Maharishi Ayurveda Recipes: Spice Mixtures

Foods and spices are considered essential components of Ayurvedic health care. In many ways, delicious food is considered ‘medicine’ in Maharishi Ayurveda. An expert Ayurvedic consultation almost always includes modifications to diet and the inclusion of certain types of foods and certain tastes at specific times. In the Maharishi Ayurveda model of health, foods are medicinal influences in themselves, and expert Ayurvedic practitioners recommend them regularly. The Ayurvedic dietary cupboard is full of a wide and delicious variety of foods that include grains, vegetables, nuts, fruits and spices. As modern research is showing, diet can play a significant role in restoring health and a growing list of scientific studies are pointing to the therapeutic value of both foods and spices. Ayurveda has embraced this principal of health for millennia. Please consult your physician for specific recommendations for your health needs.

The following recipes are offered as easy delicious health-supporting tools for your best health. Favor organic raw ingredients whenever possible.

Immunity Boosting Spices
Here is a spice mixture for enhancing immunity.

2 parts turmeric
3 parts ground cumin
3 parts ground coriander
6 parts ground fennel
1 part powdered dry ginger
1 part ground black pepper
1/4 part ground cinnamon

Mix all the powdered spices well and store in an airtight container in a cool place away from direct sunlight. For daily use sauté one teaspoon of ghee. Heat until you smell the aroma. Immediately remove the pan from the heat to avoid burning the spices. Drizzle the spicy ghee on to cooked rice or other dishes before serving. Or add steamed vegetables to the spice mixture while still in the pan and stir. Add salt and pepper to taste. This spice mixture should be used regularly to flavor one dish for the main meal of the day to boost immunity and enhance digestion.

Detoxifying Spice Mixture

1 part turmeric
2 parts ground cumin
3 parts ground coriander
4 parts ground fennel

Mix these spices together in bulk and store in a jar. When you are cooking a meal, place a small amount of ghee in a frying pan and heat on medium. Add detoxifying spice mixture, measuring out one teaspoon of spice mixture per serving of vegetables. Sauté spices until the aroma is released (but be careful not to burn). Add steamed vegetables, mix lightly and sauté together for one minute. Add salt and black pepper to taste. Or you can sauté the spice mixture in ghee and drizzle on vegetables or grains.

Detoxifying Tea

Boil two quarts of water in the morning.

Add 1/4 t. whole cumin, 1/2 t. whole coriander,
1/2 t. whole fennel and let steep for ten minutes with the lid on.

Strain out the spices and pour water into a thermos and sip throughout the day. Start fresh by making a new batch of tea in the morning.

Allergy-Season Spice Mixture

3 parts turmeric*
6 parts fennel*
6 parts coriander*
1 part black pepper*
1 part ginger

Blend these spices together in bulk and store in a jar. When you are preparing a meal, place a small amount of ghee in a frying pan and heat it on medium. Add the detoxifying spice mixture, measuring out one teaspoon of spice mixture per serving of vegetables. Sauté the spices until the aroma is released, but be careful not to burn them. Add steamed vegetables, mix lightly and sauté together for one minute. Add salt and pepper to taste. Or you can sauté the spice mixture in ghee and drizzle on cooked vegetables and grains.

Healthy Heart Spice Mixture

1 part ground turmeric
2 parts ground cumin
3 parts ground coriander
4 parts ground fennel

Mix the spices and store in an airtight jar. When it is time to cook the meal, steam the vegetables. Melt a small amount of ghee in the pan, and add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of the spice mixture per serving. Saute the spices until the flavor is released. Add the vegetables, saute lightly, add salt and pepper to taste, and serve immediately. If you have constipation, be sure to cleanse the bowels by eating fruits, vegetables and grains with fiber, eating a stewed apple or pear with prunes or figs each morning for breakfast. By cleansing the bowel you maintain the digestive fire and enhance digestion and assimilation. This is an excellent breakfast for people with Sadhaka Pitta imbalance, and Prana and Vyana Vata imbalance. Sweet lassi (a drink made by blending 1/4 c. yogurt and 3/4 c. water along with honey) is also good for people with weak digestion.

Spice Mixture for Emotional Balance