Summer Recipes

In the summer our Yoga and Ayurveda teacher Janneke serves ‘green’ soup to her family regularly. What’s in it? That depends, but maybe this recipe could serve as an inspiration for you to cool down when the heat is going up. Need an immediate coolant? Try also this lemonade.

Mint-cucumber lemonade

Cucumber is a natural coolant, lemon is helping to relieve thirst, while the scent of fresh mint helps to relax. Even though lemon could be considered heating, at the last stage of digestion it supports digesting and stabilizes any excess heat.

Ingredients:
1 cucumber
1 lemon
8 gr mint leaves
1-litre water

1. Cut the cucumber in thin slices and add to the water.
2. Cut the lemon in slices and squeeze above the water, add the slices after squeezing.
3. The mint can be torn slightly or cut into pieces before adding to the water too.
4. Enjoy!

Creamy green protein soup

From: ‘the new Ayurvedic kitchen’ by Divya Alter

Cooling vegetables help to support the potential excess heat in your body, while the warm soup will help your digestion that sometimes struggles in the summer. Adding herbs will help your digestion, especially since the heat might cause burning sensations or you might experience constipation.

Ingredients:
2 teaspoons ghee (or olive oil)
1 tsp Masala
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp ground turmeric
½ tsp fenugreek seeds
1 cup crumbled fresh soft cheese
8 packed cups of leafy greens such as chard, beet greens, collards, spinach and/or kale
½ fresh parsley leaves
for garnish: fresh lime juice

1. In a saucepan, combine 2 cups water with the ghee, masala, salt, turmeric, fenugreek and cheese. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat and cook for 15 minutes.
2. While the cheese is cooking, prep your greens: wash, stem, and tear them – this should yield about 8 packed cups. Gradually add the greens and parsley, turning them over until they wilt but still retain their vibrant green colour, 3-5 minutes. Turn off the heat and leave the soup uncovered to cool it down a bit.
3. Transfer the soup to a blender and blend to a smooth, and creamy consistency. Reheat the soup if needed.
4. Garnish with lime juice and serve warm/hot.
~ for airy digestion: add ¼ tsp black pepper
~ for fiery digestion add 1 tsp grated fresh ginger in step 1
~ dairy free option: substitute ½ cashews (soaked overnight) or ½ cup rinsed lentils for the cheese in step 1
~ Other options for greens: chopped asparagus, green beans, broccoli, cabbage or zucchini