Ayurveda Recipes From Karma Gaia:

From Karma Gaia

Ayurveda Recipes: Virgin Hot Toddy

Sweet, spicy, and piping hot, a Virgin Hot Toddy warms up your belly and brings a smile to your face on a cool, soggy day. Modeled after the classic hot toddy, the Virgin Hot Toddy uses lemon and orange and leaves the bourbon on the shelf. Whether you are fighting off a late winter cold or the gloomy sky blues, warming your hands around a steaming mug of this tried and true recipe is sure to cure what ails you.

Rich cinnamon, clove, and anise offer depth of flavor and healing properties - they all boost your immune system and improve digestion. Ginger improves circulation, warming up icy fingers and toes, while relieving muscle pain and burning toxins. On the mend? This will fix you right up. In the mood for a hot, sweet cup of something? A Virgin Hot Toddy will do just fine.

Ingredients

2 tsp HONEY

1/2 inch GINGER (FRESH)

1/2 tsp CINNAMON

1/2 whole LEMON

1/3 whole ORANGE

2 pinch STAR ANISE

2 pinch CLOVES

Instructions

1. Bring 4 cups of water to a rolling boil. Add sliced ginger, one cinnamon stick, 5-8 whole cloves, and 2 whole anise stars. Reduce heat and simmer your spices for 5 minutes.

2. Remove from heat. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon, and 1/3 of a small orange into your brew. Pour into mugs and add honey to taste.

3. Enjoy!

From Karma Gaia

Ayurveda Recipes: Turmeric & Cumin Rescue Tea

As your body enters a natural cleanse cycle, the early days of Spring may be critical for your health. The heavy snowfall & dampness characteristic of February is a sure sign that spring is approaching. Winter fat starts to melt, clogging your circulatory system, and making blood rich and oily. Without proper diet and herbal support, symptoms like a runny nose, watery eyes, dark circles, sneezing, coughing, itchy nose/eyes, asthma, and headaches run rampant. As dampness builds, you'll suffer from other ailments as well, like sore throats, puffiness in your skin, and heaviness in your chest. These are all important warning signs that your body's natural detox cycle is causing a buildup of congestion in your body. Take caution, as this is a peak season for serious ailments like congestive heart failure and heart attacks. Sip Turmeric & Cumin Rescue Tea to ease February & March ailments. Cumin's warmth and rustic dryness soaks up the excess of spring moisture. It's pungency dilates blood vessels, helping blood flow smoothly through your veins and restoring your skin's healthy glow. Turmeric invigorates your blood and gets it moving again, dispelling winter stagnation. Turmeric helps to directly thin the blood, digest proteins, and metabolize fats efficiently. Together, these spices provide some relief from the imbalances of winter and the coming spring.

Ingredients

1/4 tsp CUMIN1/4 tsp TURMERIC

Instructions

For best results, grind whole cumin seed in coffee grinder or mortar and pestle. Place spices in tea cup. Pour 1/2c boiling water over spices and let steep, covered, for thirty seconds. Fill remainder of cup with room temperature water, or until liquid is cool enough to drink.

From Karma Gaia

Ayurveda Recipes: Beet Cleanse Soup (borscht)

This recipe pairs winter root vegetables like potatoes and beets with the cleansing spring flavors of dill and vinegar, helping your body transition into spring. Beets and vinegar are a perfect addition to an early spring diet. They offer a healthy remedy to a congested spring blood and liver. As they stimulate the gall bladder to release bile, they flush out burdensome fats and toxins leftover from holiday celebrations, reducing triglyceride levels. Bile is also a major pathway of cholesterol metabolism. The mild laxative qualities of beets and vinegar help flush the digestive tract as well. The beta-carotene in beets is an excellent liver tonic.

Ingredients

3/4 c DILL

3 tbsp APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

1/2 c YELLOW ONION

2 tbsp SUNFLOWER OIL

4 whole CARROTS

2 c BEETS

2 c CABBAGE

1 whole POTATO

1/4 tsp SALT (MINERAL SALT)

1/4 tsp BLACK PEPPER

Instructions

Chop onions. Slice potato, carrots, beets and cabbage thinly. Place all ingredients in a pot and cover twice the height with water. Bring to a boil and simmer, covered, for one hour of more.

