
Ayurvedic kitchari's are India's chicken soup and the congee equivalent of Chinese medicine. This kitchari includes cilantro and coconut and is adapted from Dr. Lad's book Ayurvedic Cooking for Self Healing.
Orange like the rising sun, wrapped in bitter green crispness, sweet potatoes with kale make you feel brightly alive. Sweet potatoes give this meal substance, while kale's lightness bring this dish into a perfect balance. Ginger adds its pungent...
This soup was developed primarily to relieve acid reflux. Kale and bitters reduce stagnation in the digestive tract and clear heat. Carrot and vegetables with beta-carotene reduce Pitta. Fennel improves digestion without increasing Pitta. Fresh ginger...
Sour lime mixes with spicy-sweet fresh ginger in this chilled beverage that will wake up your mind as it delights your palate. A refreshing glass of this Ginger Basil Limeade will help you feel as light and bright as the summer day. Pour yourself a...
Kitchari is Ayurveda's signature healing recipe and a perfect food. A simple, dynamic and heart warming synergy of mung beans, basmati rice, and digestive spices, kitchari is great for times of healing and recovery. Or whenever you suffer from...
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...
A refreshing recipe with mint may be just what your body is asking for to combat spring-time allergies. It's also perfect to whip up for a spring picnic because it's light and won't spoil while you're out enjoying the sunshine. This dish essentially...
Soft cooked pears are a balm for the heart and comforting in the tummy. Pear's sweet taste and the relaxing aroma of cardamom make for a light breakfast or soothing mid-day snack. Baking the pears makes them tender and brings out their sweetness....
Cool, soothing, and nourishing, it's no surprise that Coconut Rice is a staple of so many tropical cuisines. Your digestion is much weaker when the weather is warm than when it is cool. Luckily, coconut rice is easy enough for your body to break down...
Explore your creativity with sour smoothies. Apples with Ginger and Cardamom. Discovered in Albuquerque, NM.
The Cabbage Soup diet was famous in the faxlore of the 1980s. While Ayurveda does not encourage a cabbage soup mono-diet, cabbage soup can be a healthy addition to a well-rounded diet. Here is the Ayurvedic version.
Enjoy the pungent and sweet aroma of ginger in this Vata balancing tea. Aromatic cardamom and lime juice bring springtime freshness with your first sip. The spices and the sweetness of the raw sugar brings a festive, smile-inducing flair. This tea...
Gold milk is the fabled "milk and honey" of the promised land and provides tremendous nourishment. Its fragrant spices will awaken your appetite for its nurturing satisfaction. In South Asia, people believe milk is sacred because it (along with fruits)...
Get cozy this season. Rather than reach for hot cocoa, try sipping this creamy Coconut Curry & Pumpkin soup. Soups are the ideal fall food. They are warming, grounding and easy to digest. Who doesn't love something warm and sweet on a cool fall day?...
Bright and colorful, Ginger Dal adds a festive highlight to any meal. With its spices, Ginger Dal warms your body from core to limbs. This savory, heartwarming Indian favorite is belly filling. It provides comfort and calm as it satisfies a big...
Capture spring freshness with this perfect & easy to prepare pesto. A lightness distinguishes this pesto from others. The crispy, vivacious texture of fennel bulb is tempered by a cool quality the calms the mind and increases clarity. Pumpkin seeds...
On hot & lazy summer mornings, start your day with a refreshing, thirst quenching breakfast that replenishes your strength and vitality. This delicious smoothie is loved by kids and adults alike, and it's easy enough to blend up when friends and...
Brightly sour, cleanly bitter, and gently sweet, Kale Lemonade with Ginger and Apple is an invigorating way to awaken your day. Blend pungent ginger into the mix to warm up this refreshing juice. Kale lemonade will pucker your mouth with an energizing...
Herbal juices nourish as they heal. Sweet spices add stimulation to the rejuvenating fruits of the vine. This simple recipe was inspired by Dr. Vasant Lad's "The Textbook of Ayurveda".
Experiment with soft root vegetables. Inspireded by Grover Stock of Iowa (founder of https://sustainablelivingcoalition.org).
Refresh and revitalize. Hibiscus with mint is particularly refreshing on a hot summer's day, with cooling properties that bring arctic relief. Hibiscus flower improves liver function and restores your liver, which may be taxed by the heat. Mint...
Bananas with Lemon Juice and Cilantro is a sweet, refreshing and restorative summer snack. Lemon and cilantro add a fresh and zesty taste to your appetite for excitement in the summer. It is common in India to serve fruit with spices. This spicey fruit...
Spicy, sweet and sour Coconut Turmeric Sambar is a spring soup warms your belly on the coldest day. Awaken your senses as you journey to beautiful South India, a landscape palm trees, endless blue skies, and scents of spices greeting your nose. Sambar...
Zesty, tangy, and bursting with red freshness, cranberries evoke autumn hues and celebration flavors. Sour, sweet, and spicy, this sauce adds color and zing to the holiday table.
Ginger, lemon, and honey tea is a remedy for colds and sinus infection. Lemon, like all sours, is a secretagogue which encourages liquidation of mucus and a protective coating of fluids on an otherwise irritated lung and throat. Honey aids...
Experiment with citrus and spicy salads. Ginger and lemon add zest and freshness. Fennel adds a unique tone to oranges. Inspired by an Appetizer at Zerza in New York City.
A classic Ayurvedic recipe to prepare digestion before a meal. Red ginger pickle is also used in Japan; there it is made with vinegar and shisho leaves.
The fragrant essential oils of lemongrass will fill your kitchen with the scent of Asian cooking as you prepare this 'Lemongrass Carrot Soup'. Put some relaxing music on and allow the aromatic nature of this meal calm the mind as you unwind. The...
Refresh your body and relax your mind this summer with Blueberry Mint Green smoothie. This delicious treat is packed with anti-oxidants and green vitality. Blueberry bursts in your mouth with a tart sweetness that enlivens your tastebuds.
Fresh ginger is tridoshic. It burns toxins from the body, stimulates circulation, and is a mild anti-inflammatory and analgesic. Miso is fermented, meaning that it can slightly aggravate Pitta. If using for this recipe, all lemon or vinegar based...
A softer salad with barley, dill, mint, and cucumber. Feel this light and cooling combination refresh the body and calm the mind on a hot summer day. Sweet raisins and perhaps a dab of honey mustard or a sliced radish will add a touch of contrasting...
A great summertime drink!
How to Cleanse with KaleIn the spring, kale and other greens are a perfect choice to restore lightness and vitality. Greens are also an essential component to your yearly spring cleanse. If you haven't started your spring cleanse...
We love the combination of sweet, sour and spicy.
Coconut milk and okra are heavy, cooling and smooth an irritated digestive tract.
Taste the prana of living food - experiment with sprouted mung beans. The colorful green of the bean balanced with white. Coconut adds aroma and comfort to legumes/daals. Discovered in East Moriches, Long Island, NY.
It's inevitable that vegetarians will struggle to find good sushi from time to time. While most restaurants offer a veggie or vegan option, often the variety is limited as fish fillings take center stage. The solution? Create your own personalized...
Creamy banana combines with tangy pineapple in this smoothie, creating an ideal refreshment on a hot summer afternoon. Kale adds a bit of bitter green, which helps cool the blood and soothe your mind on hot and muggy summer days. Serve this delightful...
Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’