Customer Reviews

The Ayurvedic Cookbook

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Bob Sachs, author of "Tibetan Ayurveda", recommended this book to me. I feel that Tibetan Medicine is the best system of medicine.
They believe that behavior determines health. But the second
variable is food. Their system is ayurvedic. Based on body types. But they don't have a suitable book out for sale. This
book is Indian Ayurvedic. Which is about 90% the same. Each menu will tell you in numbers how much it matches your body type. And there are other symbols which tell you about seasons and tastes and so forth. This is all really quite simple. But
I don't follow this book. My reason is Indian Cooking. All the meals are cooked using Indian Cooking. You are supposed to put
mustard seeds on the frying pan and as soon as they start to pop, you start to put in other ingredients. It has to do with timing. You don't want the mustard seeds burnt or black. This
is a small thing, I suppose. But I bailed out when I got to that. I do think that this book will give you the very best
health care outside of good behavior. Thank you and happy eating.

I'm not a vegetarian, but when I use the recipes in this book, I don't miss the meat. Yes, this book will teach you about the ancient art of Ayurvedia, but that would all be useless if it didn't taste good because I wouldn't use it. It emphasizes well spiced foods specific to your particular constitution, and I found that the recommendations often went along with things that I had already figured out, for example that I needed to eat well cooked foods. Most the ingredients in this book are easy to find - if I can get them in Philly, you can probably get them anywhere. If this were only a vegetarian cookbook, it would be a 5-star book (and I say that as a meat-eater). With all of the extra Ayurvedic information, this is a book you should have if you do any of your own cooking.

I have to admit that I was a little intimidated when I first picked up The Ayurvedic Cookbook. I am new to Ayurveda. I have been reading everything I can get my hands on about the system and have started to change the way I eat according to these principles. However, to this point, I have been looking at specific foods and tastes to help my own health rather than trying to create a whole meal for my family.

Even with my limited experiments, I have already noticed changes in the way I feel. I was eager to do more but afraid that it might be more complex than I could handle. I was also a little worried that the food would be bland and boring.

Now, I'm so glad that I picked up The Ayurvedic Cookbook. The recipes are delicious. I haven't had to say "eat it because it's healthy" once. My favorite part is that each recipe includes information at the beginning that details how the recipe fits into the Ayurvedic system.

Moreover, the book includes a little blurb of information about the main ingredient of each section. This gives me a better idea about what this ingredient does in the system and when it works best. It also tells me how that particular item reacts with vata, pitta, and kapha types.

Amadea Morningstar not only gives you delicious, simple recipes for meals but also recipes for medicinal drinks, based on Ayurveda. She talks about the spiritual side of cooking, which has affected my personal approach to cooking everything - not just these foods. She also gives good information on dairy and how it is best digested. The one recipe I keep coming back to in here is the one for banana muffins. No one can resist them! I change the flours at times, and find that this recipe is the best vegan muffin recipe I've ever found! BTW -if you are vegan or vegetarian, this book is an excellent resource.

Covering the ancient science of Ayurvedism in one book and relating that science to your daily menu is no easy task. Yet this book does so quite well, and is appropriate for the beginner or the expert. If you know very little, you can learn how to determine your own dosha and begin assessing what foods are best for you. If you are beyond that, you will benefit from the many insights offered in a wide range of topics including seasonal and daily diets, nutrition, ingredients, and of course the recipes. As a chef with an interest in healthful cuisines, I must admit that some of the recipes are a bit bland. However, as the book points out, our taste buds have become accustomed to excessive salt and these recipes allow you to experience the pure flavors of the ingredients. Some recipes are completely delicious, such as Spicy Cumin Eggplant or Cream of Greens Soup. Another benefit of this book is that most of the ingredients are easy to find, which can be a problem for American cooks trying to make Indian food.

It took a while to receive this book however I was informed from the beginning that it may take longer since I am in Canada & obviously to receive the cheapest price the seller can't afford to pay for fast shipping. The book arrived in good, used shape as I expected. I don't mind a few 'underlines' on important topics for the previous owner ... it was a good deal. I'm very happy with the book and the seller. The contents of the book is very informative with great, easy recipes to get a Beginner like me on her way. I appreciated the background info on 'Ayurveda' as well and like that it was highly recommended by Amrit Desai ... good recommendation. Thumbs up!!

I have been really pleased with the Ayurvedic Cookbook! It gives an excellent introduction into Ayurvedic nutritional theory, along with a self-exam so that you may determine your Dosha. There is a great index in the back which lists all foods according to their Dosha which makes menu planning easier. For the most part, the recipes are tasty and easy to prepare. You may find it difficult, however to locate some of the unique Indian spices and food items, especially if you are not living in a large metropolitan area. I did not care for some of the recipes as they were a little strange to my taste, but most were excellent!