Variations include garlic and parsley.

From Karma Gaia

Ayurveda Recipes: Nature's Fudge

Smooth almond butter and sweet dates combine in "Nature's Fudge" to satisfy your belly and your soul. Rich & creamy, almond butter adds heartiness and satisfaction to this simple snack. Cinnamon's warmth is sprinkled in to delight you with the flavors of the middle east. This bite sized and dainty confection is ready in seconds and sure to bring a smile. Enjoy your life!

Ingredients

4 whole DATES (DRIED)2 tbsp ALMOND BUTTER1 pinch CINNAMON

Instructions

Slice open a date. Using a spoon, fill the pocket with a teaspoon of almond butter. Sprinkle cinnamon on top and enjoy!

From Karma Gaia

Ayurveda Recipes: Tahini, Goat's Milk & Date Smoothie

A warming, nourishing smoothie that makes you feel calm and cozy while strengthening you down to your bones. Tahini strengthens muscles. Goat milk and tahini are both high in calcium. This rustic Tahini Goat's Milk Date Shake is just what the doctor ordered.

Ingredients

1/4 c TAHINI2 whole DATES (DRIED)2 c GOAT MILK1/2 tsp CINNAMON

Instructions

Pit the dates. Use a blender to puree all ingredients until smooth. Warm on the stove with medium heat. Finish with a sprinkle of cinnamon and sesame seeds for a special touch.

From Karma Gaia

Ayurveda Recipes: Buttery Carrot Soup

Buttery carrot soup is simple to digest and fatty. It is perfect for someone recovering from stress or illness. Carrots are easy to digest. Onions and garlic ground the nervous system. Black pepper adds warmth, making this recipe a comfort. If you tend towards heaviness and congestion (aggravated Kapha) reduce the quantity of butter accordingly.

Ingredients

2 tbsp BUTTER (UNSALTED)

4 whole CARROT

1/4 c YELLOW ONION

4 c WATER1 clove GARLIC

1 tsp THYME (FRESH)

1 leaves BAY LEAF

1/4 tsp SALT (MINERAL SALT)

2 pinch BLACK PEPPER

Instructions

Saute onions in the butter. Add garlic and continue sauteing for another thirty seconds or just until brown.

Puree carrots with onions and garlic in a blender with water. Add with remaining ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil for 15 minutes. Serve.

From Karma Gaia

Ayurveda Recipes: Beet Soup with Lemon Juice & Parsley

Beets, grapefruit and dandelion are the three spring cleanse foods. Beets thin and support the flow of bile which decongests the liver. Beets also support the blood and have a laxative cleansing effect. Lemon juice is a powerful cholagogue that also flushes bile and empties the gall bladder. Parsley is a digestive and diuretic.

Ingredients

1/4 c CELERY STALK1/4 c PARSLEY (FRESH)1 tbsp SUNFLOWER OIL2 c BEETS1/2 tsp CUMIN1/2 whole LEMON1/4 tsp SALT (MINERAL SALT)1/4 tsp BLACK PEPPER

Instructions

Dice beets and celery and add them to a large pot. Add salt and lemon juice. Add water until vegetables are submerged and bring to a boil. In a separate pan, sautee cumin seeds in oil and add to the soup, cooking until beets are soft. Chop fresh parsely and garnish over the top.

Ayurveda Recipes: Red Wine Barley Soup With Rosemary & Mushrooms

From Karma Gaia

Red Wine Barley Soup with Rosemary is a hearty, rustic winter choice. Effectively stave off the chill with this winter by warming your kitchen (and your belly!). Red wine and rosemary are warm and pungent, while barley is deeply nourishing while also pacifying heavy Kapha.

