It’s been a creative endeavor, sharing these recipes with you these last two years. In this final column, here are two dishes with which to play. The first is a traditional East Indian veggie dish, adapted to meet Dr. Stone’s recommendation to avoid heated oil in Health Building and Purifying diets. This makes it easier on the liver and its metabolism. This dish goes well with rice and dal.
Mixed Vegetable Subji Polarity Style
Time: 45 minutes or less
Serves 4
Purifying, Health Building, and Vegetarian
4 cups cut veggies (cauliflower, green beans, zucchini, yellow squash, etc.)
½ teaspoon cumin seeds
¼ teaspoon black mustard seeds
¼ teaspoon ajwan seeds
½ teaspoon masala powder or cayenne
¼ teaspoon turmeric
1 pinch hing
½ teaspoon salt (skip for Purifying)
2 cups water
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Wash, trim, and cut veggies. You may want to cut each vegetable in a different shape for a visual appeal. (If you choose to use potato, it’s Health Building, yet not Purifying.)
Heat a small iron skillet. Add cumin, mustard, ajwan, and hing to dry roast. Stir a little as the seeds warm. When the mustard seeds pop, add masala/cayenne and turmeric. Stir briefly, then take the skillet off the heat.
Bring the water to boil in a deep stainless steel or iron skillet. Add the veggies and salt. Stir in the dry-roasted spices; reduce heat to medium. Cover. Let simmer 5 minutes. Stir again. Reduce heat to low. Let cook covered 15 minutes or until tender.
Drizzle a little olive oil over the veggies, once you’ve served them.
Effects: Good for all types (tridoshic). balancing, laxative.
Supports: bones and joints. The spice ajwan is warming, decongestant, and clearing for the sinuses.
Adapted from Ayurvedic Cooking for Self Healing –Usha Lad and Dr. Vasant Lad, a great cookbook.
This second recipe is a very simple dessert for the holidays. I dedicate it this season to Evan, who is very much alive, and his mom, my old friend Sharon, who has passed away. All three of us enjoy(ed) this cookie.
DREAM COOKIES
Time: 20 – 30 minutes
Makes 15 cookies
Vegetarian
1 cup almonds
¼ cup maple syrup
1/8 – ¼ teaspoon freshly ground cardamom
2 teaspoons water
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
Grind the almonds finely in a blender, food processor or however you like. Mix together with the rest of the ingredients in a bowl.
Drop the batter in half-teaspoonfuls onto a well-oiled cookie sheet. They will spread a bit. Bake for 15 – 20 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Let them cool for just a couple minutes, then remove carefully with a spatula to cool on a plate or wooden board.
Effects: supports Air, soothing for Fire, builds Earth. Neutral for Water.
Supports: a sweet craving with a little nourishing protein, healthy fat, and minerals too.
From Ayurvedic Cooking for Westerners, Morningstar (1995): “This yummy cookie is based closely on a recipe by the same name from The Allergy Self-Help Cookbook by Marjorie Hurt Jones, RN (copyright 1984, Rodale Press). This is a marvelous source of creative recipes for the omnivorous.”
Blessed holidays to each and every reader. May we create positive connections in the coming year.
All best to you,
Amadea
See https://amadeamorningstar.net for classes with Amadea.