Ayurvedic Kitchari Recipe with Coconut Milk - The Herbeevore (2024)

This Ayurvedic kitchari recipe with coconut milk is a cozy and delicious vegan dinner recipe! I’ve tried making a few different recipes for kitchari – and this one is by far my favorite.

It’s loaded with soft simmered vegetables, yellow lentils, and creamy coconut milk. I love how rich and yummy this classic stew turns out and how comforting it is to eat.

Ayurvedic Kitchari Recipe with Coconut Milk - The Herbeevore (1)

This ayurvedic kitchari recipe is the perfect meal for lunch or dinner, its filling enough without being too much. I also love how the spices transform when they are gently sautéed in the pan.

I know a lot of recipes always say to toast seeds/nuts before using, but I’m always amazed at how the flavors really pop in the dish. This is a fantastic and simple versatile recipe you can enjoy for lunch or dinner. Add lentils, your favorite vegetables, and spices for an easy meal.

This Coconut Milk Kitchari is:

  • Warming
  • Spicy
  • Earthy
  • Nourishing
  • Vegan
  • Gluten-Free
Ayurvedic Kitchari Recipe with Coconut Milk - The Herbeevore (2)

I’ve been reading so much about Ayurveda and how small and simple food and lifestyle changes can make a big impact. I now do tongue scraping and coconut oil pulling (abhyanga) in the morning, and the later is especially helpful for dry skin in the winter!

Adding this kitchari to my recipe roundup is great for those weeks when I want something light and comforting for lunch or dinner.

What’s In This Ayurveda Kitchari Recipe?

I get fresh produce from my garden and from Misfits Market– they sell fantastic fruit, vegetables, & pantry staples at a discounted price. We get Misfit boxes every other week and love picking out favorite produce for delivery. Get $10 off your first box here!

Ayurvedic Kitchari Recipe with Coconut Milk - The Herbeevore (3)

Easy Ayurvedic Recipes

This simple and vibrant kitchari recipe is great with garlic naan, and I love that you can change up the vegetables seasonally if needed. I used butternut squash, tomatoes, and peas since that is what I had in the fridge, but use anything that you body loves!

You can also change the oil used in cooking – I like coconut oil and coconut milk in my kitchari (as it pacifies the vata dosha) but you can use a few drops of sesame oil or water for the stock instead.

One of the BEST Pantry Staple Dinner Recipes

This Ayurvedic kitchari recipe is a fantastic pantry-staple meal! It uses almost all ingredients you would have in your dry pantry or cupboards. You probably already have a lot of these ingredients on hand! Keeping a well-stocked pantry makes it easy to come up with delicious and tasty meals using a few staples you can rotate.

I made a list of my Top 125 Plant-Based Pantry Staples that always keep on hand. And you can check out all my favorite pantry staple recipes on TheHerbeevore.com here. By stocking up on whole ingredients you can cook delicious recipes without a trip to the store!

Ayurvedic Kitchari Recipe with Coconut Milk - The Herbeevore (4)

What Do I Serve with Kitchari?

It depends on your preferences, but I love to pair my warming kitchari with:

  • 5 Ingredient No-Knead Olive Oil Skillet Bread (Vegan)
  • Pot Luck Greek Salad with Homemade Vinaigrette (Vegan, Gluten Free, Party Recipe)
  • Rainbow Quinoa Salad (Vegan, Gluten Free)
  • Roasted Peach Summer Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette (Vegan, Gluten Free)
  • Baked Caramel Apples (Vegan, Paleo, Gluten-Free)

As always, if you make this coconut Ayurveda kitchari be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe, and tag me on Instagramso I can feature you. I love seeing all your photos of my recipe recreations!

And let’s stay in touch – make sure to sign up for my newsletter to get free recipes delivered fresh to your inbox. And don’t forget to follow over on Pinterest, Instagram , & Twitter– I’d love to connect with you there!

Ayurvedic Kitchari Recipe with Coconut Milk - The Herbeevore (5)

Ayurvedic Kitchari with Coconut Milk

Adding this Ayurveda kitchari to my recipe roundup is great for those weeks when I want something light, flavorful, and comforting for lunch or dinner.

5 from 10 votes

Print Recipe Pin

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine Ayurvedic, Indian

Servings 8

Calories 297 kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a large pot, turn heat to low and melt coconut oil. Add the coriander seeds, black mustard seeds, and cumin seeds and gently sauté until the seeds begin to pop and release their flavors – about 5 minutes.

  • Add the fresh ginger root and turmeric and stir, cook for 1 additional minute.

  • Add the rest of the ingredients to the pot and stir to combine. Cover and simmer on low for 45 minutes, taking care to stir occasionally so the rice doesn’t stick to the bottom and the kitchari becomes thick.

  • Serve warm and garnish with fresh cilantro, if using.

Video

Notes

Save Money on Organic Produce!

I get all the fresh produce for my recipes from my garden and from Misfits Market – they sell all organic produce at a super discounted price, and it’s purchased direct from the farmers. We get Misfit Market boxes every other week and love picking out our favorite seasonal produce for delivery. You can get $10 off your first box by clicking here!

