Award Winning Creative Dishes from Joyful Belly Artists


March 22, 2008

Honey Dew Smoothie with Aloe Vera Jelly

Sweet and cooling, bright green, honey dew smoothies with aloe vera jelly are perfect for St. Patty's in Hong Kong! My eyes feel cool and ready for another 12 hours of flying. But get a thick straw, the jelly is like drinking gummy bears. (Published from travel writings in Hong Kong airport)

February 27, 2008

Sauteed Chipotle Cumin Okra over Butternut Squash

Sweet, orange butternut mixes with red smokey flavor of Chipotle. Chipotle, cumin, and frying all balance the sliminess of okra, giving both great flavor and texture to this dish. Discovered where else but in southwestern cuisine of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

February 16, 2008

Steamed Kale in Mint Cream Sauce with Mung

Experiment with Mung based cream sauces. Cooling creamy pungent mint combines with refreshing Kale. Discovered by Joseph in Albuquerque, NM.

February 3, 2008

Crunchy Chips in Sweet Yogurt with Cilantro, Tamarind and Cumin

Experiment with crunchy snack foods in sweet yogurt. Called Dahi Papdi Chaat in India. Often includes tamarind or mint chutney, cumin, chopped raw onions, or cilantro. Can also include 'black salt' (Potassium chloride instead of Sodium Chloride) which has a deeper, more complex flavor. Discovered by chef Archana of Archana's Kitchen

January 29, 2008

Multigrain Brancakes

Experiment with brancakes, a soft, moist cross between a pancake and a cereal. Simply substitute 1/4 of the flour with crushed wheat bran or any bran of your choice. We invented brancakes for breakfast this morning after celebrating our return to Ayurveda school in New Mexico. Reported by Joseph.

January 25, 2008

Dill & Fava Bean Palau w/ Baby Garlic

Experiment with dill and yogurt fried rice. Discovered in “Silk Road Cooking: A Vegetarian Journey” by Najmieh Batmanglij. Found while visiting my Long Island cook book collection over the holidays. Reported by Joseph.

January 18, 2008

Persian Saffron Rice w/ Golden Crust

Experiment with egg crusted saffron rice. A delicious golden yellow. Discovered in “Silk Road Cooking: A Vegetarian Journey” by Najmieh Batmanglij. Found while visiting my Long Island cook book collection over the holidays. Reported by Joseph.

January 15, 2008

Hazlenut Chocolate Thousand Layer Crepe Cake

Experiment with roasted hazelnut chocolate thousand layer crepe cakes! Discovered in Maharastra, India.

January 11, 2008

Soft Idly in Sweet Yogurt

Experiment with steamed doughs in sweet yogurt. Soft, steamed Idly with cumin served in a sweet, pungent yogurt sauce. Discovered at Krishna Lodge in Pune, India.

January 1, 2008

Cilantro, Chili Powder, Anise and Onion Mexican Spice Mix

In downtown Chicago, experiment with a simple, stimulating, red spice mix found in various dishes including Chorizo with Eggs. Served at Flo Café & Bar (http://www.eatatflo.com) Discovered on New Year’s Eve after a long, 14 hour drive from New York City to Chicago.

December 29, 2007

Chocolate glazed, custard filled croissants

Experiment with fillings and toppings for croissants. Crispy, soft and delicate on the inside, like a Boston-cream filled. The owners of the Beach Bakery on Main Street, Westhampton, NY are meticulous and perfect in their preparation of baked goods. (http://www.beachbakerycafe.com).

December 26, 2007

Peas, Fennel and Mint

"I love a side dish of peas but often find them a bit bland or lacking (and in need of more nutritious veggies mixed in there). Fennel has a lovely, fragrant flavour that gives those peas some oomf!" - Claudia Davila, author of Fran's House of Ayurveda (http://franlife.blogspot.com/)

December 15, 2007

Pistachio Thousand Layer Crepe Cake

Experiment with pistachio milk crepe cakes! Discovered in Maharastra, India.

December 11, 2007

Fried Poha Crispies with Coconut Flakes, Peanuts, Mustard Seed

Experiment with rice flakes (poha) from India. Soaked before frying yields a moist, soft, cereal. Boiled becomes a mash. But dry-fried into crispies is an excellent snack in Maharashtra. Discovered in Pune, India cooking with Chitra’s Uncle.

December 7, 2007

Fried Green Bananas with Skin, Turmeric, Mustard Seed, and Cumin

Experiment cooking bananas with skins. Discovered at Dr. Lad’s farmhouse in Pune, India during Ayurveda lecture. Just before we took a short walk to the Banyan tree and the deeply cooling, dark green surface well with the tiny fish.

December 3, 2007

Date Ginger & Cardamom Shake

Experiment with dates and morning shakes. Pungency of ginger blends into the sweet, nourishing delicately aromatic sweetness of dates. Discovered in Maharastra, India while studying ancient Sanskrit Texts on a balcony waiting for the sun to rise.

November 29, 2007

Fried Spinach Batter from India

Experiment with whole leaves of spinach in batter. Discovered as hot, crispy street food in Pune, India, after buying incense and essential oils from the famous “Vithaldas Narayandas & Sons” in Phadke Haud Chowk.

November 25, 2007

Garlic Milk

Experiment with this creamy, delicious aphrodisiac and sedative drink before bedtime. Also a warming sauce for creamy dinner dishes. Discovered while listening to a lecture by Dr. Vasant Lad, famous Ayurvedic Physician, in Pune, India.

November 21, 2007

Cilantro, Ginger, Garlic and Ghee Cream of Rice Soup

Experiment with cream of rice soups. Called “Congee” in Chinese Medicine, cream of rice soups are the ‘chicken soup’ of China. A warm breakfast for the winter season. Discovered in Pune, India while thinking about Southern Grits from Asheville, North Carolina.

November 17, 2007

Saffron Milk Thousand Layer Crepe Cake

Experiment with thousand layer crepe cakes! Easy to griddle and without an oven, thousand layer crepe cakes can be served with many flavors. Served here as a perfumed saffron milk delicacy reminiscent of the silk road. Discovered in Pune, India while cooking dinner for Rose’s birthday.

Next...



Nominate a Joyful Belly Artist by submitting a recipe or chef to our panel.

Get top recipes by e-mail weekly

Ayurvedic Diet
Threads of Cooking
Food Poetry
Browse Recipes
About Joyful Belly Chefs
Contact Joseph

Joseph also writes for
Green Book Cafe
Sacred Cravings

Subscribe to this blog's feed
[What is this?]
Powered by
Movable Type 4.01