This healing Khichdi recipe is designed to give your digestion a break. Deeply nourishing Ayurvedic comfort food that gently supports the body’s natural healing. Vegan and gluten-free.
Empty yourself and let the universe fill you. Yogi Tea
This is one of my favorite ways to begin the new year-slowly, intentionally, and with nourishment that truly supports my body. For centuries across India, khichdi has been revered in Ayurvedic tradition as a deeply comforting, easily digestible meal known for its gentle restorative qualities. Rather than a harsh "detox," khichdi is designed to support digestion, calm the nervous system, and gently bring the body back into balance.
Khichdi isn't just a "detox food"-it's a deliberate pause for your digestive system.
Most recipes focus on cleansing, but what's often omitted is that khichdi's real power lies in what it removes, not what it adds. By simplifying flavors, textures, and ingredients, khichdi reduces decision-making for the gut, allowing digestion to reset naturally-much like a rest day after intense exercise. This is why it's traditionally eaten repeatedly for several days: consistency creates the healing.
Traditionally, this involves eating this simple, nourishing dish at every meal for three to seven days. Made from humble, whole ingredients, khichdi has long been trusted in Ayurveda for its ability to reset digestion, promote healing, and support overall wellness-making it as relevant today as it has been for generations.
What is Khichdi?
In its traditional form, Khichdi consists of mung beans (moong dal) or lentils, cooked with rice (or buckwheat), vegetables, and mild Indian spices, and can vary greatly by region. It is considered one of the most healing meals in Ayurveda because it is tri-doshic, meaning it balances all three doshas.
Wondering about kitchari vs khichdi? -Khichdi is the traditional Indian dish, while kitchari is the Westernized spelling.
Why you’ll love this Khichdi Recipe
It’s adaptable. Use mung beans or lentils, use any grain or veggie you like. Make it more like a bowl (as shown here) or add more broth to make a porridge.
Gently spiced, but not bland. It’s delicious, healthy, and satisfying without feeling too heavy or bland.
Easy to meal prep. It’s easy to make a big batch and reheat it throughout the week for simple, easy meals.
Ingredients
- Mung beans or lentils – mung beans (or lentils) should be soaked for easy digestibility.
- Toasted buckwheat– also known as Kashi, (or sub brown rice or other whole grain)
- Cleansing vegetables: carrots, celery, fennel, cauliflower, broccoli, or kale
- Ginger, Garlic and Onion– adds flavor, but also can be left out.
- Indian spices and seeds– used gently and sparingly.
- Olive oil or ghee– ghee is traditional and is easy to digest, but olive oil is a great vegan alternative.
Chef’s Tips
Timing. In Ayurveda, it is believed that we should have our biggest meal of the day, when the sun is at its highest point–at lunchtime.
Benefits of mung beans. Don’t let their diminutive size fool you– they are surprisingly packed full of protein and nutrients and the list of health benefits to the body is endless.
Soak. Soaking mung beans in water overnight will double their size (on the right), cut their cooking time in half, and increase their digestibility. Sprouted mung beans are exceptionally good for you, so if you have time to sprout them first, do!
How to make Khichdi
- Soak the mungbeans ( or lentils)
- Saute the onion in oil over medium-high heat in a Dutch oven for 2-3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium add ginger and garlic, and saute a few minutes, until golden and fragrant. Add the spices, salt and pepper, and stirring, toast for a few more minutes.
- Simmer. Add the soaked mung beans and buckwheat or soaked brown rice. Add water, broth and 2 cups of chopped veggies bring to a good boil. Cover. Turn the heat to low, and let it simmer for 20 minutes. Check for doneness. Continue cooking for 5 to 10 more minutes if necessary.
- Season. Once it is done, taste and adjust salt and seasonings. If you like a more “porridge-like” consistency, add more veggie broth.
VariationS
If you prefer a porridge consistency, feel free to add more broth and adjust the salt.
Leave out the garlic and onions. Considered stimulating in Ayurveda, some opt to omit these, making the dish gentler and more calming to the nervous system during a cleanse. This is believed to help with meditation as well.