Ingredients

2 tbsp GHEE1/4 c YELLOW ONION2 tsp ROSEMARY1 clove GARLIC1 tsp CORIANDER SEED1 c BARLEY1 c CRIMINI & BUTTON MUSHROOMS1 c RED WINE1/2 tsp SALT (MINERAL SALT)1/4 tsp BLACK PEPPER

Instructions

Grind barley grains in a coffee grinder or leave whole. Saute in 1/2 of the ghee until a roasted aroma arises. Add to a pot with 6c boiling water and bring to a boil. Add salt and cook until soft stirring occasionally.

Meanwhile, ground and saute coriander in the remaining ghee. Add mushrooms and onions. When brown add garlic and rosemary.

When barley softens add mushroom rosemary mixture. Turn off heat. Add wine just before serving.

From Karma Gaia

Ayurveda Recipes: Rose Petal Cookies With Almonds & Cherries

These perfectly delectable little drops of wholesome goodness remind us of mom baking for the holidays. Aromatic cardamom, coconut and rose petal add delicate highlights while fennel adds depth. Almonds contribute a delightful crunchy texture while dried cherry offers a mouth watering tart finish. Perfect for tea time or a holiday party, Rose Petal Cookies combine the indulgence and delicacy of a gourmet cookie with healthier, lighter ingredients and a surprising new flavor combination.

Ingredients

1/2 c GHEE1/2 c RAW SUGAR1/4 c COCONUT FLAKES1/4 c ALMONDS1 tsp FENNEL SEEDS1 tsp ROSE WATER1 tsp ROSE PETALS1 whole EGGS1 c SPELT FLOUR1 tsp VANILLA EXTRACT1/2 tsp SALT (MINERAL SALT)1/2 c MILK1/2 tsp CARDAMOM1/2 tsp BAKING SODA1/4 c CHERRY

Instructions

Skin and chop almonds according to the directions on the almond page.

Melt ghee. Preheat oven till 350. Beat eggs and ghee on medium speed until frothy about 5 minutes. Setting aside one tablespoon of sugar, add remaining sugar (or preferred sweetener) and continue beating. Add milk and rose water.

Grind spices in a coffee grinder (add a bit of flour as well to make the grind smoother). In a separate bowl, mix together dry ingredients, including dried cherries, almonds, coconut and spices. Combine wet and dry ingredients, stirring in one direction only for about 5 minutes. Let stand additional five minutes. Resume stirring in the same direction for another 5 minutes.

Scoop a teaspoon of cookie dough. Sprinkle some sugar and rose petals on the top and bottom, then place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake twenty minutes or until edges are browned.

Karma Gaia

Ayurveda Recipes: Yogurt Cheese With Pistachios, Sugar & Saffron

Shrikhand is a delectable indulgence and, like ice cream, is Kapha provoking and artery clogging. Yet, shrikhand has several important edges over ice cream:

First, yogurt is fermented and more easily digestible than heavy cream. Second, ice cream usually contains dairy mixed with eggs, a bad food combination. Third, shrikhand contains spices like saffron, cardamom and nutmeg that break up the mucous forming tendencies of dairy. Nevertheless, Kapha beware! Not every dish in an Indian restaurant is Ayurvedic.

Ingredients

1 c RAW SUGAR

1/4 c PISTACHIO

4 c HOMEMADE YOGURT

1/4 tsp CARDAMOM

2 pinch SAFFRON

2 pinch NUTMEG

1 tbsp MILK

Instructions

Place yogurt in cheesecloth and hang from the kitchen faucet overnight to drain the liquid. Grind the saffron with a mortar and pestle. Pour 1 tbsp of warm milk into the mortar and soak the saffron powder for ten minutes. Chop pistachios.

Mix together all ingredients. Place in muffin tins. Chill and turn over. Garnish with rose petals.

From Karma Gaia

Ayurveda Recipes: Raspberry Hot Chocolate - Mood Lifter

This gorgeous, silky indulgence is specially formulated for lifting the mood. Velvety chocolate and the bright touch of raspberry can be a opulent way to unwind and uplift on a wintry afternoon when the blues begin to creep in. Creamy coconut milk provides healthy fats to nourish dry, frayed nerves. Chocolate improves blood flow to chilled skin, increasing spirits and circulation in tandem. Vanilla, deep and exotic, soothes the nerves and alleviates stress.

