https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk daily 0.75 2026-04-03 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/spices-the-best-way-to-cook-with-them monthly 0.5 2026-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/ebb9585c-e16c-476f-938e-a148b25eda66/IMG_4407.jpg AYURTALK - Spices - a quick intro - Make it stand out Top L-R:Cinnamon, Cardamom, Cumin Bottom L-R: Fenugreek, Coriander, Cloves https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/travel-musings-greece monthly 0.5 2026-04-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1706712745374-WG3UZK8GL6BA0R2CKHU3/img_3201.jpg AYURTALK - Travel Musings - Greece Food is an immediate and visceral way to connect with a new place – after all, we eat several times a day and every time offers a fresh opportunity to be fully present. And in a country like Greece with myriad food traditions and hyper-local local ingredients, one finds oneself arriving everyday, all senses ON and ready to take in the bounty. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1706712748419-LRQSKAHDSAWZN31YWBK9/img_3542.jpg AYURTALK - Travel Musings - Greece Travel lets us open up to change - dust up some tired habits, try new things, and infuse the familiar with a thrill of discovering them again especially around our food.. Some standouts from my trip to try at home – For Summer ~ Tomato pesto – fresh, ripe tomatoes, minced really fine mixed with a generous glug of olive oil, crushed pine nuts, fresh garlic, basil, salt + pepper, and served over crusty bread;; White bean salad with tangy capers, lemon juice, garlic, salt+pepper, served on spicy arugula; Cold cucumber/avocado/yogurt soup with red peppercorns and basil-infused olive oil; rice with edamame and dill, topped with avocado/yogurt-cream. For Fall ~ Tahini-honey (tahini blended with honey) to drizzle over yogurt, pancakes, porridge or what-have-you; https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1706712746167-PRO6NOU1Q8KDKZC9F6CX/img_3341.jpg AYURTALK - Travel Musings - Greece Trip journal ~ Besides the food, what stood out whether it was a restaurant in bustling and buzzing Athens or a quiet tavern on a small island, is the Greek custom of bringing a sweet treat to the table at the end of the meal, on the house. The offering ranged from a platter of fresh cut watermelon to shot glasses of delicious house-made liqueurs. Even meals on the go came with maybe a couple of free doughnuts in the bag along with the coffee or a free pastry with the sandwich. I remember a unique sweet called Mastiha. It is sticky, white, fondant-like and served on a popsicle stick, immersed in a shot glass of cold water. It was unlike anything I had ever eaten before but instantly evocative of childhood treats like lollipops and sticky toffee. This custom of serving a free, sweet end to the meal is infused with an invitation to linger at the table without worry of seating times and table turnovers. It lets one skip dessert and yet have a delicious meal-ending nibble before hitting the road again. Until we meet again! https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/self-care-for-vata-season monthly 0.5 2026-04-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/2638c65d-6d67-48cf-9cfb-89f50e2418f4/IMG_6750.JPG AYURTALK - Winter Self-care - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/self-care-for-fall monthly 0.5 2026-04-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/9c34bac9-c3db-463e-8f8f-4880213f79bc/IMG_5771.jpg AYURTALK - Fall Self-care - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/2018/07/15/yogurt-rice-summer-comfort-food monthly 0.5 2026-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/ad276491-67e3-44b5-88ea-12436834e8be/img_1614.jpg AYURTALK - Yogurt rice - summer comfort food IMG_1614 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1706712760867-70LN8HU788OI8PM6HF0W/img_1608.jpg AYURTALK - Yogurt rice - summer comfort food - TEMPERING - This is a process of quickly releasing spices into hot oil. Heat a few tablespoons of cooking oil in a skillet. Add the mustard seeds, white lentils if using, green chili, ginger and curry leaves. The seeds will state to pop and sizzle within a minute. Shut off heat and add hing. This add the unique South Indian Umami and crunch to most South Indian dishes. The oil allows the spices to easily release their flavor. Whisk yogurt with enough water to make it pancake batter-like. Mix yogurt and rice - using your dominant hand and fingers for an authentic process! This allows you to break up clumps of rice and render the dish smooth and creamy! Add salt, tempered spices, diced cucumbers and herbs. Fold them in well. Enjoy with a dollop of mango chutney! IMG_1608 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tips-for-summer monthly 0.5 2026-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/5c38f737-d5ab-4066-bcd4-c59b2ab9c574/IMG_0191.jpg AYURTALK - Summer Self-care Summer is time of peak Pitta, or Heat. Hence all diet, lifestyle and self-care routines are focused upon cooling