If you think organic produce is too expensive… think again, and give Misfits Market a look!

Nutrition

Calories: 297kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 12gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 6gSodium: 63mgPotassium: 277mgFiber: 7gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 4677IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 58mgIron: 3mg

Keyword Ayurveda, ayurveda kitchari, ayurvedic kitchari recipe, Ayurvidec Recipes, coconut milk kitchari, kitchidi, recipes for vata, vata recipes

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About the Author: Kelly Jensen

Ayurvedic Kitchari Recipe with Coconut Milk - The Herbeevore (6)

Kelly Jensen has 7 years experience as a food blogger, freelance recipe developer, content creator, beekeeper, and loves cooking everything she can from scratch.

View all post by Kelly Jensen | Website

Ayurvedic Kitchari Recipe with Coconut Milk - The Herbeevore (2024)

FAQs

Is coconut milk healthy Ayurveda? ›

In Ayurveda, generally Coconut Milk is recommended to people with an imbalanced Vata Dosha, for both consumption as well as application.

Is coconut good for vata dosha? ›

Tender coconut water is considered very good for Vata and Pitta Doshas in Ayurveda due to its cooling and hydrating properties. Vata Dosha is characterized by dryness, roughness, and instability, and is balanced by foods and drinks that are moist, nourishing, and grounding.

How to do an Ayurvedic kitchari cleanse? ›

The Kitchari Cleanse: Cleanse

Your daily meal plan begins a grain dish of your choice for breakfast and the kitchari for lunch and dinner. Be sure to add the vegetables recommended on the instructions on the back of the package to the kitchari or as a side. This will keep the hunger at bay while you are cleansing.

Why is kitchari so good for you? ›

Kitchari Is a Complete Protein

The protein content of kitchari supports stable blood sugar levels so that energy and mental clarity are balanced during the cleansing process.

What does coconut milk do to your gut? ›

Coconut may help to improve digestion due to the presence of medium-chain fatty acids. These medium-chain fatty acids may be digested and absorbed easily in the body. They may be immediately broken down by saliva and gastric juice without involving the enzymes from the pancreas.

Is coconut milk good or bad for kidneys? ›

For patients with CKD, coconut milk compares favorably with dairy milk based on the lowest sodium, potassium, and oxalate levels. Macadamia milk is another option for patients who are restricting potassium and oxalate, but has a higher sodium content than coconut milk.

Is coconut milk cooling or heaty? ›

By nature an ambitious organ, the liver falls victim to intense, hot blooded emotions and pitta internal heat conditions. Coconut milk replenishes a liver deficient in fats, and has special cooling properties to soothe an overheated liver.

Is coconut milk warming or cooling? ›

Cooling properties: Coconut water has natural cooling properties that can help regulate body temperature and reduce heat stress.

Is it OK to eat kitchari everyday? ›

While kitchari is a nutritious meal, you don't have to commit to several days of a specific cleanse to reap the benefits. Mirchandani says you can incorporate the recipe into your diet once a week or just start cooking more with the immune-boosting spices like mustard seed and cumin.

What are the side effects of kitchari cleanse? ›

This is a very gentle cleanse, as cleanses go, so you will most likely not find yourself experiencing discomfort. Having said that, you could still experience physical or emotional ups and downs, headaches, body aches, fatigue, irritability. These are all normal, make sure you sleep & hydrate loads.

Can you eat too much kitchari? ›

In general, you can eat enough kitchari to feel satiated but not to the point of exploding (my grandfather always used to say, eat until you can still fit in half a burger into your stomach, you get the point!).

Why does kitchari cause constipation? ›

So, make some kitchari and experience Ayurveda with your first dish! Caution: A kitchari mono-diet can lead to constipation if taken exclusively for several days, as it is low in fiber.

What do we call kitchari in English? ›

Kedgeree evolved from a well-known Indian dish called kitchari or khichdi, a mixture of rice and lentils flavored with toasted spices. During colonial rule the British adapted kitchari using some of their own familiar ingredients, including smoked fish, eggs, and cream.

What is the best time to eat kitchari? ›

Consuming kitchari two times a day is recommended during a cleanse. Ayurveda suggests eating your largest meal around noon, when the sun is highest in the sky and your digestive fire (agni) is strongest.

Which milk is best according to Ayurveda? ›

Cow's milk is considered to be the best, but raw goat milk is fine to use too.

What does Ayurveda say about coconut? ›

This makes it superior to other herbs and fruits that can cool down Pitta, but do not flush it out of the system. Ayurveda considers coconut a natural stress-buster. Coconut cools Sadhaka Pitta, which is associated with emotions.

Which milk is best in Ayurveda? ›

Milk from various animals is used according to Ayurveda. Mainly eight types of milk from animal origin are mentioned, namely that from cow, buffalo, goat, camel, human, sheep, elephant and single hoofed animals (horse, etc.) [3]. Among all, that from cow's milk is considered best.

What are the properties of coconut milk in Ayurveda? ›

Properties of milk derived from coconut pulp:

The milk derived from coconut pulp is unctuous, cold and extremely nourishing to the body, It is heavy to digest, very sweet in taste and aphrodisiac. It treats vitiated rakta, pitta and vata.

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