Serving Suggestions and Storage
Serve in bowls, and top with fresh diced tomato, fresh cilantro or parsley, a pinch of salt and pepper, a squeeze of lemon, and a tiny drizzle of olive oil over the top of the tomatoes. Microgreens are always welcome too!
Leftovers will keep up to 5 days in an airtight container in the fridge, or can be frozen for 3 months. Reheat gently on the stove with a splash of water or broth.
More Favorite Ayurvedic Recipes
Wherever this finds you, may you feel hopeful and excited about this coming New Year — open to the possibilities that haven’t even been imagined yet. Create a little space for the mystery to unfold without too many plans – a clear, open field to let life show up in its own wise and perfect way.
Cheers and love. All the best to you this New Year!
Sylvia
Ayurvedic Khichdi Recipe (Kitchari)
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Total Time: 50 mins
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: gluten-free, Main, vegan
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: Indian
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Khichdi is a time-honored Ayurvedic detox recipe eaten during cleanses to gently reset digestion and restore balance to the body.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1 1/2 tablespoon olive oil or coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
- 1 tsp whole mustard seeds
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin seeds or ground cumin powder
- 1/2 tsp coriander
- 1/2 tsp garam masala, more to taste
- 1/4 –1/2 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
- few twists of black pepper
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 cup dry split mung beans, split lentils (or use whole mung beans or whole lentils- soaked overnight)
- 1/2 cup buckwheat (kashi) or (soaked, brown basmati rice)
- 1 1/2 cup water
- 1 cup veggie broth
- 2–3 cups chopped vegetables ( like carrot, parsnips, celery, fennel bulb, cauliflower, broccoli)
- Optional Garnishes: cilantro or Italian parsley, lemon wedge, diced tomato for topping, microgreens, olive oil.
Instructions
- In a medium pot, saute onion in oil over medium high heat for 2-3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium add ginger and garlic, and saute a few minutes, until golden and fragrant.
- Add all the spices, pepper, salt and toast for a few more minutes, stirring. Add soaked mung beans and buckwheat or soaked brown rice. Add water, broth and 2 cups chopped veggies bring to a good boil. Cover. Turn heat to low, and let simmer for 20 minutes. Check for doneness.
- Continue cooking for 5 to 10 more minutes if necessary. Some rice takes longer, and if you do not pre-soak your whole mung beans, or brown rice, you will need to add more water, which will change the recipe proportions and flavor…so try to soak if possible.
- Once it is done, taste and adjust salt and seasonings to your liking. *If you like a more “porridge-like” consistency, add more veggie broth.
- Spoon into bowls, top with fresh diced tomato , cilantro, and a pinch of salt and pepper, and a squeeze of lemon and a drizzle of olive oil.
Notes
Soaking the beans (or lentils) helps with digestibility and also shortens the cooking time in half. I highly recommend soaking. 🙂 If using brown rice, make sure to pre-soak for a few hours or overnight to help shorten the cooking time.
If you prefer your khichdi more like a porridge (which is traditional in parts of India) feel free to add warm veggie broth to loosen to get it to the consistency you like.
Khichdi will keep up to 4 days in the refrigerator or can be placed in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ½ cups
- Calories: 305
- Sugar: 4.2 g
- Sodium: 83.4 mg
- Fat: 5.7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 11.5 g
- Protein: 11.3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
I just made this recipe for dinner and my whole family loved it! The spices were perfect for a warm comforting meal, especially on this cool rainy day.
We are trying to eat more plant-based meals and I always come to your site for recipes. I have loved every one I’ve tried (and I’ve tried a lot!) 🥰
Thank you for your delicious recipes that make eating healthier so easy and enjoyable!
So nice to hear this Alyssa! Glad you are enjoying the recipes.
It’s easy to make a big batch and reheat it throughout the week for simple easy meals. –how do you reheat this? I keep making mega batches.
Great Ann! I usually just reheat on the stovetop- just add a little water or broth.
Oh never mind about the coriander comment! It looks fine! Apparently, my computer wanted to do that for me! Ooops!