the body gently and avoiding what can increase internal heat. Modern science is beginning to embrace the idea that eating seasonal foods according to this biological clock is a smart idea. https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/2018/04/07/vegan-ramen-dare-i-say-ayurveda-style-😃 monthly 0.5 2026-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/679e7859-ec8a-4ecf-8a56-444e553fb79b/img_0639.jpg.webp AYURTALK - Vegan Ramen (dare I say Ayurveda-style? ) - What makes it Ayurvedic? The dish is appropriately spiced and simmered to balance all six tastes of its ingredients! All I can say is this recipe feeds a crowd! Easily a meal for four. While the prep is quick (under 20 minutes tops!), the key to a complex and flavorful broth is in the simmer. So be patient. It pays off! https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/2019/03/20/spring-ritu-sandhi monthly 0.5 2026-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/fffbc357-e437-4403-88e2-b69492b92df6/img_5592.jpg AYURTALK - Spring Ritu Sandhi The signs are everywhere as nature turns rhythmically on her clock! Spring is a season of Kapha Dosha – tending to present the qualities cool, moist, and heavy. As the season begins, we are still in Ritu Sandhi for a couple of weeks – a period of transition from winter to warmer temperatures in spring. In Ayurveda, Ritu-Sandhi (meaning ‘Season’ – ‘in between’) is the transition period between seasons, 7 days leading up to the equinox/solstice/season change and seven days after. What does this mean? “During this period, the regimen of the preceding season should be discontinued gradually and that of the succeeding season should be gradually adopted; sudden discontinuance or sudden adoption gives rise to diseases caused by Asatmya (non-habituation)” – Ashtanga Hridayam. Ayurveda pays a lot of attention to annual cyclical self-care, shifting with change in the seasons to allow for optimal adaptation to the environment. As we get to the end of winter, our bodies have built up Kapha (excess weight, mucus) as a protective mechanism to combat winter’s dryness. Some of us could be running dry if we have not eaten from winter’s offerings of warming, moisturizing, and nourishing foods and practiced Ayuvedic self-care. This could leave us poised for a flood of mucus as the body over-compensates with warmer weather. This also leaves our defenses down, prone to spring allergies and the sniffles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/9aec63e1-4775-4608-be61-4e0c3dcfe4b3/IMG_9724.JPG AYURTALK - Spring Ritu Sandhi - Green is the color of the season! Reduce or eliminate caffeine, white sugar, white flour, and alcohol. For a warm drink first thing in the morning, especially to stimulate the bowels, switch to a tea like Holy Basil or Tulsi – this is a gently detoxing tea that will support the upper respiratory system. Sweeten with honey for an added immune boost. Have a regular habit of elimination; if you don’t have one, pay attention at this time and start cultivating a morning hygiene routine that includes making time to clear the bowels. Drink warm water with a little ghee first thing in the morning to get the bowels lubricated and regular if needed. Use the Neti pot and warm salt water to keep nasal passages and sinuses cleansed and minimize pollen allergies. Do a daily Abhyanga oil massage before showering – as the weather warms, this ritual can yield to Garshana or dry brushing in order to start moving lymph. Sip warm water throughout the day. Take advantage of slightly warmer days to soak in some mid-morning sunshine. If you are not excessively dry, it is Ok to eat a small breakfast of toast and tea – dry foods can be consumed in small amounts as the weather gets warmer and wetter. A light breakfast of ripe seasonal berries and a light grain like quinoa with warm rice milk is a great way to get the lymph moving and detoxing. Just make sure the foods are at room temperature. For lighter appetites, sip a warm broth like miso with ginger and scallions. Even though warmer temps may be tempting, avoid ice-cold beverages and heavy foods like ice-cream. These can cool and congest the body. As daylight lengthens, it is OK to eat slightly later. Eat a small supper of something warm and moist. Adjust bedtimes to reflect the change in sunlight. https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/2018/03/07/bitter-dessert-anyone monthly 0.5 2026-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1706819203218-CG1TGMMD84CZWM663DR3/IMG_0165.JPG AYURTALK - Bitter for Dessert? - Bitter Melon Those of us who are more Pitta than others (more Fire in the constitution, wiry in physique, hunger cues to set a clock by, easy to rise and get going, prone to become irritable under stress…) love and crave the bitter taste. It is hard to come by in modern day diets, unless one eats bitter greens regularly. More often, this taste is sought after in bitter chocolate, coffee, or even alcohol. While all these have their place, they are not necessarily what I consider foods, more