Raspberry provides brain healing antioxidants, a boost in vitamin C for flu season,and a bright sour flavor that cuts through the heaviness of the chocolate, coconut milk, and encroaching dark afternoons alike.

Stevia adds sweetness with a boost of mood. A dash of mineral salt makes the richness of the chocolate taste even richer. Salt helps you feel grounded, nourished and hydrated, protecting you from the erratic, blustery winter winds.

Ingredients

1 c COCONUT MILK

1/4 c CHOCOLATE (CACAO)

2 leaves STEVIA

1 tsp VANILLA EXTRACT

3/4 c RASPBERRY

1 pinch SALT (MINERAL SALT)

Instructions

Bring 1/2c water to a boil. Meanwhile, puree raspberry, coconut milk, salt & stevia in a blender.

Place ingredients in water and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

From Karma Gaia

Ayurveda Recipes: Saffron Milk Thousand Layer Crepe Cake

Light as a feather, sweet, and aromatic, you'll never feel as pampered as the moment you take a bite of Saffron Milk Thousand Layer Crepe Cake. Easy to griddle (you might say it's a piece of cake!) and without an oven, thousand layer crepe cakes can be served with many flavors. Served here as a perfumed pistachio milk delicacy reminiscent of the silk road. Served here as a perfumed saffron milk delicacy reminiscent of the silk road. French cuisine meets the Middle East!

Sweet saffron pacifies strong Pitta appetite and melts vata's anxieties. Serve when emotions run high to feel relaxed and happy. This dessert will provokes Kapha when taken in excess.

Ingredients

1/4 c RAW SUGAR

2 c WATER

2 c MILK

1 tsp SALT (MINERAL SALT)

1 whole VANILLA BEAN

1 tsp ROSE WATER

1 c WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR

2 pinch SAFFRON

Instructions

1. Grind saffron and soak in 1 tbsp hot water. Bring milk to a boil then add 1c milk, vanilla, 3 tbsp sugar, & rose water for the saffron milk.

2. Mix the remaining ingredients for the crepes. The crepe batter should be thin. Griddle up to 10 crepes on a hot plate and stack them aside in a deep dish. Pour saffron milk over dish and serve.

From Karma Gaia

Ayurveda Recipes: Gold Milk

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) are one of the few foods freely given without violence to the plant or animal. A mother freely gives milk to a calf with love. Gold milk is thus a loving way to relax and enjoy the holiday season.

Ingredients

1 c MILK

1 tsp HONEY

2 pinch TURMERIC

2 pinch CINNAMON

2 pinch CARDAMOM

Instructions

1. Heat milk with spices until it just boils.

2. Remove from heat. Let cool a few minutes and pour into a cup with honey. Be sure not to heat the honey with the milk and herbs. The honey can liquefy in the warmed milk, but heating honey is not recommended.

From Karma Gaia:

Ayurveda Recipes: Vata Balancing Tea With Ginger & Cardamom

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 is perfect for the late afternoon when you are looking for a little pep and zing to break through your tiredness or brain fog. It will refresh your energy, wake you up and clear your mind. It will leave your mouth with a fresh and clean feel.

If you are experiencing a sluggish, heavy or cold digestion, drink this tea to give it a boost. It is warming, light and the pungency of the ginger will increase digestion. Cardamom stimulates a downward energy. And the sourness of lime releases secretions. This combination is absolutely perfect to improve digestion.

Ingredients

1/4 inch GINGER (FRESH)

1/4 tsp RAW SUGAR

1/8 whole LIME

2 pinch CARDAMOM

Instructions

Steep 3-5 minutes in 1c hot water.

