Coconut Kitchdi

If you live in a house, every so often something needs repairing or replacing. Last Friday I painted our massive deck and by the end, my entire body needed repairing. Your body is like a home. It houses all your organs and functions like a well-oiled machine. While a painkiller could have solved my problem, I felt my body needed more TLC than a pill could provide. So I raided my kitchen and made this golden coconut rice porridge which soothed my aching muscles and joints! *Recipe* - 1/2 c basmati rice - 1/2 c lentils (I used a mix of red and yellow) - 1 T coconut oil (nutrient absorption) - 1 t cumin seeds (digestion) - 2-3 cloves of garlic minced (medicinal) - 1 in. piece of ginger chopped finely (for muscle soreness and pain) - 1/2 an onion thinly sliced - 1 green chili finely chopped (vitamins) - 1 t turmeric powder (anti-inflammatory) - 1/4 t black pepper (absorption of turmeric) - pinch of asafetida/hing (digestion) - 1/2 c coconut milk (healthy fat for enhanced absorption of turmeric) - juice of 1/2 a lime . . • Rinse your rice 2-3 times and pour into a pot with 1 cup of boiling water. Turn down to a low and cook covered for 15 mins or until the water has evaporated. Once done let it sit for 5 mins and then fluff with a fork. • While your rice is cooking, heat a pot with your coconut oil. Once oil is hot, add cumin seeds and cook until they begin to splutter. Then add your green chili, ginger, and garlic. Cook for 1 min until they turn aromatic. Add your onions and a pinch of salt and cook covered until onions are soft. Add turmeric and black pepper, and asafetida and sauté for 1 min. Now add 1.5 c of water and bring to a boil. Add your rinsed lentils to water and turn down heat to med low and cook covered for 20-25 mins or until cooked, stirring occasionally. You can add water as you cook if you feel the lentils are getting dry. Once cooked add the coconut milk and mix, being careful not to let the mixture to boil. Turn off the heat and add in your rice and lime juice.