fuels. https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/2017/09/18/ritu-sandhi monthly 0.5 2026-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1707749189788-QIDCHDO1YLNCGT7YLL6C/IMG_5771.jpg AYURTALK - Fall Ritu Sandhi - Make it stand out Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. ~ Albert Camus https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/2017/01/15/pesto-by-any-other-name monthly 0.5 2026-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/82719165-385d-429f-92d9-3539b3e3a4ae/img_6577.jpg.webp AYURTALK - Pesto by any other name... - Make it stand out Pesto, from the Italian Pesta meaning to pound, is a sauce made by pounding or crushing pine nuts, basil, garlic, olive oil, pecorino, and some salt. The Tamil word 'Tho-hai-yal', meaning 'to crush or macerate', is also a sauce made by grinding together a vegetable, some roast lentils in oil, salt, and Chile peppers. So, in other words, it is a pesto except it is nut and dairy free! And in my opinion, although I love a good Italian pesto over pasta, a well-made Thohaiyal adds a most delicious punch to a steaming bowl of rice like nothing else can! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/3650983b-3e17-476e-b827-12d7695ab0cf/img_6567.jpg.webp AYURTALK - Pesto by any other name... - Make it stand out And just like a pesto, Thohaiyal is quite versatile. It can be made with any fleshy vegetable, or even peels. A very popular version uses fresh Cilantro (a take on the basil pesto!). One can add some grated coconut to the roasting stage and get a rich pesto that is still tree-nut free. (Cross-reactivity with tree nut allergies is quite rare). When using herbs like cilantro and mint, or any vegetable that is also astringent/bitter like eggplant, adding a dash of sour tamarind or lemon juice picks up the flavors! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1818fde7-a63a-4eb3-b8f4-d31017ee15eb/img_6565.jpg.webp AYURTALK - Pesto by any other name... - Make it stand out My favorite Thohaiyal uses Chayote squash. This vegetable is easily available at many supermarkets now. I found a 'black Chayote' at my local farmer's market with the skin a rich, bottle-green unlike the more common pale green version. This one is also a good bit larger, the size of a small melon. When cut, it usually has a soft seed that can be discarded. This one appears seed-free (a hybrid?). https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/travel-musings-italy monthly 0.5 2026-04-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1706712718106-OA4H1L3G00XK9V1SK2T1/img_7951.jpg AYURTALK - Travel Musings - Italy - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1706712715158-SDYDJP0MAKSHKLK4E6ZH/img_2571.jpg AYURTALK - Travel Musings - Italy Away from the grip of my daily routine, I ate as the place and time demanded. Breakfast was always at a nearby café maybe entailing a small detour on the way to the bus or train station or our day’s first stop. A cappuccino with an almond pastry for me, best of both I have ever had. Sometimes we sat at a table (which costs more than standing at the counter). And we got to watch the locals drift in and get their usual, standing as well while chatting up the barista. When food was carried out, and it didn’t happen often, it went into a paper sleeve to be eaten while walking, never while driving. The local topography determines the way food is sold and eaten. Suburbs make drive-through fast food inevitable! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1706712715219-4YDJ5478CPHTQMYG19T5/img_7746.jpg AYURTALK - Travel Musings - Italy Our day’s meals when we felt like it were at a deli or restaurant, usually rated 4 stars or more on trusty Trip Advisor and they never disappointed. Two meals stand out. Lunch in Siena at Antica Pizzicheria on a small street, conveniently located on the walk between the Duomo and the tower. It is a meat and cheese shop selling Siennese specialties – hocks of cured meat from the ceiling, more sausages than one can shake a pig at, wild boar local delicacies, and sheep’s milk cheeses. A shop so filled with foods I don’t know anything about, and don’t eat at all. An all-pervasive aroma I don’t usually associate with appetizing foods! So what did 3 vegetarians end up eating? Only the best basil pesto, brilliantly green and smelling like sunshine, sandwiched with tangy soft slabs of cheese in warm bread from the back of the shop, and olive oil from groves not too far away. This place is not a restaurant and as such has one counter and standing room only. Our meal was handed to us on a wood platter and set up outside on two sidewalk wine barrels. Add some local red and we had ourselves a picnic. So it is not the ambience, the price tag or the fancy ingredients. The love and passion for the food is always apparent at first bite. One can tell right away that meal is likely to be one of the best ever. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1706712714774-AZ0OBE2KYOA50NIJD14Q/img_2162.jpg AYURTALK - Travel Musings - Italy The second was a fancier place we stumbled upon in Milan. The clientele looked every bit as sophisticated as one might imagine Milan’s fashion savvy citizens to be and we did not, wandering in tired of a day’s walking and needing to just sit. We were shown the courtesy and hospitality of a house that truly loves it food and not itself. Our meal was meticulously prepared and presented and showed off the impeccable pedigree of the chef. What has stayed with me is our waiter’s reluctance to let us leave in a rush to catch our train – we were brought bite-sized coffee ice creams on the house with our check so we wouldn’t leave without finishing out our evening with a sweet bite. Food and eating is as much about people, place, time, and feeling as it is about what’s on the plate. A holistic experience complete in itself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1706712714702-UN3NVGQCKLVCC3KANA9P/img_1855.jpg AYURTALK - Travel Musings - Italy While walking the cupola of the Duomo in Florence, I noticed what looked like snow peas carved in the marble as decoration all around the ceiling as part of a motif that also had flowers. How curious! In exalting the Divine, we have always offered up food, as a symbol of our striving and devotion; something that resonates across cultures and religions. Food is Sacred. https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/2016/06/21/ayurvedic-self-care-for-summer monthly 0.5 2026-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/abc9a5a2-15fd-4d7f-9024-17de4128edf1/img_8333.jpg AYURTALK - Ayurvedic Self-care for Summer - Make it stand out Nothing says summer like fresh, ripe tomatoes on the vine! https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/2016/03/16/to-smoothie-or-not-to-smoothie-that-is-question monthly 0.5 2026-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1706819898564-MPXLUMUOP8Q4DVP8ERXW/IMG_2261.jpg AYURTALK - Smoothies - an Ayurvedic take! - Is a smoothie Ayurvedic? That is a frequent question from clients and workshop attendees. To which, the emphatically Ayurvedic answer ALWAYS is, it's not the food, it is your digestion! What does that mean? It all depends on what one's digestion is able to handle. Ayurvedic Vaidyas tend to stay away from recommending this convenient food because most impaired digestions cannot handle combination foods like a smoothie. It is always a good idea to observe how a particularfood affects one's body and mind. https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/2016/01/15/pongal monthly 0.5 2026-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/660eaa4d-973d-44a4-a8b3-550789cffeaf/fullsizerender-24.jpg.webp AYURTALK - Pongalo-Pongal! - Sweet Pongal Today is one of my favorite seasonal observances. It marks the day in the solar calendar of the sun moving into Capricorn on its northward trajectory. In agricultural societies, it is also the culmination of the winter growing season and a time of harvest. So this day is a celebration all across the Indian subcontinent (Nepal and Bangladesh as well), a giving of thanks to the sun, the rain, and hardworking farm animals for a plentiful winter harvest. I love that this festival is named for a food! ‘Pongal’ (in Tamizh) literally translates to ‘spilling over’ as in a pot left untended on a fire that then boils over. It is a symbolic celebration of a plentiful harvest and a wish for prosperity in the year to come. The greeting that echoes across neighborhoods is Pongalo-Pongal! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/32836608-1b06-4629-b342-8169ff8a8023/img_1767.jpg.webp AYURTALK - Pongalo-Pongal! Pongal is also the name of the porridge-like dish made on this day. Suffused with celebration and hence sacred meaning, this dish is cooked in a special bronze pot adorned with fresh sugarcane, turmeric, and ginger just harvested. This simple act of cooking in a special vessel elevates everyday fare like porridge to a feast. There are savory and sweet versions, both usually made on this day. While today dawned rainy in my part of the world, Sweet Pongal is ready. The kitchen window is steamed up! Here is a simple recipe for this immensely satisfying dish! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/61bbdf08-cc0b-4ebb-9666-1bc370ffdff3/img_1783.jpg.webp AYURTALK - Pongalo-Pongal! - Make it stand out For generous servings for 8 ~ Ingredients1 1 1/2 cup short grain rice (I prefer any short-grain from India; Ponni is grown in the south of India and is available at Indian markets.) 