Check out our delicious and healthy Ayurvedic food, drink, tea and condiment recipes for every season
If 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.
When I feel like a healthy savoury breakfast this Sri Lankan lentil dish is always perfect, and hits the spot served with spinach and wholemeal pita. It’s not uncommon to have lentils for breakfast in South Asia and my version took about 10-15 minutes to prep and cook.
Recipe is below.
Read MoreThe way to a happy tummy, skin, eyes and body with a power packed bowl of goodness! Try this Ayurvedic green porridge of fresh greens, coconut milk, red rice and turmeric for breakfast or lunch..
The bitter greens balance out any internal heat and inflammation (not to mention chlorophyll in general being detoxifying, improving digestive health and oxidation), the coconut milk is nourishing and strengthening to the body, and the wonder spice turmeric is anti inflammatory, antioxidant, lowers risk of heart disease and improves brain function.
Traditionally enjoyed in Sri Lanka as ‘kola kande’. I’ve had lots of requests to share this recipe.. so here it is, below!
Read MoreKurakkan or millet, is a staple ingredient for many dishes in Sri Lanka. This is a simple roti recipe, shared by a home cook from the hill country area. Millet is light and easy to digest, great for countering heaviness and fullness of kapha, which is ideal for Spring season diets. These rotis are great as a healthy snack or breakfast option.
Read MoreKapha 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 MoreTry this spiced and sweet chai to stay warm and energised as we approach the end of Autumn and the start of Winter..
Ingredients:
3 cups filtered water
4 green cardamom pods (crushed)
2 whole cloves
1 whole star anise pods
1 cinnamon sticks or 1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp whole fennel seeds
1 tsp grated fresh ginger (optional)
1 cup almond, rice or seed milk
Raw organic sugar or Sucanat
We have a few good weeks of summer left, so lets celebrate with sweet and light summer dessert!
This is a traditional Sri Lankan dessert, Sago pudding – made with sago and coconut milk and spiced with cinnamon. It is cooling and sweet so is excellent for calming the hot and fiery pitta dosha that flares up in summer.
Kapha dosha can be aggravated with the cooling and sweetness so anyone trying to manage kapha please consume only small amounts. It can be taken warm to manage vata dosha and the softness and sweetness can soothe a dry vata imbalance but again, small portions are best.
Read MoreIngredients:
1/2 - 1 tbsp oil
1 tsp black mustard seeds
Handful of curry leaves
1 tsp turmeric
Pinch of salt
1 bunch leafy vegetables – chinese broccoli, kale, beetroot leaves for e.g.
1 green chilli, finely chopped
1 cup grated fresh coconut or dessicated coconut
Ingredients:
250gms unsalted butter
¼ teaspoon salt (optional)
Utensils:
Heavy bottomed pan
Tablespoon to stir
Tea strainer
Glass container (make sure that it is completely dry)
Ingredients:
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
1/4 tsp coriander powder
¼ tsp cumin powder
Handful of fresh coriander
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1 sweet potato (vata-kapha) or white potato (kapha)
1/4 cup Red Onion
1 lb White fish
1/4 tsp Salt (Mineral Salt)
1. Prep-Work – Debone, skin and steam the fish. Steam the sweet potato and cut into chunks
2. Sautee onions and add all spices
3. Mash the sweet potato and fish and add spiced onions, lemon juice and fresh coriander. Process to desired consistency. Form into patties and pan grill with a little ghee on medium heat until cooked through.
4. Serve with chapatti or quinoa and steamed veggies
Read MoreFollowing on from my post on the qualities of winter season and how to maintain wellness using the principles of ayurveda, here is a spicy and warming winter tea to help shake off the winter blues.
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!
Read MoreHappy tummy, skin, eyes and body this morning with a power packed bowl of goodness! Ayurvedic green breakfast porridge of spinach, coconut milk, brown rice and turmeric.
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