Archives for August 2021

Comforting Vegetable Soup

Aug 23, 2021 by Chinmayi Kulkarni Leave a Comment

This warm, light, and nutritious breakfast soup can be enjoyed with a bowl of amaranth or rice.
You can also add seasonal vegetables of your choice to it and top it with toasted sesame seeds for crunch.

Good for All dosha.

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Total Time: 10 Minutes
Serves: 2 person (400ml)

Ingredients

2 Carrot, thinly sliced
2 Spring onion, thinly sliced
1/2 stalk of lemongrass
½ cup of mix vegetables
3 cups Basic Broth
1 Small handful dulse (or any other sea vegetable of your choice)
1/2 t black pepper powder
Salt to taste (preferably Himalayan salt)

Method

In a large pot, add carrots, onions, mix vegetables, broth, and dulse and bring it to boil over high flame.
Bruise the lemongrass stalk and add it to the boiling pot.
Cover the pot and simmer for 10 minutes over medium-low flame.
Add Salt and Black Pepper and mix well.
Serve it hot with rice or amaranth

Serving suggestions

When digestion is low or in winters, whisk a spoonful of miso paste in a small bowl of warm broth and add it into the soup after removing it from the stove.

Check out the Ayurvedic benefits of ingredients used in this recipe

Lemongrass | Black Pepper

Yusha (Medicated Soup)

Aug 23, 2021 by Chinmayi Kulkarni Leave a Comment

Yusha is the watery portion drained after cooking pulses. Green gram is the standard pulse but other types of pulses also can be used. It is easy to digest and less likely to cause bloating so can be used post-surgery or post-delivery to meet protein demands when digestion is weak.It is high in fibre and is a potent BP regulator due to presence of large amounts of magnesium.

Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Total Time: 45 Minutes
Serves: 2 person (400ml)

Ingredients

50 gm Green gram
200 ml Water
5 gm Salt
Pepper as per taste
10 ml Oil/ghee
1/2 teaspoon Mustard seeds
6 to 8 seeds Fenugreek seeds
5 – 10 Curry leaves
1 teaspoon Lemon juice

Method

Cook green gram and take the substrate, add salt as per taste
Roast some pepper on flame, crush and add to the substrate.
Boil it for 3 minutes and remove from the stove.
Prepare seasoning by adding mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, and curry leaves in hot oil/ghee and pour it on the soup.
Add lemon juice and serve.

Serving suggestions

Add coriander leaves, ajwain (carom seeds), and garlic as per taste and availability.

Check out the Ayurvedic benefits of ingredients used in this recipe

Curry Leaves I Fenugreek I Mustard Seeds

Amla Squash

Aug 23, 2021 by Chinmayi Kulkarni Leave a Comment

Amla helps boost immunity, metabolism and prevents infections. This Amla squash is a cooling summer drink packed with vitamin C and is an effective remedy for acid peptic disorders, constipation, anemia, and eye strain.

Good for all Doshas.

Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Total Time: 60 Minutes
Serves: 3 litres

Ingredients

1 pound Amla (Indian gooseberry) pulp
2 pound Candy sugar or jaggery
10 gm Rock salt
10 gm Roasted cumin seed powder
5 gm Black pepper powder
5 gm Black salt
1/2 gallon Water

Method

Boil and deseed amla
Let it cool and then make pulp by grinding
In a large vessel, add sugar and water in equal quantity and heat it until the sugar dissolves completely ( Sugar syrup should be double or 2.5 times the quantity of Amla Pulp)
Transfer the pulp in a big vessel, slowly add sugar syrup, and mix it well.
Now take out a little bit of mixture in a small bowl and add roasted cumin powder, rock salt, black pepper, and black salt.
Add this to the remaining mixture and store it in a glass jar.
If you are storing it in the fridge then there is no need for preservatives otherwise add 0.75 g Potassium metabisulfite (K.M.S.)/per kg

Serving suggestions

Add 3 times or more water as per taste to the amla squash and serve

Check out the Ayurvedic benefits of ingredients used in this recipe

Amla I Cumin I Black Pepper I Black salt

Kerala Cauliflower Stew

Aug 23, 2021 by Chinmayi Kulkarni Leave a Comment

This colorful winter pot recipe is a great family meal. You can also include any fresh seasonal vegetable of your choice in addition to the listed vegetables. This stew is always nourishing and satisfying.

Good for all Doshas with appropriate seasonal spice blends.

