As the world celebrated Yoga Day in style, it's useful to remember that eating right is a big part of the Yogic way of life. Our wise ancestors laid down the principle that we are what we eat and that the right food can help us along the route to wellness of body and mind.
Here are some recipes ideas for Sattvic dishes, which contribute to the maintenance of Sattva guna -- the state of being calm and peaceful.
Tabbouleh, a healthy salad
Photographs: Food Stories/Creative Commons
Soak the wheat in water for an hour or so. All the water should be absorbed. Drain, if there is excess water. Add all the other ingredients and mix well. Allow to stand for half an hour for the flavours to develop. You can add some pomegranate kernels to give this salad a sweet twist.
Yogic Chocolate Orange Cake, a sweet that's good for you
Photographs: Stephanie Kilgast/Creative Commons
Grease and line a 9-inch cake tin. Pre-heat the oven to 180 deg C. Combine all the dry ingredients in a bowl. Stir all the liquids, except for the vinegar, in another bowl, whisking until smooth. Fold liquids into dry ingredients and then add the vinegar. Pour into the prepared tin and bake for 25-30 minutes. Turn out once cool. This cake can be topped with melted dark chocolate.
Dal and palak soup, a nourishing meal
Photographs: Angus Dwyer/Creative Commons
Heat the oil in a pressure cooker, add the asafoetida and the cumin. Follow with the ginger and green chilli. Add the dal and turmeric, saute for a minute. Add two cups water and pressure cook for 6-8 mins.
Release pressure, and mash the dal. Add the palak and the salt. Add more water if soup is too thick. Heat until the palak is just cooked, add lime juice to taste and serve. You can add a spoonful of cooked rice to the soup bowl to turn this into a substantial meal.
Tips for Yogic cooking and eating
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