Cookbooks

The Tastes of Ayurveda

Ayurveda, the 5,000-year-old healing tradition from India linked to the development of yoga, is based on the concept that one's physical, mental, and spiritual well-being comes from a number of sources, including a healthful diet based on ones individual constitution.

In this all-vegetarian cookbook, Amrita Sondhi, author of The Modern Ayurvedic Cookbook (now in its fourth printing), provides new twists on traditional Ayurvedic recipes that are also inspired by the growing popularity of whole grains (quinoa, spelt, and barley) and raw foods.

The Ayurvedic diet is based on the concept of three "doshas": vata (air), pitta (fire), and kapha (earth). Each of us has a primary dosha that we can strive to maintain at a healthy balance, but which can cause problems in excess. The book includes a questionnaire so readers can determine their own primary dosha and then look for recipes that will help them to maintain or reduce it for optimal health.

Recipes include modern interpretations of Indian cuisine (spicy paneer zucchini kabobs and mango & coconut kulfi), and Ayurvedic spins on vegetarian fare (barley rainbow pilaf and raw zucchini hummus). The book also includes yoga and breathing exercises easily done at home or at work, full-colour recipe photos, and information on sprouting/fermenting techniques and backyard gardening.

"The Tastes of Ayurveda" offers simple and delicious ways to achieve a more healthful, energetic, and serene life.

 

The Modern Ayurvedic Cookbook

Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old holistic healing tradition from India whose history is linked to the development of yoga, in which physical and spiritual well-being comes from a number of sources, including a healthful diet based on one's individual constitution. Today, it has a growing constituency, including well-known practitioner Dr Deepak Chopra.

Ayurveda is about achieving a physical and spiritual balance through a number of means, including diet. This all-vegetarian cookbook based on Ayurvedic traditions features delectable and nutritious recipes that appeal to particular doshas, which are one's personal constitution based on physical and mental characteristics: air (vata), fire (pitta), and earth (kapha) (the book includes a dosha questionnaire so readers can determine their own). And while the recipes are authentically Ayurvedic, they feature easy-to-find ingredients and modern-day cooking methods appropriate for busy lifestyles.

Recipes are divided into Breakfasts, Appetizers, Salads, Soups, Entrees, Grains & Breads, Sweets & Desserts, and Condiments. The book also includes yoga postures (with photographs), cleansing programs, and information on aromatherapy, colour therapy, and menu plans. There also are suggested meat substitutions for non-vegetarians (Ayurveda is not exclusively vegetarian, although this book is).

Written with both converts and beginners in mind, "The Modern Ayurvedic Cookbook" is a twenty-first-century approach to an ancient tradition that will restore your health, energy, and sense of well-being.