KHEER
This milk pudding contains grains, milk, ghee, and almonds, making it a good dish for increasing ojas. It is beneficial for all consitutions, but those eating for kapha should eat only a half portion.
Serves 4 | Prep time: 10 mins | Cooking time: 45 mins
INGREDIENTS
1⁄2 cup white Basmati rice
13⁄4 cups milk by dosha
• VATA & PITTA whole milk
• KAPHA skim milk
1 tsp ground cardamom
1⁄4 cup pitted and chopped dates
1⁄2 cup agave syrup or rice syrup
2 tbsp rosewater
1⁄4 cup ghee or coconut oil
• KAPHA 2 tbsp
1⁄4 cup blanched almonds, peeled and chopped
• KAPHA 2 tbsp
1⁄4 cup shredded coconut
pinch of freshly ground black pepper (optional)
1 Put the rice in a heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour in 11⁄4cups cold water, and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer over low heat for 25 minutes, or until the rice turns soft and has absorbed all the water.
2 Mash the cooked rice with a potato masher or a wooden spoon. Add the milk and cardamom and bring to a boil. Simmer over low heat for another 5 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent the mixture from burning on the bottom of the pan. Remove from the heat and add the dates, syrup, and rosewater.
3 Pan-fry the blanched almonds in the ghee or oil until they are golden brown, then add the coconut. If cooking for kapha dosha, add the pepper as well. The coconut will turn golden brown very quickly, so be careful to not burn it. Add the nut mixture to the milk pudding and serve.
Soothing
Sweetened rice cooked with milk and sugar is described in the ancient yoga scripture Mahabharata as “the best of all foods.” It has a soothing effect on the mind.
LASSI
This cooling, refreshing drink contains sweet syrup and sour yogurt. Vata is pacified by the sweet and sour taste, pitta is pacified by the sweet taste, and kapha is pacified by the use of honey as a sweetener.
Serves 4 | Prep time: 3 mins
INGREDIENTS
11⁄4 cups yogurt by dosha
• VATA & PITTA full-fat yogurt
• KAPHA low-fat yogurt
1⁄4 cup syrup by dosha
• VATA & PITTA agave syrup
• KAPHA raw honey
1 tsp ground cardamom
1⁄4 cups rosewater, or to taste
1 Put the yogurt, syrup or honey, cardamom, and rosewater into a food processor with 21⁄2 cups cold water and process until smooth. Alternatively, use an immersion blender to combine the ingredients until frothy. Pour into tall glasses and serve immediately.
Whisk
If you don’t have a food processor or blender you can use a whisk to make the lassi.