Vata Balancing 

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

Qualities:

Sweet, warming, heavy & unctuous making it the ideal legume for balancing cool, dry and ungrounded Vata

Black lentils or Urad lentils or black gram for vata balancing

Medicinal Properties of Black Lentils Urad dal:


  • gives strength to the body - perfect for Vata folks

  • increases reproductive fluid (attention perimenopausal & menopausal women!)

  • very good aphrodisiac :)

  • effective laxative: dietary fibre for good stool formati

  • increases lactation - this is for you nursing mothers

  • made easier to digest with ginger, garlic and spices like asafetida are added to

Ingredients:

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

4 cups of water

1/2 tsp turmeric

1 tsp quality sea

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.