Ayurveda—a holistic healing system developed thousands of years ago in South Asia—focuses on balancing body, mind, and spirit to promote health. Its culinary branch is one to embrace, especially in winter, as it leans into cooked (rather than raw) foods, especially vegetables, grains, and legumes. Ayurvedic cooking builds flavor through cooking techniques and spices rather than a reliance on meat and animal products, so it can easily meld with a vegan diet. Sign us up!
And then there are the Ayurvedic doshas, or energies, to keep in mind: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. According to Ayurveda, these three doshas are in us all, but one is always more dominant. Ayurvedic cooking is believed to help balance our doshas and enhance our health, especially in terms of digestion and nutrient assimilation—something many of us need to prioritize after a holiday season of saying, “Sure, I’ll compromise the structural integrity of that gingerbread house.”
You can start harnessing Ayurveda’s balancing powers with these recipes—they’ll warm, ground, and comfort you.

Warming Ayurveda Bowls

Curried Winter Stew

Garam Masala Tempeh Chili

Saag Tofu

Spaghetti with Harissa Tomato Sauce

A version of this article was published in the January 2020 issue of alive Canada with the title “Ayurvedic Comfort Foods.”