It’s vegan, gluten-free, nutrient-rich ... The kitchen would fill with this earthy, nutty aroma, and that was our cue: it was kitchari night. This wasn't just food; it was ritual.

Traditionally, kitchari hasn’t been something you go out for. "It's sort of unglamorous food," said Mumbai native and District resident Vaishali Honawar, who blogs about vegan and Indian cooking ...