AYURVEDIC RECIPES

Sweet Potato Pie

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"I substituted the sweet potato for the same amount of pumpkin. I also added 1/4 teaspoon of cardamom, changed cinnamon..."
- Larissa Demalteris, Golden, CO full start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewfull start review

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How to Make Sweet Potato Pie

SERVINGS: 8
PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES
COOK TIME: 120 MINUTES

STYLE: WESTERN
PREPARATION: BAKED, BOILED

INGREDIENTS

1/3 c
1/4 c
2 whole
2 c
1 tsp
1/2 tsp
1/2 c
1/2 tsp

PREPARATION OF THIS HEALTHY RECIPE

1. Boil the sweet potatoes, leaving the skin on, until they are soft (about 40 minutes)

2. Remove the skins after potato cools. Soaking them in cold water will help them cool more quickly.

3. Mash potatoes with remaining ingredients.

4. Pour filling into an unbaked oatmeal based pie crust (see instructions).

5. Bake at 350 degrees for an hour, or until knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

How Does This Ayurvedic Recipe Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Hunting for something sweet? Trick-or-treating in the grocery aisles and in your pantry? This time of year can be difficult for those who find treats irresistible, as sweet consumption ramps up from Halloween into the winter holidays. This recipe is the perfect alternative to candy and desserts commonplace around this time of year. Nutritious and spiced for digestion, sweet potato pie is a feel-good dessert for those who want to avoid that too-full feeling of indulgence. A slice of this pie won't weigh you down. Instead, healthier digestion and the taste of this creamy and well-spiced recipe make sweet potato pie a rewarding treat without too much trick.

A Remedy for Food Cravings

Got a strong appetite? Looking for something sweet that will stick to your ribs but not your waistline? Sweet potatoes are delicious, comforting, and guilt-free. Rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates for the transition into autumn, sweet potatoes satisfy your urge for a full belly when the weather drives your hunger for warmth and comfort. In the fall, dropping temperatures are the body's cue to build a layer of insulating fat in the skin. The increased demand for fats ultimately ignites strong food cravings. Instead of using their existing fat reserves, Kapha people often fall prey to these cravings, succumbing to that tempting urge to bake sweet, rich, heavy desserts. Sweet Potato provides an easy out, and a delicious, guiltless Thanksgiving treat! Sweet potatoes are the very color of fall and are versatile on the autumn and winter table, appearing in both savory meals and desserts.

Not Your Average Comfort Food

If you feel burdened and sleepy after gorging on on your comfort-food favorites, there's no need to shun the sweet potato. These tubers are often prepared in the manner of comfort food, but are easier to digest than many comfort-food dishes. Although they are satisfying and sweet, you won't feel sluggish and tired after eating them. That vitality is the sign that sweet potatoes are a step up from your usual heavy carbs. Sweet potatoes are a special remedy for those who are overweight but have strong cravings for homey, rich treats through the holidays and changes in seasons.

Ayurvedic Baking for the Holidays

When you eat sweet foods, your circulation and metabolism become sluggish. Dessert spices like cinnamon and nutmeg rev up your circulation and heart rate, helping you burn off those unwanted calories, and flush your system of any fat residues. Oatmeal, ghee, and raw sugar may still be rich and sweet, but they are lighter alternatives to wheat based crusts, butter, and refined sugar, and may be consumed in moderation. Kapha people often suffer from constipation after eating heavy foods. As an added bonus, sweet potatoes provide plenty of fiber, encouraging regular elimination and cleansing the intestines.

AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT

Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances. With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you. Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature. By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health. See How it Works.

Is Sweet Potato Pie Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Sweet Potato Pie' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.
See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.
INCREASES
Guna Help

Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas)

Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic.

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MOBILE

ABOUT MOBILE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Mobile refers to anything that stimulates the nervous system, muscles, or activity.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MOBILE

HEAVY

ABOUT HEAVY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Heavy is identified by sedation, sluggishness, or increased weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HEAVY

GOOEY

ABOUT GOOEY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Gooey is identified by anything gelatinous (such as oatmeal), or by mucus congestion.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GOOEY

TASTES
Taste Help

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

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SWEET

ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SWEET

ASTRINGENT

ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ASTRINGENT

DOSHAS
Dosha Help

The Three Doshas / Body Types

According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history.

The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. They are easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. They tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. If they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Anabolic people tend to be stable and grounded.

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PACIFIES
Pitta pacifying Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Kapha aggravating
HAS THE FOLLOWING
Subtaste:
Aromatic

STRONG AROMATIC

Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues.

SEE ALL 'AROMATIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Bland

BLAND

Bland means doesn't have much taste. In Chinese medicine, bland taste refers to afood without little macronutrients, such as cabbage, radish or bok choy.

SEE ALL 'BLAND' FOODS / HERBS

HERBAL ACTIONS
(see all)

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Sweet Potato Pie
Help
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

Antacid

ANTACID

Herbs that neutralize acidity in the gastrointestinal tract, the stomach in particular.

SEE ALL 'ANTACID' FOODS / HERBS

Relieves Burning

RELIEVES-BURNING

Herbs that soothe a burn or reduce an internal burning sensation, such as aloe vera.

SEE ALL 'RELIEVES-BURNING' FOODS / HERBS

Makes You Tired

MAKES-YOU-TIRED

Induces drowsiness and promotes sound sleep.

SEE ALL 'MAKES-YOU-TIRED' FOODS / HERBS

,
Wakes You Up

WAKES-YOU-UP

Invigorates the body and nervous system, increases energy.

