Sukham Ayu

by Jigyasa Giri & Pratibha Jain

Through centuries, great masters of science and philosophy have interpreted and defined life in myriad ways. According to Ayurveda, ayu or life is an orchestra of body, senses, mind and soul. For sweet music to flow, the body and the senses have to be nurtured in a way that they take care of the mind and soul. Balance, moderation and compatibility are the grand conductors of this heavenly orchestra that steer life away from sickness and suffering, thus leading to a well-lived life of happiness and contentment, or Sukham Ayu.
 
You are what you eat, claims the popular adage. Add to this the knowledge that what you need to eat is not elaborate menus with unavailable and exotic ingredients, but simple home cooked food using regional and seasonal availables that suit your constitution. This is the quintessence of an Ayurvedic diet in a nutshell.

This collection of recipes consists of daily, simple, vegetarian dishes that all Indian homes are familiar with. A closer look will reveal the fine thread of Ayurvedic insights binding them together, for what makes food healthy and ‘Ayurvedic’ is proper combinations, compatibility and methods of cooking. Thus, these recipes have been included with a clear focus on freshly cooked food, on the correct use of spices to enhance taste and good health, on the right combinations that make them tridoshik, or ‘agreeable to all doshas’.

Slight variations and unobtrusive additions and deletions to daily home cooking, along with Ayurvedic insights, make these recipes worth trying.

SECTIONS OF THIS BOOK
Who Am I?                             Sweet Platter
Self and the Elements              Ladle of Soopa
The Essence in Food                Vegetable Medley
Food and the Seasons             Pulses of Health
Food Compatibility                  Indian Bread Basket
Food and the Mind                  Rice Bowl
Eat with Ayurvedic Insights       Snack Time
A Ready Kitchen)                    Chutneys, Salads, Beverages