Ayurvedic Cooking

Ayurvedic texts state that eating right food is the key to good health.

Ayurvedic cooking is an integral part of Ayurveda. The simple thinking behind Ayurvedic cooking is to eat food that is right for your constitution and has correct balance of nutrients.
Foods are divided into six different tastes - sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, astringent. A balanced meal should include all six tastes. How does one make a balanced meal ?
Well, Indian cuisine has beautifully incorporated Ayurvedic principles in even its most simple recipes.

Let's take the example of Indian Dal (Marathi Aamti)
The tadka (seasonings) for this simple Aamti includes -

Mustard seeds - pungent
Asafoetida -pungent
Turmeric - astringent
Kokum - sour
Fenugreek seeds - bitter
Green chillies

Heat oil. Add the above ingredients. Once they pop, add cooked lentil (I used Moong Dal), add salt (salty) and little jaggery (sweet) . Garnish with cilantro.


There you have it. All six tastes in one bowl.

Happy Holi

Wish you all a very Happy Holi.

This year, I went to my local Hindu temple with my daughter to play Holi and we had a great time. Hope you all played Holi too.

Spring is here !

Spring has definitely arrived here in California.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a pungent spice with stimulating and heating properties. Its circulatory stimulant properties are considered good during the menopause.

Cinnamon tea is considered to ease cold symptoms and improve blood circulation.

To make Cinnamon tea - Just add a drop of Cinnamon extract to your regular cup of tea.

Jagannath Temple in Puri - Pen & Ink

Jagannath Temple in Puri

Ruby Red Grapefruit

I was at Trader Joe's yesterday and bought these wonderful Ruby Red Cocktail Grapefruits. They are available only till February end and I buy a big box of these every year :)

Grapefruit is a good source of vitamin C, fiber, and the pink and red hues contain the beneficial antioxidant lycopene.

I have found some interesting recipes that use Grapefruit juice and spices. Will post them soon.

Sunset

Nature's beautiful color palette.




Sunset from my backyard.

Turmeric

The weather has been crazy here in Los Angeles area. Its been raining a lot and is very cold.
To keep cold & cough away in such weather, a perfect drink for kids would be a warm glass of Turmeric milk.

To make Turmeric milk, add 5 drops of Turmeric extract to a glass of warm milk. Add some sugar for taste. That's it. Some like to add cardamom and cinnamon too.
(Note the color that I got from just 5 drops of extract. )

Turmeric is an excellent antiseptic, blood purifier and is rich antioxidants.