Vata Strenthening 

Urad Dal (black lentils) & Spinach

Black lentils have a couple of other names that can get confusing at the Indian grocery shop. AKA Urad lentils or Black gram. The bowl of white dal below is hulled urad lentils.

Qualities:

Excellent Vata pacifier due to its warming, oily, sweet and heavy qualities making it the ideal legume for balancing cool, dry and ungrounded Vata.

Medicinal Properties of Black Lentils or ‘Urad dal’:


  • Gives strength. Ayurveda calls this “balya” food meaning strength-givng. Increases physical strength & bulk of the body.

  • Increases reproductive fluid (attention perimenopausal & menopausal women and men!)

  • Powerful aphrodisiac increasing sexual vigor & potency

  • Dietary fibre supports elimination for good stool formation

  • Protein & mineral booster

  • Increases lactation - this is for you nursing mothers!

  • Heavy. It’s easier to digest if soaked for 24-36 hours and cooked with ginger, garlic and spices like asafetida/ hing.

Ingredients:

1 cup Whole black lentils OR split urad dahl (aka black gram)

4 cups of water

½ tsp Turmeric

1 tsp Quality salt (Himalayan or Celtic)

2 tsp Ghee

1 tsp Mustard seeds

1 tsp Cumin seeds

1 medium Onion (chopped well)

3 tsp Grated fresh ginger

3 Cloves of garlic (chopped)

2 Tomatoes chopped (optional)

A pinch of Asafoetida (hing)

1 tsp Coriander powder

2 Handfuls of chopped spinach

Directions

  1. Wash black lentils well and put lentils, turmeric powder, salt and water in a pot. Boil and cook on moderate heat for 1 hour.

  2. Warm the ghee in a pan. Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds until popping.

  3. Add chopped onions and fry until golden brown.

  4. Add ginger, garlic and tomatoes, and fry till tomatoes soften.

  5. Add coriander powder and fry the mixture again for a moment.

  6. Add cooked lentils and spinach…..chopped fresh coriander (winter detoxifier) or parsley (summer growing detoxifier)

  7. Stir in and serve.