Festive Ayurveda Lentil Loaf | For Vata, Pitta, and Kapha
Updated: Oct 8
Lentils are a nutritious choice. As per the Harvard School of Public Health, lentils are a low-sodium and low-saturated fat food, rich in potassium, fiber, folate, and polyphenols, which are antioxidants. They help balance Vata, Pitta, and Kapha doshas. Get a free collection of Ayurveda recipe eBooks as a bonus.
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Ingredients:
1 quart water
2 tablespoons good quality organic olive oil
1 1/2 medium purple onions, chopped finely
1 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
1 tablespoon each parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme, minced (You hear the Simon and Garfunkel song now, right?)
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/3 cup sauteed cremini or other mushrooms or make a mushroom mix
2-4 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 – 3/4 cups soft breadcrumbs (gluten free is an option)
1/2 cup minced parsley or cilantro
4 tablespoons white miso
Freshly ground real black pepper, to taste
Festive Ayurveda Lentil Loaf | For Vata, Pitta, and Kapha
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a medium pot, combine the lentils and water. Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer covered for an hour, or speed up the process and pressure cook the beans.
3. Drain well, even gently wring them out so they are not wet or that makes for a mushy loaf. Set beans to the side.
4. In a medium skillet, heat the oil, sauté the onions, mushrooms, and herbs for about 2 minutes. * I cook the onions separately to caramelize them for added depth of flavor. 5. Now get out your kitchen gadget. Remember, less is more, so don’t puree, but blend into a chunky mixture. You want some texture to bite into.
6. Combine the lentils, onion mushroom mixture, breadcrumbs, parsley, and salt. The mixture should be thick but moist. If it is too thin, add more breadcrumbs or even some quick-cook oats.
7. Pour the mixture in a well-oiled loaf pan and bake until a toothpick comes out clean.
8. Cool for about ten minutes, so it sets up before plating.
Tahini Sauce:
Tahini is a ground sesame paste or butter. According to WebMD, tahini, ..."acts as an antioxidant and helps lower inflammation in the body."
1 cup tahini sesame seed paste
3/4 cup lukewarm wat (depends on the clove and how much you love garlic)
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, or more to taste
1/4 tsp Himalayan pink salt
2 tsp fresh parsley minced
Instructions:
Blend it in your favorite kitchen gadget. As this is used to dress the lentil loaf, keep it thick and creamy.
Tweak Our Recipe to Match Your Dosha.
Follow these easy modifications and provide yourself with a meal that becomes medicine by balancing the doshas.
How to customize this recipe to balance Vata
For spicing for Vata, the overall spiciness is important to help aid in digestion. Don't hold back as Vata types tend to have weaker digestion and this time of year lean towards being easily chilled with the hallmark cold hands and feet.
How to customize this recipe to balance Pitta
For Pitta to optimize this recipe by adding more fresh cilantro for its cooling quality.
How to customize this recipe to balance Kapha
Kapha needs to be invigorated as it may tend to be slow, sluggish, and dull. To customize the recipe for Kapha dosha--turn up the heat. Add more garlic and some nice hot chili and in general, add more volume of spice.
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Festive Ayurveda Lentil Loaf | For Vata, Pitta, and Kapha
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