Wicked Healthy Kitchari
with Minted Cucumber Avocado Salad & Toasted Naan
This meal comes from our friends at Wicked Healthy and it’s a one pot wonder that builds flavor at every step. With a dish like this, it’s important to taste and season often– doesn’t sound too bad does it? The tarka, which is a toasted spice paste, includes mustard seeds, coriander, and cumin, and we toast it to bring out all of the aromatic goodness. If you’d prefer not to turn on the oven for the naan, try popping it in the toaster to warm.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 onion
- Fresh ginger
- 1 fresno chile
- ½ cup basmati rice
- ½ cup yellow moong dal
- 2 tbsp vegetable broth powder
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp brown mustard seeds
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1 avocado
- 1 cucumber
- Fresh mint
- 1 lemon
- 1 piece naan
- 1 tbsp + 1 tsp vegetable oil*
- Salt and pepper*
- *Not included
- **Allergens: Wheat
INSTRUCTIONS
Peel and dice the onion. Peel and mince the ginger. Trim and mince the fresno chile. Place a large pot over medium high heat and add 1 tbsp vegetable oil. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned in places and softened, about 3 to 4 minutes.
To the large pot add the basmati rice, minced ginger, and as much of the fresno chile as you’d like and cook until ginger is fragrant, about a minute. Add the yellow moong dal, vegetable broth powder, and 2½ cups water. Bring kitchari to a boil and reduce heat to low. Simmer, covered, until all of the water is absorbed and dal are tender and broken down slightly, about 18 to 22 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place a small skillet over medium heat and add the cumin seeds and brown mustard seeds. Toast the seeds until they pop, about 3 minutes. Add the turmeric, coriander, and 1 tsp vegetable oil, and stir to make a paste. Season tarka with salt and cook for an additional minute.
Slice the avocado in half and remove the pit. Dice the flesh and add it to a large bowl. Peel the cucumber, halve lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds. Thinly slice the cucumber into half moons and add to the bowl. Chop the mint leaves and add them to the bowl along with a pinch of salt and the juice from half of the lemon. Toss minted cucumber avocado salad to combine.
Add the prepared tarka and juice from the remaining lemon half to the kitchari. Season with salt and pepper and stir to combine. Place the naan in the oven to warm.
Divide the kitchari between large shallow bowls. Serve with minted cucumber avocado salad and toasted naan. Enjoy!