Digestion30 min
A one-day moong dal khichdi reset for a tired stomach
After festivals, weddings or a week of eating out, a day of simple moong dal khichdi gives digestion a break. It's the Ayurvedic idea of a ‘cleanse’ — nourishing, warm and easy, not starving.
The Ayurvedic view
Khichdi — rice and split yellow moong dal cooked soft with a little ghee and gentle spices — is considered in Ayurveda to suit every body type. Moong is the lightest of the dals, rice is soothing, and cumin, ginger and turmeric support the digestive fire. Eating only khichdi for a day (a traditional mono-diet) lets a sluggish, heavy stomach reset without the weakness of fasting.
Ingredients
- ½ cup rice and ½ cup split yellow moong dal, washed
- 4–5 cups water
- 1 teaspoon ghee, ½ teaspoon cumin seeds, a pinch of hing
- ½ teaspoon grated ginger, ¼ teaspoon turmeric, rock salt to taste
- A handful of chopped lauki, carrot or spinach (optional)
How to prepare
- Soak the rice and dal for 20 minutes, then drain.
- Heat ghee in a pressure cooker, add cumin and hing, then ginger and turmeric.
- Add rice, dal, vegetables, salt and water. Pressure cook for 3–4 whistles until very soft.
- Stir well; add hot water if it's too thick — it should be porridge-like.
How to use
- Eat warm khichdi for breakfast, lunch and dinner for one day, with warm water or ginger tea in between.
- A spoon of ghee on top and a little lemon or coriander chutney make it tastier.
- Return to normal meals slowly the next day, starting light.
Helpful habits
- Eat without screens, chew slowly, and stop before you feel stuffed.
- Go to bed early; rest is part of the reset.
Precautions
- People with diabetes should use less rice (or add more dal and vegetables), keep portions moderate and continue their medicines and sugar monitoring.
- Those with kidney disease should check salt and dal portions with their doctor.
- A khichdi day is for mild heaviness; for persistent indigestion, pain, vomiting or weight loss, see a doctor.
