Dosas are a South Indian staple and are similar to a crepe or pancake made with fermented rice and legumes. Don’t let the idea of fermentation scare you. Once you’ve mastered the process, this favourite recipe will become an easy, weekly rotation in your kitchen. And take only minutes to prepare!
Understanding how nature is present in our food, starts with connecting to the six tastes or ‘shad rasa’. There are six tastes of sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent that we aim to have present in each meal.
In Ayurveda, how we combine foods together is of great importance to our digestion. We hold a focus on having wholesome fresh foods, put together in a way that is simple and easy for our body to digest.
There are certain foods that do not pair well together and can disrupt the digestive process. Poor food combinations can lead to many common digestive complaints such as fermentation, indigestion, bloating and gas.
It may surprise you to find that many popular meals promoted in modern health and nutrition, aren’t always considered the best food combinations. Some of these combinations might even be staples in your diet (I know they were for me) and can be hard to let go of at first.
We’ve reached the peak of summer here in the southern hemisphere and I can already feel nature in full bloom. The sun is beaming down each day, temperatures are rising and there is a greater sense of vibrancy and radiance.
Ayurveda views the season as a time dominated by pitta dosha which holds a warm, light, and active quality. In the simmering heat, it’s natural for us gravitate towards foods that are cooling & hydrating to balance our body.
In Ayurveda we are always aiming to cook food as fresh as possible and this beloved chapati recipe is a simple way to enjoy freshly cooked bread every day. Chapati is a classic Indian style flat bread cooked with whole flour over a hot skillet or open flame. It is a staple in the Ayurvedic diet as an augmenting side to any vegetable dish such as a dahl or soup.
Abhyanga is the soothing and healing practice of self-massage that is an important part of an ayurvedic dinacharya (daily routine). It is an incredibly nourishing practice that holds countless benefits for the body and mind. Abhyanga grounds us into the body, calms our nervous system and is particularly helpful for pacifying vata dosha.
I was introduced to Tahini cookies earlier this year and instantly fell in love with this sweet-savoury treat. I tried and tested different flavour combinations but, Rose & Cardamon has to be my favourite. In Ayurveda it is a combination particularly balancing for Pitta but, is also well loved in Middle Eastern cuisine.
This balanced, sweet treat is best enjoyed with a warm cup of Chai. They are easy to make, a perfect blend of flavour & consistency and there is something about a touch of Rose that makes the ritual feel luxurious.