Oh haha, I get it!
Looking forward to trying this recipe. Just confirming that the coriander has actually been removed? It shows up in the recipe but lined through. Thanks!
I do a mono diet cleanse with the changing of the seasons, and I was delighted to find this recipe of your version. I always feel so good after resetting my digestion, and eliminating sugar and processed foods. This is comfort food at its best; nourishing, warm, and adaptable.
Such a great ritual Hazel! Glad you felt nourished. 🙂
Great recipe. All the chopping is worth it!
Awesome to hear Dyane!
Great flavors! I felt so good after eating this and wanted more today!
Good to hear!
Love the intense spice combination with sweetness of mung beans.
Glad you enjoyed!
I tried your Khichdi using leftover pre-soaked and cooked brown lentils and quinoa instead of rice; carrots, celery and green beans for veg, and some fresh pineapple. I made the sauce and then added the lentils. The result was delicious, fresh, and energising. Thank you so much for your inspirational recipes. XXX
Perfect! Sounds tasty Brenda!
Khichdi-Ayurvedic Detox Bowl recipe was really yummy. I can’t even pronounce the recipe, but it was warming and packed with hearty ingredients. Really enjoyed this dish. Will definitely make it in the fall and winter seasons.
Great to hear- yes, very warming and nourishing. 😉
Is veggies broth the same as stock
Yes- basically. 🙂
Hey, this sounds amazing! But is this possible to do while breastfeeding, do you happen to know? If so, how many days? I would love to get back on tractk after all the pregnancy cravings eaten 🙂
I think it should be fine- it seems so gentle and mild- but honestly, I don’t know for sure. 😉
one of the best detox food recipes for ayurvedic
Fantastic. Loving this site and feeling so much better only 5 days into looking at these recipes and on the Khichdi soup, thank you. Incredibly grateful X
Glad you are enjoying the site Emma!
Just made this after a 10 day mung bean detox to ease me back into normality – absolutely delicious. Thank you, I love your recipes wonderful!
Great to hear Jo!
Hi Sylvia – great recipe for the January detox! Question: I could only find buckwheat groats instead of the toasted buckwheat locally…would this work or, if not, how should I adapt it? Thanks!
Yes Kirsten, that should work fine- the groats are the whole grain, right?
Yes they are…and organic.
Awesome!
This is beautiful food medicine! Thank you for this recipe. It is just what the body and soul needs.
Awesome Kylie! Glad you liked this! It does feel like medicine!
I just made this…it’s AMAZING!
Yay!!!
Delicious. Lovely mix of spices that give full bodied flavour, without being hot and spicy. Really grounding and comforting. Very easy to throw together.
Glad you enjoyed this Trish!
(I meant if you aren’t specifically detoxing. 🙂 )
I think this would go perfectly atop some basmati rice and some vegan protein such as Tempeh or Seitan on the side. Very tasty on it’s own though!
thanks so much Leah!
Fantastic! Just whipped this up tonight, using some red cabbage, carrots and broccoli – substituted forbidden rice (cooked for 20 minutes, then added it) and used standard lentils – all organic to boot! Threw in some oregano in place of the coriander, and used spicy brown mustard for the seeds. This recipe is going to be a staple from now on – great flavors, wife loved it – now, if I could just get the 16 year son to step away from the chicken and dig into this! Great recipe – thanks so much.
Thanks Jimbo- really love all your adaptions here!
Yum! Used cauli rice instead of buckwheat and omitted oil. Delicious
Perfect!
If I’m making this just for 1 person, is it safe to keep and reheat the next day? Just not sure if it’s safe to eat re- heated rice?
Yes totally safe.
I was a little confused with the recipe- mind you, I’ve been going through a lot as of late. If using red lentils or split mung beans, should I soak them for the recipe as well?
When I first made this; soaked red lentils & rice, Swiss chard stems, zucchini, & carrots & I loved it. Doing the 7 day cleanse. ❤️ Thanks for all the amazing recipes Sylvia.
No, not as imperative to soak them if they are split. You could while you are prepping if you like, but not needed!