Kitchari: Comfort That Actually Comforts
A warm Ayurvedic bowl to calm your system and reset your energy.
When I start to feel even a little bit unglued, I do NOT reach for sugar, bread, salt, or caffeine.
Yes, lattes, ice cream, and warm salted pretzels feel like comfort and can be fun to indulge — and I’m not saying cut them out forever — but, you already know this: the energy you get from them is short-lived. It creates energy debt, and then the cravings multiply.
What do I reach for instead?
Not a snack.
Rather, it cues me to my next meal –
Kitchari.
What in the hell is that? Let me tell you.
It’s a warm hug. A digestive miracle. A nervous system soother.
It’s rice and beans.
And no, it’s not rice and beans as in, let’s do burritos. Nothing wrong with them; they just won't reset you when you’re feeling unglued, foggy or tired.
Kitchari is a simple, versatile, one-pot meal, built on a complete-protein base: white basmati rice + split yellow mung beans.
In the right proportion (1:2), these two humble ingredients become the essential aminos your body is asking for. Add to it:
Ghee: the nourishing fat and Ayurvedic staple that truly satiates.
Spices: delicious pre-digestive medicine with real healing properties.
Seasonal veggies: matched to your mind-body state for fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
…and you have miracle in a bowl that wipes out cravings and fortifies your mind and body with nourishment, depth, and trust. The more water you add to it, the more porridgy it gets, and the more healing and comforting it becomes.
Yes, I’m a fan.
And as a one-pot meal,
You don’t have to worry about strategic food combining for optimal digestion
You can easily batch several meals at once
It’s cost effective
Now picture this:
You’re stressed and reaching for food for comfort.
Meditation isn’t landing.
You’re trying to name the non-food hunger, but you can’t sit long enough to hear it.
Your body is thinking food, and your nervous energy is shouting, do something.
Here are 4 things to do:
Hydrate first. Ideally, sip warm water with lemon and a pinch of salt, or do plain hot water sips throughout the day. Skip iced-drinks altogether. They may feel refreshing, but they chill digestion and add to stress.
Take one action you’re avoiding; the one that will actually relieve you of that stress. I used to say “do self care,” and people would fortify their boundaries or hide in self care, which only delayed the thing that needed tending. Think the other self care: communication, connection, asking for support, and creating and sharing (vs. endlessly consuming another course or more media). Yes, turn inward for care; that’s medicine. But the stressor – the deep call – will still be there. Answer it. Your nervous system wants this completion. The longer you stay inward without one outward step, the heavier the delay becomes, haunting the edges of your day. Name the move. Make the call. Send the draft. Ask for help. Share the thing. Then breathe. Do the dance.
Eat what’s super digestible. Make kitchari. This is not the time to go for chicken, fries, pizza, cheese, nuts, cold cuts, or “healthy” cold foods like smoothies or salads. This is also not the time to get gourmet creative. These amplify the stress you already feel and land you back in the loop of gloom and overwhelm. Stick to simple, warm, spiced foods. The more stressed you are, the more this matters.
Stop snacking. It masks true hunger signals and disrupts the digestive processes. Like us, our digestive system needs ample breaks to do its work optimally, and when it doesn’t get them, energy and clarity suffers. Depending on your constitution, eat 1 to 3 meals a day. The lighter your body feels, the faster you’ll heal, the clearer you’ll think, and the more energy and creativity you’ll have. By light, I don’t mean light-headed, jittery, and wiry. I mean not heavy, overwhelmed, tired, congested, and lethargic. Think stable and safe, anchored but not bogged down, and mentally and energetically agile.
When these become your regular rhythm, indulgences with friends and at celebrations can become real celebrations. Instead of bracing for punishment (low energy, congestion, over-sensitivity), your deeper reserves simply let you off the hook. Why? Your digestion is efficient, and your immunity strong. Grace is on your side.
On the days you reach for comfort, choose comfort that actually comforts: a warm bowl of kitchari. It steadies your mind, settles your gut, and gives you the kinds of energy that doesn’t boomerang.
To make it effortless, I’ve put together a short guide you can keep on your counter. It includes the kitchari base recipe and variations for each dosha (mind-body constitution) and season.
I’ve opened this one up to everyone. You’re welcome!
Enjoy your bowl of real comfort. Ask questions. Let me know how it turns out and what other support you need.
– Savitree
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After throwing countless options to the question of what to cook? Me and my wife often settle with Khichdi. 😀
Ultimate comfort food.
Thank you, Savitree, for sharing this comforting and nourishing recipe. I love how you made kitchari feel like a warm hug and a true reset for the body and mind. I can’t wait to try it the next time I need grounding and care. 🌱🌿