Recipe: Coconut Sesame Rice, Recipe: Tahini Gravy

I loved this rice and the tahini gravy was awesome and easy! These are excellent recipes to have on hand when you're feeling like making something simple, tasty and nourishing. These recipes both come from Amanda Morningstar's "Ayurvedic Cooking for Westerners". "Westerners" is a fun change of pace from most ayurvedic cookbooks that emphasize Indian flavors. Morningstar also writes about the effects of some foods seen more often in western cooking that traditional Ayurvedic texts don't mention. Worth checking out. 

RECIPE: COCONUT SESAME RICE

serves 4. 

1 c basmati rice

4 T ghee

2 c water

1 t salt

1/4 c sesame seeds

1/4 c desicatted coconut

fresh chopped cilantro leaves

*note: I omitted the second addition of ghee, instead just toasting the coconut and seeds in a hot pan.

Rinse & drain rice. In a medium saucepan, heat 2 T ghee. Add rice and stir, coating the grains with ghee. Add: 2 c water and 1 t salt. Bring to boil, reduce to simmer & cover. Cook over medium-low heat until done, about 15 min for white basmati or 45-50 min for brown basmati. Remove from heat when rice is done. In a separate saucepan, heat additional 2 T ghee. Add seeds and coconut. Stir continuously until they darken slightly. Pour immediately over cooked rice and toss until mixed. Garnish with cilantro. 

• Vata: good for vata. Especially with the whole amount of recommended ghee. 
• Pitta: good for pitta. Can reduce ghee amount as excess oil can aggravate pitta. Can also choose to reduce sesame seeds by half. 
• Kapha: Increases Kapha. Substitute quinoa for rice for a similar alternative.    

RECIPE: QUICK TAHINI GRAVY
*Modified version of Morningstar's recipe. 
makes 1 1/4 cups.

4 T raw sesame tahini
1 c almond milk
1 T Bragg's liquid aminos
dash of paprika (optional)
pepper to taste (optional)

Put tahini in a small saucepan and add almond milk, stirring with a fork until uniform consistency. Heat over low heat until it's as warm and thick as you like. Stir in remaining ingredients. 

• Vata: great, be sure to serve with cooked vegetables, not raw.
• Pitta: has little effect. 
• Kapha: mildly increasing. Eat with cooked kale and other leafy greens.