What would be a blog of mine without recipes! Here is the first of many more Ayurvedic* inspired recipes.
After my early morning yoga practice I am often famished. My favorite breakfast right now, (being that is is -4 degrees celsius! here in Geneva) is a belly-warming Ayurvedic spice porridge.
I start off by soaking over night whole oats (with a dash of apple cider vinegar), but you can use any grain that you prefer. I add to them freshly ground: nutmeg, mace, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, anise, black pepper and fresh ginger. I love to grind my own spices as the flavor potency is a hundred fold compared to pre-ground spices (which start losing their flavor almost immediately). I play around with the amounts, it is not an exact science. My one tip for you is to go easy on the pepper and ginger in the beginning until you figure out the dose that it right for you.
In the morning I turn it on low while I am getting ready for work, then towards the end I add dried figs or other dried fruit I have in the cupboard, raw cocoa nibs and a bit of nut milk to make it creamy and I cook it on low a tad bit more. It is not very sweet on purpose (I like it that way), to make it sweeter add fresh fruit, maple syrup or honey. Sometimes I add a banana.
With my porridge I have either herbal or green mint tea. The spices in the morning not only smell divine but warm me up which I need during my bike ride to work!
One of the things I love most about this recipe is the moment I grind the spices together in my mortar and pestle. I remain very mindful as I crush each tiny bit into powder, clearing my thought of anything but the simple task of grinding spices. At the same time putting love into them, the most important ingredient of all :)
*More about Ayurveda:
Ayurveda: a traditional system of medicine of India which seeks to treat and integrate body, mind, and spirit using a comprehensive holistic approach especially by emphasizing diet, herbal remedies, exercise, meditation and breathing.
The term “Ayurveda” combines the Sanskrit words ayur (life) and veda (science or knowledge). Ayurvedic medicine, as practiced in India, is one of the oldest systems of medicine in the world. Many Ayurvedic practices predate written records and were handed down by word of mouth. Three ancient books known as the Great Trilogy were written in Sanskrit more than 2,000 years ago and are considered the main texts on Ayurvedic medicine—Caraka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Astanga Hridaya.
Key concepts of Ayurvedic medicine include universal interconnectedness (among people, their health, and the universe), the body’s constitution (prakriti), and life forces (dosha), which are often compared to the biologic humors of the ancient Greek system. Using these concepts, Ayurvedic physicians prescribe individualized treatments, including compounds of herbs or proprietary ingredients, and diet, exercise, and lifestyle recommendations. The majority of India’s population uses Ayurvedic medicine exclusively.