Check out our delicious and healthy Ayurvedic food, drink, tea and condiment recipes for every season
Switching up your coffee or tea and swapping it with organic cacao is a great way to boost immunity, reduce inflammation and give you a radiant glow.
Being Sri Lankan I can’t help but reach for a cup of black tea with milk and sugar at some point in the day. It’s just a part of our way :) More recently however, and especially in winter, I have started swapping every other day or so with this hot mug of cacao goodness that is super healing and good for you.
Read MoreTry this quick, wholesome & yummy oat slice recipe for breakky or as a snack instead of reaching for the unhealthies. Can be prepped in 5 -10 minutes, baked in 20 - 25 minutes, tops. Use stewed apples instead of banana in colder months.
Read MoreTry this roast veggie dish with some herbed couscous on a cold winter night for wholesome yummy comfort. The sweetness of the veg is balanced with white pepper and the warmth of the cinnamon and 5 spice blend making it balanced and easy to digest in kapha dominant winter months. Takes about 10 min to prep and 25-30 min to bake, tops!
Read MoreThe traditional decoction is called “Paspanguwa” consisting of five plants. These are boiled in water to produce a decoction (‘Peyawa’). If you cant get your hands on Paspanguwa (check any local Indian / Sri Lankan store) or are not able to find all of the ingredients used in the traditional version, some of the essential ones are sure to be in your kitchen so give it a go if needed!
Read MoreWhite and black sesame seeds come from the herb Sesamum indicum. It is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world and used widely in the ayurvedic tradition in our foods, oils and medicines.
Black sesame seeds have a slightly nuttier flavour than white sesame seeds, but both are excellent sources of phytonutrients, antioxidants, dietary fibre and nutrients. Black sesame in particular is a great source of healthy fats, supports the digestive system, keeps bones strong, contains beneficial anti-oxidants and much more..
You might have been recommended black sesame oil for use at home in your abhyangha but there is so much more you can use this wonder seed for.... I have created a lovely black sesame and honey energy ball recipe below.
Read MoreIf you’re at home working / distancing and thinking about boosting your immunity, here’s a little tonic that is easy and quick to make. This has powerful but simple ingredients that are generally available in most kitchen pantries. Handy for when you go out to the shops and all the shelves are empty these days!
Read MoreI was looking for a quick lunch on one of those typically erratic Melbourne days. Warm-ish and windy, mostly turning cool in the shade and then back again. Vata dryness and windiness, pitta heat moving around me I needed something grounding and wholesome, slightly warming but not too heaty.
So I opted for the sweetness and wholesomeness of these kent pumpkin crescent moons, basted in olive oil and the beautifully balanced ras el hanout with cinnamon, cardamom, cumin, coriander, ginger and more.
I grilled the pumpkin and served it with a salad of spinach, feta, walnuts and a small serve of spiced turmeric basmati rice. Recipe for the pumpkin is below!
Read MoreThis Sri Lankan ‘devilled’ chickpea dish is healthy and delicious and packs a spice punch with turmeric, cumin, mustard, black pepper, coconut and more. It can be enjoyed for breakfast, as an accompaniment to couscous and greens for lunch or as a healthy snack.
Read MoreTry these banana and honey buckwheat pancakes for breakky this week! I used buckwheat flour as it is more nutrient dense than white flour. Despite its name, buckwheat is not wheat. It's a seed, which means it is gluten-free and safe for people with gluten sensitivity.
It’s also the perfect ingredient for balancing the heaviness of kapha tendency that sets in at winter-time, so is a great pantry item to have on hand when you are craving things like pancakes. Kapha dosha is increased in cold, wet and soggy weather conditions and should be monitored as we approach winter. Signs are heavy head, runny and blocked nose and ENT, fatigue.
Read MoreIt’s hardest to stay consistent and eat healthy when you’re crammed for time and busy, but I find that it’s the actual act of nourishing yourself and taking little blocks to pause that bring the best results to your creative output and efficiency
I’ve had lots of warm and healing soups at the start of this season so lunch today was a welcome change. I balanced out the meal with a mix of properties... pumpkin roasted in ras el hanout, and tossed in ghee with mushrooms, zucchini, chickpeas and greens. I topped this with crumbled feta and it was delish!
Ras el hanout is an amazing Moroccan spice mix of cumin, clove, coriander seed, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, dry ginger, peppercorns, turmeric... and a heap more! Squeeze a bit of lemon in when serving for a little extra tang.
Read MoreWe’ve had a few more reports of rumbling, gurgling and churning sensations in the stomach, as well as more pronounced bloating in the last few weeks. Try this tea recipe to alleviate this condition, and also consider improving agni (digestive fire) with a modified diet and a few yogic/breathing techniques.
In general also, try to cut out any cold water consumption, avoid drinking water with meals and cut out any cold, heavy, dense, fried food.
Pre-prepare this tea (recipe below) and have it 30 minutes before or after meals.
Kapha dosha is increased in winter and the recommendation in managing this is to avoid anything overly sweet, heavy, sticky, oily… which rules out a lot of desserts! Here is a slightly sweet, spiced, warm and crumby dessert that you can happily indulge in this winter.
Read MoreKitchari is a one pot lentil, rice and spice dish that is a panacea to the body. It is a tasty, nourishing and easy to digest meal when fasting to give the stomach, liver and rest of the body a rest to replenish itself. It is used very often during an ayurvedic cleanse between seasons. Try our kitchari recipe along with a day of sipping on hot ginger and honey tea, taking it easy and rest. Let us know what you think!
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