Making Kitchari So It Cooks During a 2-3 Hour Passage

Most of you know I don’t like to cook while underway. But on cold, wet days, it’s nice to have something hot when we finally anchor or dock. Using my technique of cooking-with-fleece,  I’m able to start a hot meal so it’s done by lunch time.

One meal that usually satisfies as warm and nurturing is kitchari, a traditional Ayervedic cleansing food.  
Here’s how I do it.

I usually use a 5. or 1 quart lidded cast-iron pot. I do this because a pot that’s significantly larger than the meal I’m preparing will cool down and not cook the food properly. For today, I’m making a bigger batch and am using a 2-quart pot.

For kitchari, I use:

1 part basmati rice, rinsed
1 part yellow moong dal, rinsed and picked through
7 parts water
Then I add (all ground) ¼ - ½ teaspoon of (depending on taste):
Turmeric
Garam Masala
Ginger
Cardamom
Black pepper
Coriander
Sea salt
2 tsp ghee or coconut oil.
 
Note: sometimes I buy packets from Amazon. It’s easier, but I always have to add more garam masala.
 
Then I put everything in a pan, put the lid on, and turn up the heat to get it to boiling.
 
When it starts boiling, I remove the lid and turn the heat down a little so it doesn’t boil over and make an ugly mess.
 
While it’s boiling, I prepare my fleece. The more the merrier. I usually use two 24”x 48” strips of thick fleece. I lay on over the other in a perpendicular fashion. It’ll look like a big +.
 
After the kitchari boils for 5 minutes (218 degrees), I put the lid on the pot, and place the pot in the center of the cross. I then bring up the four sides so the pot is completely enshrouded in the fleece. There should be many layers.
 
When I come back at 90 minutes later, the kitchari’s done and piping hot.  Top with yogurt.

Mary Robbins review

"I've been a First-Mate since 2000 on power boats in the great Pacific Northwest. Many parts of this book are second nature to me already, but due to reading this book, I've made several changes in our routines. We now have our "comfort" foods of chocolate and licorice readily available. I've started pre-cruise lists, just to ensure that everything we want on board prior to a cruise, is on board, including window screens that were wintering in our basement, that never were on board during a 6 week summer cruise, bummer! This book provides a wealth of resources, suggestions, and advice in one book. As the author says, "For a First-Mate, knowledge is power and ignorance is not bliss. Mary Robbins"

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