Dal and Kimchi

(14/21)

Korean visitors to India are crazy about three Indian dishes--tandoori chicken, butter naan and butter chicken. I like these dishes too, but my favourite Indian dish is chana dal. I can eat it every day. Chana dal with rice and kimchi has an indescribable taste. The Health selected the world’s five healthiest foods: Indian dal, Korean kimchi, Greek yoghurt, Spanish olive oil and Japanese soy. These are also the most common foods in their respective countries. 

Recipes of Dal and Kimchi have two common processes—soaking and seasoning. Lentils and cabbages are soaked in water for several hours. During this process, they silently absorb water and become soft. After that, they are well seasoned with various spices. Finally, they are born again as the healthiest foods of the world. 

During the pandemic, we need special care for our bodies and minds. If dal and kimchi are good for our bodies, what is good for our minds? This should be something very common. Every day I have a good conversation with Jane. Just like dal and kimchi, a good conversation needs soaking and seasoning. Some words in a conversation may be hard to digest. We need to soak them in the water of understanding. This softens our words for each other. We, then, need to season our words with humility, honesty and humour. This makes our relationships healthy. A healthy relationship has great immunity to any crises. God be with you!