Spring is a perfect time to cleanse the body!
In the changing seasons of winter moving into spring; we leave the darkness behind and welcome the arrival of longer days. Ayurveda, recognises the natural cycles of nature and the influence each season has on our bodies.
Winter is usually a time when we slow down, eat richer foods, indulge in sweet cakes and comfort treats; exercise less and sleep for longer at night (if you are so lucky!)
With the arrival of spring the earth begins to warm; our bodies may start to show signs of coughs, colds, sinus congestion and allergies.
Ayurveda sees the changing of winter into spring and summer into winter, as perfect times to detoxify the body of the accumulation of the previous season. The heaviness and dampness of winter and the excess heat of summer.
Eating lighter meals cooked with mild digestive spices; cumin and coriander; a pinch of asafoetida (to prevent bloating), turmeric and black mustard seeds; this mung bean stew makes a highly nutritious and easily digestible meal.
If you're feeling sluggish, want to loose weight or have excess mucus then add pungent spices like black pepper, cayenne, chilli peppers and plenty of onion and garlic. Ideally not too much spice in the heat of summer; or if you have skin rashes or feel irritable.
Serve as a soup or with steamed bitter greens like kale, spinach, broccoli or greens beans; a squeeze of lemon or lime and coriander leaf to make a delicious lunch.
You’ll need
2 saucepans/or pressure cooker
Pestle and mortar or electric spice grinder
Heat diffuser for even cooking (optional)
Ingredients - Serves 4
Use organic and seasonal veggies, when you can.
1 cup of Mung beans
1 Shallot
1 Clove of garlic
1 Celery stick
100g Fennel bulb
200g Squash - red onion for its creamy texture
1 medium Courgette
1 medium Carrot
1 medium Potato
or any vegetables of your choice
2 cm Kombo seaweed
Handful of Parsley & Coriander leaf
Ghee or coconut oil for cooking
Lemon or lime
750ml vegetable stock (bouillon or homemade stock)
Rock or Himalayan salt
Use whole spices for freshness. Grind using a pestle and mortar or electric seed grinder. This will release the vital essence from the seed.
1 tsp coriander ground
½ tsp black mustard seeds
½ tsp cumin ground
½ tsp ground turmeric
1 cm root ginger
Pinch of asafoetida
Add chillies, black pepper, cayenne, plenty of onion and garlic to remove congestion.
Prepare the mung beans
Wash the mung beans thoroughly and soak overnight. Place the mung beans and kombo in a saucepan and cover with water. Pressure cooker for 15 minutes or simmer in a saucepan for 35 minutes. Use a heat diffuser for even cooking.
Prepare the vegetables
Finely diced the shallot, garlic and root ginger. Dice the fennel, celery and finely slice the leek. Cut the carrot, potato, squash, courgette into medium cubes.
Prepare the stew
Add the little ghee or coconut oil in a medium-sized sauce pan. When warm, add a few black mustard seeds, place a saucepan lid over the pan. When the seeds start to pop turn off the heat and add the remaining black mustard seeds. When they finish popping add the shallots and sauté for 2 minutes. Adding a little salt, the ground spices, garlic and root ginger and continue to cook for one minute. Then add the celery and fennel and sauté for one minute. Add a little stock if this mixture becomes too dry. Finally, add the prepared vegetables, rest of the stock and simmer until the vegetables are soft, around 15 minutes.
Serve as a soup or with rice and steamed greens.
Garnish
Garnish with a squeeze of lemon or lime (lime for Pitta dosha) and coriander leaf!
Enjoy!
Create your own recipe using seasonal organic vegetables!