From Karma Gaia:

Ayurveda Recipes: Cinnamon Rye Berry Porridge With Prunes

Light, dry and easy to digest, 'Cinnamon Rye Berry Porridge with Prunes' will warm your tummy on a cool morning. It can take a little time for the digestive system to wake up. This recipe will ease you into your morning without burdening your belly. If you're finding your daily bowl of oats is getting a bit repetitive, mix things up with rye. You'll feel grounded and satisfied after this breakfast, without feeling weighed down.

Ingredients

4 whole PRUNES (DRIED)

1 tbsp GHEE

1 tbsp MOLASSES

2 c WATER

2 tbsp WALNUTS

1 tsp CINNAMON

1/2 c RYE

Instructions

Notes on Ingredients:

Soak the rye overnight to reduce cooking time.

This recipe can also be made using rolled rye flakes.

1. Blitz the rye in a blender to partially break down.

2. Simmer in water for about 40 minutes or until all the water is absorbed and the rye is tender.

3. Add molasses and chopped prunes. Stir through.

4. Serve with ghee, chopped walnuts and a sprinkle of cinnamon for garnish.

Ayurveda Recipes: Hazelnut & Honey Strength Building Smoothie

When you're recovering from an illness, it's common to feel weak, tired and struggling to get back to normal. Even though the worst is behind you, it can take a couple of weeks to rebuild your strength and stamina. At times like this, introduce an easily digestible nutritive tonic to support your body through the recovery process. 'Hazelnut & Honey Strength Building Smoothie' is anabolic in nature and will help your body to rebuild deficient tissue after a period of weakness. The oily and sweet properties also work to soothe an aggravated nervous system. Sip this smoothie to feel nourished and calm.

Ingredients

1/2 c HAZELNUT

2 tbsp HONEY

2 tbsp COCONUT OIL

2 c ALMOND MILK

Instructions

Optional: include 1 tbsp of ashwagandha

1. Preheat oven to 400F.

2. In an oven tray, roast hazelnuts for 10-15 minutes, stirring regularly to avoid burning.

3. Remove skin if desired by vigorously rubbing the hazelnuts when wrapped in a clean kitchen cloth.

4. Add all ingredients to blender and process until smooth and creamy.

From Karma Gaia:

Ayurveda Recipes: Sweet Potato & Chipotle Quesadillas

Serve these vegetarian 'Sweet Potato & Chipotle Quesadillas' at your next Mexican night - they are sure to leave your dinner guests wanting more! The smooth sweet potato mash combined with the crunch of kale and a crumble of feta add an exciting twist to the traditional quesadilla. This recipe offers all the richness of a Mexican dish without the heavy feeling of over indulging. Make your own homemade creamy chipotle sauce (it's very quick and easy) to add a distinctive smoky flavor. Use canned chipotles in adobo for best results. Serve with some ginger basil limeade for a refreshing feel.

Ingredients

2 tbsp CHIPOTLE CHILI

1/4 c FETA CHEESE

1/4 c RED ONION (RAW)

1 tbsp GHEE

3 c SWEET POTATO

1 c YOGURT

1 tsp SALT (MINERAL SALT)

1 whole LIME

1 tsp PAPRIKA

1/2 tsp CUMIN

1/2 tsp CAYENNE PEPPER

1/2 c RED BELL PEPPER

1/4 lbs KALE

Instructions

1. Deseed and finely chop chipotle, combine with yogurt, salt and lime juice to make sauce and set aside.

2. Peel and chop sweet potato, add to boiling water, and cook for 20 minutes, strain and mash.

3. Meanwhile, slice the onion and bell pepper and stir fry in a hot pan with ghee, paprika, cayenne, and cumin for 8 minutes.

4. Add chopped kale and continue to cook for another 5 minutes.

5. Take a tortilla wrap and place it in a nonstick frying pan, spread a layer of sweet potato mash on one half, and top with vegetables, a crumble of feta, and some chipotle sauce.

