Thursday, September 17, 2009

Ayurvedic Cooking for the Fiery Working Girl

A couple weeks ago I attended an Ayurvedic cooking class at the Lavender Inn of Ojai. It was fascinating to learn that I am composed of not one, but two Doshas that could be affecting the way I live my life (take the test for yourself here Dosha Quiz)... The three Doshas are Vatha, Pitta and Kapha. Your strongest humor is determined by your body physique and personality. The Doshas are comprised of the five universal elements: space, air, earth, fire, water.

Because I am composed of a strong Pitta (mostly fire with some water) I have a quick temper and a fiery disposition. Watch out! According to Ayurvedics, my state of mind and body are thrown off balance by spicy food, caffeine, heavy foods, stress... you get the picture. In order to stay balanced, and this has actually proved to be true, I must consume cooling, calming foods. All in all, it's quite fascinating and may ring true for some people, and to others, well, it may sound ridiculous.

Whether you are a fellow Pitta or not, this mango lassi is a great way to cool off on a hot September weekend. Made with vanilla yogurt, frozen mango, mint and a touch of Indian spices, I find this drink to be a healthy treat at any time of the day.

An easy find is the Trader Joe's organic vanilla yogurt. Mango adds a sass to the drink while the cardamom and mint give the lassi depth and intrigue. If you choose to use plain yogurt, I'd recommend sweetening it with some Agave Nectar or honey. Make this mango lassi for an amazingly healthy indulgence. It is my temporary relief from a stressful day at work or a desire for something sweet.

Sweet Mango Lassi
1 1/4 cup organic vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup mango (frozen mango works great)
pinch of mint
dash of ground cardamon
1 tablespoon agave nectar
tool: blender


Blend all of these ingredients together on high until mango is pulsified. There should be no lumps of mango in the lassi. Next, taste test for perfection! If you like your drinks sweet, add some agave nectar for a more subtle sweet. I'm not a fan of white sugar. If you want a little kick, add some more cardamom.



Pour into individual glasses and top off with a dash of more cardamom, mint or agave nectar.


Psst... there are also salty lassis that are more traditional to Indian culture. Both sweet and salty lassis are used as digestives before meals.

2 comments:

jose Alvarado said...

Where is that PIE?

Ayurvediques Massages Marseille said...

Knowing the king of Dosha present in one's body is of utmost importance in ayurveda and then following a diet regimen according to the dosha's present in the body will help you to keep your health intact.