Keep Cool In The Summer With This Ayurveda Summer Coconut Mint Chutney Recipe
Jul 7, 2021 | Written by Leticia Padmasri
As the science of life, Ayurveda provides the evidence that humans come into their full potential when living in sync with the natural rhythms.Therefore, a combination of appropriate diet, herb usage, and lifestyle modifications will allow us to blossom physically and mentally through the summer.
July is the height of Pitta (fire and water) season. Usually, the temperatures achieve maximum levels in the middle of the month. As things heat up, we need to continue eating cooling foods that reduce inflammation and are easy to digest. Ayurvedic wisdom then guides us to incorporate more of the sweet, bitter, and astringent tastes in our diet. These tastes calm, cool, and soothe the system, which in turn supports our liver, blood, skin, and mind.
To keep you cool and calm during this season, here is my Coconut Mint Chutney recipe.
Coconut is sweet and cool. It soothes an overheated liver and nourishes and softens the skin. It helps counter inflammatory skin diseases and is one of the easier oils to digest. But it is good to note that it can increase high cholesterol, particularly for kapha types. All the herbs here support digestion with their pungent nature yet are not so hot that they would aggravate Pitta dosha. Mint is slightly cooling and coriander is the great ally to counter Pitta dosha with its exceptionally cooling and sweet qualities. Fresh ginger is a better choice since dry ginger is hotter and drier - not optimal to keep our fire balanced.
Coconut Mint Chutney
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
½ cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed
½ teaspoon fresh ginger root, chopped
1 teaspoon coriander seeds, roasted and freshly ground
Pinch of mineral salt and black pepper
Juice of ½ lime
¾ to 1 cup water (use as needed)
PREPARATION:
Wash the mint, remove the stems.
Blend all ingredients in a blender or food processor until the mixture is a thick puree, adding the water slowly.
Store in an airtight container for up to one week.
This chutney is my favorite companion for pancakes and crepes during the hot days. You can also use it as a delicious topping for your veggies!
Bom apetite!