6. Fold the tortilla in half and heat on medium for 1-2 minutes on each side until lightly golden and crispy.

7. Serve, enjoy, repeat!

From Karma Gaia:

Ayurveda Recipes: Buckwheat Bran Muffin With Applesauce & Walnuts

Sweet and warming, these muffins will satisfy your tummy without burdening digestion. The sour burst of cranberry and crunch of walnut add taste and texture. They feel light in your stomach in comparison to the heavy, dull sensation of a processed version. The high fibre content in this recipe will support healthy elimination and leave you feeling energetic and full all morning. Warming cinnamon, cardamom and ginger will stimulate digestive strength and burn digestive toxins.

Ingredients

1/2 c MAPLE SYRUP

1/4 c WALNUTS

1 tbsp BUTTER (UNSALTED)

3 whole EGGS

1 tbsp BAKING SODA

2 tsp CARDAMOM

2 oz CRANBERRY

1 tsp CINNAMON

1 tsp BAKING POWDER

1 c TAPIOCA

1 tsp GINGER (DRIED)

1 c BUCKWHEAT

1/2 c ALMOND MILK

1/2 c APPLE

1/2 c RICE BRAN

Instructions

Ingredient Notes:

Use tapioca and buckwheat flour

Use applesauce in place of cooked apples

Use stablizied rice bran

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Prepare 12-16 muffin cups by gently greasing with butter.

2. In a large bowl, combine buckwheat flour, tapioca flour, rice bran, baking powder, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon and cardamom (dry ingredients).

3. In another bowl, whisk almond milk, eggs, maple syrup, applesauce (wet ingredients).

4. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and combine until smooth. Finally, add cranberries and walnuts.

5. Neatly spoon mixture into muffin cups. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean (no batter).

6. Let cool in tray for 10 minutes before serving.

From Karma Gaia:

Ayurveda Recipes: Poppy Seed Sleepy Time Tea

Poppy Seed Sleepy Time Tea will gently lull you into a comforting dreamscape. Memories of insomnia drift into the shadows as you replenish your body and mind with this creamy navy-speckled tea. Imagine the comfort of snuggling beneath a soft blanket, pulling it up over your ears, and sinking into its peaceful warmth. This is the sensational calm offered by a steaming cup of Poppy Seed Sleepy Time Tea.

Nutty, grounding, and sweet, each element of this tea is carefully chosen to create the coziness you crave in early fall. Shiny, blue-black poppy seeds and rich nutmeg are quietly intoxicating, bringing your turning mind to a pleasant rest. Ground-up poppy seeds create an oil-rich paste that is dark & earthy, a substance that embodies night's stillness and nurturing yin. Aromatic cardamom and heating honey moves soothing warmth throughout your tired body. When steeped in rich whole milk, this tea becomes the soothing restorative you've been dreaming of for ages. The next time you can't sleep, pull on your favorite slippers, shuffle to the kitchen, and make a cup of Poppy Seed Sleepy Time Tea. You'll be drifting off to dreamland in no time.

Ingredients

1 c MILK

1 tsp HONEY

3/4 tsp POPPY SEED

2 pinch CARDAMOM

1 pinch NUTMEG

Instructions

1. Ground the poppy seeds in a coffee grinder or mash with a mortar and pestle.

2. Add to a small saucepan with 8-12 ounces of milk. Boil for twenty minutes and serve.

3. Add honey, ground cardamom and nutmeg, and serve.

From Karma Gaia:

Ayurveda Recipes: Dates Stuffed With Ginger & Almonds

The soft, sensual texture of dates is offset by the crunch of almonds. As tastes and textures open on your tongue, a sweet kick of crystallized ginger completes a delightful flavor profile. Almonds provide fats that round out and balance this recipe. Dates alone are revered by Middle Eastern and Indian cultures as a special offering. This recipe takes dates to a whole level, as they swell with the bounty of ginger and almonds. As a healthy dessert, snack, or hors d'ouvres, Dates are quite versatile. Better make a double batch!

Ingredients

8 whole DATES (DRIED)

2 tbsp CRYSTALLIZED GINGER

2 tbsp ALMONDS

Instructions

Mash the almonds and crystallized ginger with a mortar and pestle. Pit the dates making one slice lengthwise without cutting date in half. Stuff date with 1/2 tsp of the filling.