CREAMY RICE PORRIDGE WITH CARDAMON, CINNAMON AND NUTMEG

This delicious rice dish is a perfect way to start the day for the whole family. It is grounding, warming, nourishing, easy to digest & Tridoshic, so balancing for all doshas (constitutions).

It takes me back to childhood and traditional rice pudding - except instead of pudding rice we use basmati rice. So often patients are suffering with Vata/Pitta conditions which are exacerbated by their breakfast choices - and this usually means oats!

But this may not always be the best choice. 
​
Ayurveda categorises food by its 'gunas' or qualities.
Oats/granolas/ seeds and cereals are cold, light, dry, and rough in quality. This means they will aggravate the light, dry vata in the body which will in turn aggravate pitta conditions by creating dryness and heat.

Ayurveda also stresses the importance of digestion and
AGNI (digestive fire). A warming breakfast with light spices such as cinnamon, cardamon, nutmeg and root ginger will help to stimulate the digestive fire. A correct Agni/digestive fire means your body will assimilate nutrients and eliminate waste correctly. An impaired Agni will not be able to process and eliminate foods correctly and toxins will begin to build up in the body.

Kapha constitutions or weight-loss patients should use semi-skimmed milk or half milk and water. Maple syrup or sugar is suggested as the sweetener - though you may find it sweet enough, so taste check at the end of cooking before adding any. Ayurveda advises against using honey in cooking - as it should not be heated about 40 degrees C.

If you are in a hurry you can cook the rice the night before as long as you refrigerate it straight away. You can then warm it with a little more milk in the morning and it is ready to eat.

This recipe is for a single portion so simply multiply if you are cooking for others.

INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup basmati rice
_
1 cup of milk
(dairy/coconut/almond milk)
_
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cardamon 
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
2cm piece of grated root ginger
​_
1/2 tsp sugar or maple syrup if needed

​Rose petals to decorate - because they will make you happy!

METHOD

Soak the basmati rice overnight if you wish, or simply simmer gently in a pan with the milk and spices for 15 minutes.

Once the rice is cooked and creamy, check taste and add sweetener if you wish.
​
Enjoy straight away!