Warming-Up to Spring Recipe Guide for Changing Weather

* with ayurveda inspiration

KITCHARI   INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup basmati rice 1 cup mung dal (split yellow) 6 cups (approx.) water 1/2 to 1 inch ginger root, chopped or grated 1/4 tsp mineral salt 2 tsp. ghee 1/2 tsp. coriander powder 1/2 tsp. cumin powder 1/2 tsp. whole cumin seeds 1/2 tsp. mustard seeds 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder 1 pinch asafoetida (hing) Handful fresh cilantro leaves 1 and 1/2 cups assorted vegetables (optional)

EXTRA INFO

Serves 6

This is a great cleaning diet for the spring. Eating 7-10 days of kitchari is one of the best ways to let the body detoxify from the heavy winter oils that have been consumed without good transformation into tissue

DIRECTIONS

Carefully pick over rice and dal to remove any stones. Wash each separately in at least 2 changes of water.

Add the 6 cups of water to the rice and dal and cook covered until it becomes soft, about 20 minutes.

While that is cooking, prepare any vegetables that suit your constitution (a lighter framed person with poor immunity does well with root veggies this time of year, heavier person with mucus or high blood sugar does well with dandelion greens). Cut them into smallish pieces. Add the vegetables to the cooked rice and dal mixture and cook 10 minutes longer.

In a separate saucepan, sauté the seeds in the ghee until they pop. Then add the other spices. Stir together to release the flavors. Stir the sautéed spices into the cooked dal, rice, and vegetable mixture.

Add the mineral salt and chopped fresh cilantro and serve. Caution: a Kitchari mono-diet can lead to constipation Using quinoa or amaranth instead of rice is one way to help prevent this condition.

Bi+er  Gourd  S3r  Fry/Karela  Bhaji   INGREDIENTS

4-5 Bitter-melons (karelas - small to medium) 1 Red Onion - chopped 2 Green chillies 1 tsp. Cumin seeds 1/2 tsp. Cayenne Pepper 1/2 tsp. Ground Coriander seeds 1/4 tsp. Turmeric powder 2 tsp. Lemon juice 2 tsp. Sunflower Oil or Coconut Oil Himalayan Rock Salt to flavor

EXTRA INFO

Serves 4

Benefits: Bitter gourd cleanses liver and purifies the blood. For this reason it is extremely beneficial for the skin to get rid of blemishes, acne and skin infections. Due to its ability to assist the kidney and high level of phytonutrients it is also helpful to get rid of kidney stones. It helps the liver to purify the blood. Assists in anemia. It helps in maintaining normal level of triglycerides and cholesterol in the liver and blood. Bitter gourd juice combined with Trikatu (combination of ginger, long pepper and blackpepper) can get rid of parasites and worms in your body. It is a free radical scavenger. It has the ability to stimulate digestion and peristalsis of food through colon. Assists in ingestion, constipation and hemorrhoid. It is popular because it increased glucose uptake, and reduces blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes. It get rids of excess mucus or phelm from the body. Bitter gourd is also considered to be a diuretic and mild laxative. It makes you feel lighter. It also rekindles digestive fire and works as an appetizer. It reduces the amount of uric acid in the blood.

DIRECTIONS

Cut the Bitter melons along length and remove seeds. Slice the bitter melon thinly. In a bowl add water, salt and lime juice. Add the bitter gourd and leave to soak for 15 mins and wash thoroughly with warm water. This helps reduce the bitterness.

Peel and cut potatoes into small pieces. On a frying pan, add the sunflower oil and whole cumin seeds. When cumin seeds sizzles lightly, add onions and green chilies. Fry till light golden.

Add turmeric and coriander seeds. Now add the bitter-melon and potato. Cook until bitter melon is soft.

Enjoy Bitter Melon with rice and dal.

CHAI  INGREDIENTS

3 cups water 4 cloves 2 cardamom pods 2 pinches nutmeg, ground 2 pinches cinnamon, ground 1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger, chopped fine 1 tsp black tea 1 cup milk (un-pasteurized un-homogenized if possible) 2 tsp sugar, Sucanat, or other sugar

EXTRA INFO

Serves 4

Ayurvedic Cooking for Self-Healing by Usha and Dr. Vasant Lad

Sprout 1 and 1/2 cups green mung beans (which usually takes a couple of days) in preparation for this dish. That will give you the 3 cups of sprouts needed for this recipe.

This bread can be topped with an avocado dressing made by simply mashing an avocado and adding salt, pepper, and just enough lime juice or water to make a creamy sauce. The same mixture can also be used to make pancakes.

You may vary the amounts of milk and sugar according to taste and dosha. Of course, increasing milk and / or sugar can provoke mucus and heaviness, so take care.

If you use caffeinated tea, the cardamom will help neutralize the effects of the caffeine.

DIRECTIONS

Boil the water with the spices for 2 minutes.

Add the tea and simmer for 2 minutes.

Add the milk and heat until hot but not boiling.

Add sweetener and serve.