt, chopped fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime to finish!
    For high Pitta, you can also garnish with grated coconut. After the first ten days, when lochia is reduced, blood-building iron-rich greens like spinach are a tasty and a beneficial addition. Fold in spinach when dish is finished, while it’s still hot.

For more Ayurvedic recipes, yoga insights and grant announcements, make sure you stay up to date with the Yoga For Good Foundation Blog.

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Tuesday 3rd June 2025 - 12:00nn to 1:00pm

Leah Cooper - Winter Water element Kidney Meridian Class

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Meeting ID: 837 8021 3576
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This class uses Japanese yoga therapy to tune into the kidney energy, support the spine, and help regulate the nervous system. With exercises to squeeze into the kidneys, we bring tone and support the organ’s function, helping to release stagnation. Followed by kidney meridian stretches, energy is able to flow more freely, helping to achieve a deeper sense of peace and calm as a result. Try this class to reduce symptoms associated with stress and to improve sleep.

Leah Cooper is an accredited Level 3 Yoga Teacher (Yoga Australia) who brings her passion for health and healing to the mat. She teaches meridian-based yoga therapy and owns The Centre of Ki, a yoga and wellbeing business based in South Australia. She enjoys sharing her health and wellbeing knowledge and experience with others via her YouTube channel and podcast, The Wellbeing Room.

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This Yoga for Good Community class includes gentle movement and meditative sound techniques. You’ll be guided through simple movement and breathing practices to prepare the body and mind for meditation, followed by a sound meditation (including vocalisation and visualisation).

Dr. Gemma Perry, PhD, is a yoga teacher and researcher specialising in mantra meditation. Gemma completed her Honours, Master’s and PhD on the psychology of chanting at Macquarie University, and continues her research at Bond University, Australia. She aims to establish mantra and chanting as practices recognised by health practitioners, scientists, educators and industry to promote psychosocial wellbeing and peace and reach our full human potential.

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