SEE ALL 'WAKES-YOU-UP' FOODS / HERBS

, Makes Jittery
Satisfies Stomach

SATISFIES-STOMACH

Provides a sense of gratification and fullness in the stomach.

SEE ALL 'SATISFIES-STOMACH' FOODS / HERBS

,
Nutritive

NUTRITIVE

An herb that is strengthening and nourishing.

SEE ALL 'NUTRITIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:
Carbohydrate, Fats,
Coumarin

COUMARIN

Moderately toxic, vascular tonic, hypotensive, and anti-inflammatory.

SEE ALL 'COUMARIN' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Sweet Potato Pie

Raw Sugar

Raw Sugar has these Actions in Common

Nutritive, Makes-jittery, Wakes-you-up, Makes-you-tired

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Salmon

Salmon has these Actions in Common

Makes-you-tired, Wakes-you-up, Nutritive, Satisfies-stomach

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Pumpkin

Pumpkin has these Actions in Common

Makes-you-tired, Satisfies-stomach, Nutritive, Relieves-burning

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Oats / Oatmeal

Oats / Oatmeal has these Actions in Common

Makes-you-tired, Satisfies-stomach, Nutritive, Relieves-burning

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Jackfruit

Jackfruit has these Actions in Common

Nutritive, Wakes-you-up, Relieves-burning, Satisfies-stomach

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Mozarella Cheese

Mozarella Cheese has these Actions in Common

Satisfies-stomach, Makes-you-tired, Nutritive

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Turkey

Turkey has these Actions in Common

Satisfies-stomach, Makes-you-tired, Nutritive

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Oat Flour

Oat Flour has these Actions in Common

Makes-you-tired, Nutritive, Satisfies-stomach

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Beer

Beer has these Actions in Common

Satisfies-stomach, Makes-you-tired, Nutritive

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Spelt Flour

Spelt Flour has these Actions in Common

Makes-you-tired, Nutritive, Satisfies-stomach

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White Flour (wheat)

White Flour (wheat) has these Actions in Common

Nutritive, Satisfies-stomach, Makes-you-tired

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Herb Supplements with a Similar Nature to Sweet Potato Pie

Shatavari

Shatavari has these Actions in Common

Antacid, Nutritive, Relieves-burning

LEARN MORE

Amalaki

Amalaki has these Actions in Common

Nutritive, Wakes-you-up, Antacid

LEARN MORE

Licorice Ghee (9oz)

Licorice Ghee (9oz) has these Actions in Common

Relieves-burning, Antacid, Nutritive

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Licorice Root (Yastimadhu)

Licorice Root (Yastimadhu) has these Actions in Common

Antacid, Nutritive, Relieves-burning

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Shatavari Ghee

Shatavari Ghee has these Actions in Common

Nutritive, Relieves-burning

LEARN MORE

Comfrey Root

Comfrey Root has these Actions in Common

Nutritive, Relieves-burning

LEARN MORE

Oats, Fresh Milky Seed

Oats, Fresh Milky Seed has these Actions in Common

Nutritive, Relieves-burning

LEARN MORE

Red Clover

Red Clover has these Actions in Common

Nutritive, Relieves-burning

LEARN MORE

Cordyceps

Cordyceps has these Actions in Common

Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Asparagus root

Asparagus root has these Actions in Common

Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Long inhale, short exhale

Long inhale, short exhale has these Actions in Common

Wakes-you-up

LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine.

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View Other Healthy Recipes for Autumn-Winter

This recipe is recommended for Autumn-Winter. Check out these other Autumn-Winter recipes here. VIEW ALL AUTUMN-WINTER RECIPES MORE VATA / PITTA RECIPES
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About John Joseph Immel

About the Author

John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda biocharacteristics. His approach to Ayurveda is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful. John also directs Joyful Belly's School of Ayurveda, offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.

John's interest in Ayurveda and specialization in digestive tract pathology was inspired by a complex digestive disorder acquired from years of international travel, as well as public service work in South Asia. John's commitment to the detailed study of digestive disorders reflects his zeal to get down to the roots of the problem. His hope and belief in the capacity of each & every client to improve their quality of life is nothing short of a personal passion. John's creativity in the kitchen and delight in cooking for others comes from his family oriented upbringing. In addition to his certification in Ayurveda, John holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University.

John enjoys sharing Ayurveda within the context of his Catholic roots, and finds Ayurveda gives him an opportunity to participate in the healing mission of the Church. Jesus expressed God's love by feeding and healing the sick. That kindness is the fundamental ministry of Ayurveda as well. Outside of work, John enjoys spending time with his wife and 7 kids, and pursuing his love of theology, philosophy, and language.

Read more

Comments & Impressions of 'Sweet Potato Pie'

Do you like 'sweet potato pie'? Why or why not? What makes it unique? Is there something else you'd like to know about 'sweet potato pie'?

full start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewfull start review(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 679 likes
blank start reviewblank start reviewblank start reviewblank start reviewblank start reviewSign in to review this recipe

do you have a substitute for the eggs?
- Kathy Kulaas, Saint petersburg, FL , 11-01-12 (Reply)
I substituted the sweet potato for the same amount of pumpkin. I also added 1/4 teaspoon of cardamom, changed cinnamon to 1 full teaspoon, and added 1/4 teaspoon of powdered ginger and it made a great pumpkin pie! I also had to bake it for about 1.5 hours on 350.
- Larissa Demalteris, Golden, CO
full start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewfull start review
, 11-22-19 (Reply)

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