Ayurvedic Cooking

Ayurvedic methods go back thousands of years. You are what you eat is a fact frequently forgotten in the urgency of the modern world. People look for artificial remedies such as antibiotics when causes and cures are so natural, so obvious and so well proven. Within the Ayurvedic tradition, the food regime is a vital aspect. Wholesome meals are to be eaten calmly, followed by a short period of contemplation. Particularly recommended are energy-giving foods known as 'sattvic', such as fresh fruit and vegetables (except root vegetables), whole milk, wheat-based products, rice and vegetable oil. Foods which sap energy, called 'tamasic', should be avoided. These include alcohol, coffee, pickled or cured foods and cheeses. This book takes you back to the basics. It does not involve complicated recipes or hours of work. Fast food is available here too, but in an intensely vital and satisfying form. You can discover the simple pleasure of awareness, and appreciate the properties of the ingredients.

Ramesh Patel runs the Mandeer Restaurant in London. This restaurant, founded over 30 years ago, is still UK's only Ayurvedic Restaurant.

Mandeer is Sanskrit for temple, and the atmosphere in this unique restaurant reflects its name: peaceful, artistic and aesthetically beautiful. Mandeer is the first vegetarian restaurant to have been established outside India and it offers unique Ayurvedic food.

Ayur means life and Veda means knowledge or science. This knowledge of life is an age-old science to improve wellness or restore health when there are problems. Ayurveda relies on diet and remedies made from natural herb plants and roots. Although ayurvedic treatments may take longer than others, the results are more permanent and without side effects. Ayurveda is spiritual as it relates the macrocosm of the Universe to the microcosm of the human body. The connection between nature and Self is the foundation for all ayurvedic principles of healing.

The ayurvedic aim of treatments is always to create an equilibrium between the three fundamental forces that control all physical and mental activities. They are reflections of the cosmic forces behind Creation, Preservation and Destruction. In today's world, it is imperative to have access to spiritual knowledge and a philosophical framework which can explain health and healing, death and illness as well as global changes which take place ever more quickly. Ayurveda provides us with an ancient system of knowledge that is as valid today as it was originally. At Mandeer, all food is prepared along ayurvedic principles.

About the Ayurvedic methods go back MANDEER thousands of years. You are what you eat, a fact Cookbook frequently forgotten in the urgency of the modern world; and people look for artificial remedies such as antibiotics when causes and cures are so natural, so obvious and so well proven. This book takes you back to basics. It does not involve complicated recipes or hours of work. Fast food is available here too, but in an intensely vital and satisfying form. You can discover the simple pleasure of awareness, and appreciate the properties of your ingredients. In time, these things become instinctive.

The tradition of Ayurveda provides balanced cooking: the balance you want is already there, in the food. You do not need to worry about eating a particular dish for a specific purpose. Vaghar is balancing, and as long as you follow the guidelines, the balance will be inherent in the meal and in the body.

The art (not science) of taking the right quantity of any ingredient is something which grows on you. As with putting paint on canvas, you will start with hesitation and become more confident through practice and development of your own judgement. Be guided by natural elements: take everything in the hand or with the fingers to allow the sensation and density of the ingredient to be enjoyed; follow your instinct too when looking at the colour of food. Let your inner consciousness do some decision making.

Touching, in all of life, shows the degree of feeling and closeness. This is a vital part of the relationship you have with the life-giving and health-enhancing food you are going to prepare.

However, do remember that the raw ingredients should not be touched or tasted - the food should be respected once it is cooking. And only when the food has been offered to Agni and other prayers are said should you commence eating.

Chanting and meditating during the preparation of food are valuable - this is the way to remove negative energy and help create balance, which in turn helps to achieve equilibrium in the people eating it. Try to find cooks well-versed in the tradition to give you some experience of chanting, and you may be able to learn and enjoy some yourself.