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Total Time: 20 Minutes
Serves: 4 person

Ingredients

1 T Ghee
1/4 t each of cinnamon powder, star anise powder, clove powder, black pepper powder
1 Head Cauliflower, cut it into a bite size florets
2 Cup chopped green beans
1 cup chopped carrot into a bite-size pieces
6 Cup Basic broth
1 ½ Cup homemade Coconut milk
Salt as per taste (preferably Himalayan salt)
Freshly grounded Black pepper for seasoning

Method

Melt the ghee in a large pot over medium-low flame
Add the spice blend and saute it for 1-2 minutes
Add cauliflower, carrot, green beans and saute for 3 minutes
Add the broth and bring it to a boil.
Cover the pot, reduce the flame to low, and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
Stir in the coconut milk and simmer for 3 more minutes.
Add salt and pepper as per taste and serve hot.

Serving suggestions

Garnish with fresh herbs and toasted nuts or seeds.

Noted

Recipe can be modified with appropriate seasonal spices and vegetables.

Check out the Ayurvedic benefits of ingredients used in this recipe

Black Pepper I Cinnamon I Clove I Star Anise

Summer Cooler

Aug 23, 2021 by Avi Kumar Leave a Comment

This refreshing summer drink has the goodness of seasonal fruits and vegetables. It is good for eye health and provides enough fruit sugar to keep you going during hot sunny days.

Good for all doshas.

Prep Time: 5 to 7 Minutes
Total Time: 10 Minutes
Serves: 2 person (400ml)

Ingredients

1 chopped medium sized cantaloupe (preferably chilled)
2 carrots medium sized
1 orange (peeled)
½ cup of fresh pineapple cubes
Few mint leaves
Salt to taste (preferably Himalayan Salt)
Sugar (optional, if the cantaloup is not sweet enough)

Method

Blend all the ingredients together to a smooth consistency.
Serve it (filtered or unfiltered).

Serving suggestions

Avoid filtering if you are okay with pulpy juices as it adds to the fiber content

Notes

Prepare fresh and avoid storing.

Check out the Ayurvedic benefits of ingredients used in this recipe

Mint

Canker Sores

Aug 20, 2021 by Avi Kumar Leave a Comment

What is Canker Sores?

Canker sores are small, shallow lesions that occur due to cuts or bruises in the soft tissues of the mouth. Sometimes sharp, dried, or hard foods, such as popcorn, corn chips, crackers etc can hurt the oral mucous membrane and manifests as a canker sore.

What are the Symptoms of Canker Sores?

Tingling or burning sensation 1-2 days before the appearance of sores

What are the Causes of Canker Sores?

Minor Injury from dental work, rigorous brushing, sports mishaps, accidental cheek bite
Toothpaste and mouth rinses containing sodium lauryl sulfate
Sensitivity to a particular food
Diet lacking in vitamin B-12, zinc, folate (folic acid), iron
Allergic reaction to certain bacteria present in the mouth
Helicobacter pylori (bacteria that cause peptic ulcers )
Hormonal shifts during menstruation
Emotional stress

When to see a Doctor?

See a doctor if your sores are:

Unusually large
Recurring before the old ones heal
Occurring frequently
Extending into the lips (vermilion border)
Uncontrollably Painful
Causing extreme difficulty in eating or drinking
Occurring with high fever

Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Canker Sores

Try to avoid foods that seem to irritate your mouth
Avoid foods to which you’re sensitive or allergic
Choose healthy food to help prevent nutritional deficiencies
Follow good oral hygiene habits
Avoid toothpaste and mouth rinses with sodium lauryl sulfate
Ask your dentist about orthodontic waxes if you wear braces or any other dental appliances
Destress yourself using stress-reduction techniques

Common Ayurvedic Remedies for Canker Sores

Turmeric and Honey Paste: Mix together 1 teaspoon honey with ¼ teaspoon turmeric, and rub it on the sore. It will burn a little at first, but the sore area will heal quickly.
Rinse your mouth several times a day with a little aloe vera juice.
Have 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel 3 times a day to heal canker sores
Aloe Vera Gel with Neem Powder Paste: Mix 1 teaspoon of gel with a pinch of neem powder and apply directly to the canker sore
Tea Tree Oil Mouthwash: Put 10 drops of tea tree oil in ⅓ cup of water, and swish the liquid in your mouth
Kama Dudha Herbal Remedy: Take ¼ teaspoon kamadudha ras and 1 teaspoon fresh cream. Mix together and rub it on the sore.

Curative Ayurvedic Herbs:

Chitrak | Katuki | Ginger

Preventative Ayurvedic Herbs:

Not known.