1/2 heaping cup yellow mung daal (an easy to cook and easy to digest lentil, usually baby's first food; used extensively in Ayurvedic cuisine as part of a pacifying and soothing diet; also available at Indian markets) 2 cups Indian Jaggery, broken into bits with a mallet or heavy rolling pin (a traditional rustic sweetener made from cane syrup without separation of molasses) 1 tablespoon green cardamom pods + 1 tablespoon sugar Ghee or coconut cream/oil; any nut milk will works as well. https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/2015/07/12/food-musings monthly 0.5 2026-04-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/5f9f5de0-d0c8-4fa2-839f-4a32f8159637/img_8231.jpg AYURTALK - Travel Musings - Scandinavia - One of my favorite authors Pico Iyer, says of travel, “it has shown me a whole other way to live, without a steady prop, not hemmed in by familiarity.” A recent trip to Sweden and Denmark showed me a whole other way to interact with food without being hemmed in. The comforting props of daily habit and a familiar language were largely absent. Stockholm, Sweden https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1706712735214-BK1SLE0884KTUTT9N38A/img_8278.jpg AYURTALK - Travel Musings - Scandinavia Everyone within the folds of this ‘food culture’ contributes to it by their very act of choosing – from what to eat and how to eat; in truth, it begins even earlier - what to grow, and how to grow, harvest, and transport the food; how to process and package; how to stock and sell; how to buy, store, cook, serve, and consume. As a people, we create this fabric and it in turn nurtures us, our environment, and ultimately future generations. In many countries, this consciousness is geared towards production with stewardship, with respect for the due process even if it takes time, with focus on purity, and with minimal messing around – additives, and preservatives absent because shelf life of only a few days is a collective OK. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1706712736277-OP76BJVG7TY8S06DJU2V/img_8334.jpg AYURTALK - Travel Musings - Scandinavia Of course fast food is ubiquitous and cheap, junk food is instantly recognizable in its gaudy packaging and advertising no matter the language, and modern day ailments are impartial to place and race. But the sense I got was of an ethos that is decidedly skewed toward human good and not human greed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1706712736662-AMAQTG38PJ5V6XARNUTA/img_8550.jpg AYURTALK - Travel Musings - Scandinavia Our choices, most often may be driven by monetary constraints. While that is inevitable, this concern is also universal. So, what is our collective food consciousness especially to an outsider? Right where we live, in our communities….is it worth our while to ponder that? Are we doing our best and how can we choose better? We may be well served by recognizing it isn’t just about our food, yours or mine. Our actions create and sustain this living, breathing food soul if you will. After all, our collective body, mind, and heart depend upon it. https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/2015/03/27/a-spring-superbowl monthly 0.5 2026-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/72ea7599-17a8-4185-8007-261b860725c2/img_5972.jpg.webp AYURTALK - A Spring Superbowl - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/11d8bbaa-4836-4098-a125-0203e625afdf/img_5976.jpg.webp AYURTALK - A Spring Superbowl Growing up, we ate with fingers, off plates. Vegetables, condiments, and other sides were placed individually and apart from the bread or grain topped with lentils/sauce. I still love eating a meal this way; it is both comforting and very satiating! But I also love the idea of a one-dish meal eaten out of a bowl. So even though the above picture is reminiscent of Thali-style of eating, all the ingredients went in willy-nilly for a delicious spring feast in a bowl! Full of bright, crunchy greens and bursting with flavor, easy to prepare and very satisfying! For 2 generous lunch portions ~ 1 cup cooked brown rice or any whole grain of choice 1/2 of a Daikon radish, washed and grated 1 cup packed arugula; 1 small bunch cilantro washed and chopped fine 1/2 jicama, peeled and sliced, diced, or grated fine https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/2015/01/08/the-anatomy-of-a-pickle monthly 0.5 2026-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/18f9b2bd-f7d7-4a4d-aec2-63aba6f6f695/img_5031.jpg.webp AYURTALK - What’s a Pickle? - A pickle is anything preserved! In Indian cuisine, mind-bogglingly diverse as it is, a pickle is present at every meal, no matter how elaborate or frugal the circumstance. It may even take the place of sides, making the meal complete with just the addition of a grain like cooked rice or bread, some plain yogurt and not much else. While the intent is to punch up the ante of the meal in terms of flavor and heat thus rendering the food amenable to all palates at the table, a pickle can also be medicinal making the meal itself more digestible, maybe settling an upset or queasy tummy, or even adding a much needed immune boost…. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/52aa1a26-9459-41b4-b78e-6d436302ac4f/img_5042.jpg.webp AYURTALK - What’s a Pickle? - Cauliflower-Turnip-Carrot winter pickle The anatomy of a pickle? Main ingredients + Salt & Spices + Optionally ~ Acidic medium and Oil Nothing says winter on an Indian plate like a seasonal pickle and this one is a personal favorite. It showcases three of early winter’s fresh vegetables and by curing and preserving them one is able to enjoy them as the season deepens. There are many recipes to be found online – I condensed several into a version I used for mine. One key substitution is lemon juice instead of white vinegar – it may have altered the shelf life but I don’t eat vinegar and honestly, I don't think this batch will last long :-) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/3476a715-2e5d-40dc-8db3-861d19701a35/img_5036.jpg.webp AYURTALK - What’s a Pickle? - Make it stand out Method Heat water in a large pasta pot to a rolling boil and shut off heat; add all vegetables and blanch for 1 minute; drain well; spread several kitchen towels on a counter or tabletop. Pour the veggies onto the towels, spreading them out into a single layer to blot and air dry for the next several hours, even up to a day to make sure there is no moisture at all. It is customary to let the veggies dry in the winter sun outdoors. Heat the oil in a pan and add in all the spices; toast for minute or two; shut off heat. Take the fully dried vegetables in a large clean, dry bowl. Add the seasoned oil to the vegetables along with the lemon juice, salt, and sweetener. Toss well with a clean spoon to coat. Cover and keep on the counter for a few hours, tossing often. Remove into sterile glass jars. Store in the fridge and allow the pickle to cure for a couple of days, tossing the jar whenever you open the fridge. Use sterile utensils to spoon out the pickle – to avoid spoilage, it is best to pour out some into an everyday jar and refresh as it empties. Enjoy as an accompaniment to any meal! https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/2015/01/06/sesame-coconut-energy-bites monthly 0.5 2026-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/52ba91a6-b23c-4761-82e3-7e1cbfd80579/img_5014.jpg.webp AYURTALK - Sesame Coconut Energy Bites - Warming, nourishing, fall-winter food! Sesame is a valuable addition to the winter pantry. This seed is a powerhouse of nutrients and is extensively used in Ayurveda to nourish and fortify the body's tissues against the cooling and drying effect of Vata (the Dosha governing winter). Sesame is used internally and topically to rejuvenate skin, hair, teeth, and bone; it is also used in tonics for nourishing a woman's reproductive system and cycle. One of my favorite ways to get this food into my diet is this sweet snack - a few of these is like an energy bar! These snack bites are easy to make and quite lovely with an afternoon cup of warming Chai. If one tends to be Pitta (warm~hot) in nature, it is best to reduce or avoid this seed especially in the summer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/557f651d-a60e-42d8-a992-60719b8a8c37/img_5009.jpg.webp AYURTALK - Sesame Coconut Energy Bites - Ingredients 1 cup sesame seeds - I like to use a mix of black and white sesame Black is richer in nutrients with a stronger flavor. White sesame seeds are just hulled black sesame. 1 cup fresh, grated coconut loosely packed or 1 cup dessicated Coconut palm sugar to taste - I used about 2/3 cup https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/dd35355c-ef26-4f85-895c-29a58032b860/img_5012.jpg.webp AYURTALK - Sesame Coconut Energy Bites - Method Heat a skillet on medium flame and toast the sesame seeds for a few minutes till they crackle and pop. Do not leave them untended since they burn easily; when toasted remove into a plate and let cool. To the same skillet, add coconut and toast until it is light brown and fragrant; if using dry coconut flakes, this step can be avoided. Allow coconut to cool on a plate as well. (If you add the hot ingredients to a bowl, water may condense in the bowl as they cool. This would tend to make the food moldy if kept unrefrigerated! So it is best to keep everything dry.) Pulse sesame seeds, coconut, and palm sugar in a dry high-speed blender jar until the oil is released and the mixture starts to ball up. One can add crushed cardamom seeds , a few strands of saffron and/or a few drops of vanilla for added flavor. Remove from blender and using fingertips, roll out the dough into small bite-sized morsels. Alternately, press onto an oiled plate and cut into bites. Enjoy! Since this recipe has fresh coconut, it is best to store this in the fridge - it should keep up to 2 weeks. https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/2014/12/05/another-anytime-meal-akki-roti monthly 0.5 2026-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1706712728320-1YFXVE7UX03VOTQVZN37/img_4847.jpg AYURTALK - Rice in any form is life! - Akki roti or Rice Roti! Akki means rice in Karanataka, a state in the south of India. Akki Rotis are a popular gluten-free bread option. In fact this version is substantial enough to be a meal by itself! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1706820537047-JOF6LX1D5BYTQHQ4MNN5/IMG_4844.jpg AYURTALK - Rice in any form is life! Pat them out as flat as you can get them on wet paper towels. Flipping them onto a hot griddle is easy - pick up the paper towel placing the roti face-up on the palm of your hand. Then flipping the wrist over, place the roti wet side down onto the griddle and peel back the paper towel gently to keep the roti whole. Allow a few minutes each side to brown and cook; drizzle some virgin expeller pressed coconut or sesame oil onto each side to give the roti a nice crunch! Serve with any relish or chutney if they make it to a serving dish!. https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/2014/10/24/basillimechileavocado-dressing-soup monthly 0.5 2026-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1706820615081-TQTKWBMQE19YCDHUWWQ6/IMG_3803.jpg AYURTALK - Dressing good enough to be soup..? - This is one of those dishes ...could be a meal, could be a side, could be anything and that is what I love about it! https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/2014/10/18/573 monthly 0.5 2026-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1706820678087-SQKQ5EQDBL3UOK9RTS4Y/IMG_4284.jpg AYURTALK - Best of Fall Soup - Delicious and Nourishing! Ingredients ~ Makes about 4 servings 1 cup dry navy beans soaked overnight 4 cups assorted seasonal vegetables, prepped and diced ~ butternut squash, sweet potato, carrots1 bunch any Kale, washed, hard stems removed and leaves torn to small pieces Ginger and garlic - fresh, grated, 1 tablespoon each 2 medium sweet onions diced fine 2-3 heaping tbsp of Everyday Spice Blend Salt and black pepper to taste https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/2014/10/08/a-gram-is-a-gram-is-a-gram-black-or-green monthly 0.5 2026-04-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1706712726899-G0VJGUKVTBSDS56L53MA/img_4079-2.jpg AYURTALK - A Gram is a Gram...or is it?! Top L-R, is whole Mung, halved Mung with husk on that I didn’t have, and Mung without the green husk. Bottom L-R: Whole Urad, halved Urad with husk on, and Urad without the black husk. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1706712723596-RY6KNT9MF7Z56JYZ72Z4/img_4045.jpg AYURTALK - A Gram is a Gram...or is it?! Soaking Mung lentil https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1706712723860-LSR4ZPBYSEFQJX6479GT/img_4048-2.jpg AYURTALK - A Gram is a Gram...or is it?! Ginger, green Chile, and Hing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1706712720033-GXWNK7L5A6LAO78AXGK8/fullsizerender-6.jpg AYURTALK - A Gram is a Gram...or is it?! Batter! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1706712724265-UVBVWX6Z23JHVB754IZ3/img_4073.jpg AYURTALK - A Gram is a Gram...or is it?! IMG_4073 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1706712724943-Y4QJXASDBXDP9WVCADPA/img_4075.jpg AYURTALK - A Gram is a Gram...or is it?! Steamed and ready to slice! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1706712726398-80XO9N4ULCFGS8S8UK1M/img_4076.jpg AYURTALK - A Gram is a Gram...or is it?! Sliced and served! https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/2014/10/04/weekend-brunch-or-weekday-supper monthly 0.5 2026-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1706820861242-7FOYSV6HV54HX1SUR8HB/IMG_3844.jpg AYURTALK - Weekend brunch...or weekday supper quandary..? - Chickpea flour is a versatile, gluten-free addition to the pantry! It makes a gluten/dairy/nut/egg free pancake with very little prep time. It can be loaded with vegetables for added nourishment. https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/category/Ayurvedic+recipes monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/category/Travel monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/category/Ayurveda monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/category/Food monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Gluten-free monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Summer monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Fall+Self-care monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Bitter monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Pitta+pacifying monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Ayurvedic+Eating monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Spring+food monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Kapha+Pacifying monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Seasonal+Ayurveda+Tips monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Ayurvedic+Living monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Egg-free monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Travel+Musings monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Winter+recipes monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Vata+pacifying monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Ayurvedic+condiment monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Food monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Fall+recipes monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Ayurvedic+vegetables monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/seasonal+produce monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Winter+food monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Ayurvedic+meal+recipe monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Kapha+Self-care monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Eating monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Ayurvedic+snack monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Six-taste+food monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Six+Taste+Eating monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Spring+Self-care monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Soup monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Dairy-free monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Vata+Self-care monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/seasonal+recipes monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Piita+Self-care monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/ayurtalk/tag/Nut-free monthly 0.5 https://www.ayurjaya.com/home daily 1.0 2026-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/f0f16c1e-0b0b-40ef-a72e-88428e0bf7be/Terri+Headshot+2.JPG HOME https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/b291ac9e-b5ac-4564-8f0e-cefdf6e647ec/image000000.JPG HOME https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/98c81800-145b-4a18-ad05-3e14ba0e30b4/Image+2-15-24+at+7.21%E2%80%AFAM.jpg HOME https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1f50535b-f0e9-4d72-a9a2-433d57478ecf/1000001171.jpg HOME https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/0437aabf-1d5e-461b-b53a-5b54c73d0feb/IMG_9711+3.jpg HOME https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/f2926523-5d0e-448c-ae0a-5b60494b77e0/IMG_2483+2.jpg HOME https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/863f7ed3-c932-430d-b778-7fa0dcb86fe0/IMG_5375+2.JPG HOME https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/7a0a6b01-8b4d-41a1-9548-b16c28c1deae/IMG_8134+3.jpg https://www.ayurjaya.com/about daily 0.75 2024-02-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/67a5b4e6-5f77-4397-a61e-ba19d199b4d8/IMG_8684.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/2a0b7a6c-a581-4586-8d7d-c25a6bf55a29/IMG_3431.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/4049ccdd-c541-4430-b72d-a1e66a2a6aff/IMG_9716+2.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/5c27806c-f94d-414b-bfa8-aa36d2401f62/IMG_5593+2.jpg https://www.ayurjaya.com/services daily 0.75 2026-02-03 https://www.ayurjaya.com/resources/ayur101 daily 0.75 2024-01-31 https://www.ayurjaya.com/resources/cool-ayur-sites daily 0.75 2024-01-31 https://www.ayurjaya.com/privacy-policy daily 0.75 2024-01-31 https://www.ayurjaya.com/resources daily 0.75 2024-02-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/7387827a-6475-4fd1-ba68-1abdaf2678ae/IMG_6838.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/ad2a1e4e-3f69-4149-b176-da0be7fe7339/logo.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/14ab13e0-3228-4fab-89a5-621377bfc331/Picture1.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/c9c46481-6b69-43b3-8bcd-5fc91cb36c27/JAIM.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/cc2b702f-cedd-4af1-a8d5-dc56a7da29b3/IMG_6839.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/c376eab1-5a42-4789-9827-9cace34826ee/avp-logo.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/cc2b702f-cedd-4af1-a8d5-dc56a7da29b3/IMG_6839.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/b7766dcc-5c74-488e-bc1b-5f9c145e3cd7/IMG_6843.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1d5e77c6-e3f8-405a-a908-5fe51efd63e4/IMG_6840.PNG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/7387827a-6475-4fd1-ba68-1abdaf2678ae/IMG_6838.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/8f2fbcc0-ccf2-4e47-bff7-f86231c59036/IMG_384283FA05C3-1.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/b29791be-16ce-441e-8c01-1cf951972509/JOA.jpeg https://www.ayurjaya.com/shop daily 0.75 2026-03-24 https://www.ayurjaya.com/store daily 0.75 2026-02-12 https://www.ayurjaya.com/store/p/kitchideeblend monthly 0.5 2026-03-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/2903f04a-205b-4220-9b48-9c8bce8beda0/IMG_4203.jpg Store - Kai's Kitchidee Spice Blend aka Spring Blend - IMG_4203.jpg https://www.ayurjaya.com/store/p/warmingblend monthly 0.5 2026-02-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/c324e21a-dde7-4891-981b-356ef03cb0b2/IMG_4197.jpg Store - Warming Spice Blend (aka the only Garam Masala you'll ever need) - IMG_4197.jpg https://www.ayurjaya.com/store/p/everyday-blend monthly 0.5 2026-02-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/696175a4-e33a-4865-9b01-00a298cb875c/IMG_4199.jpg Store - My Everyday Spice Blend - IMG_4199.jpg https://www.ayurjaya.com/store/p/ayurvedatext monthly 0.5 2026-03-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/6afeb909-5d36-4a51-b15b-0b26d0c446e0/IMG_4368.jpg Store - Ayurveda Textbook - IMG_4368.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/65ba56f6bf614377d9ce946f/1408ad92-b5ab-4188-b2c3-4272c997e46a/IMG_4390.jpg Store - Ayurveda Textbook - IMG_4390.jpg