Ayurvedic breakfast porridge

CREAMY CARDAMOM & CINNAMON RICE PORRIDGE -

So many of you asked for a simple breakfast dish. So here it is! This is a perfect way to start the day for the whole family. It is grounding, warming, nourishing, easy to digest & Tridoshic- meaning it is balancing for all doshas (constitutions). It takes me back to childhood and traditional rice pudding!! I often see patients who are suffering with Vata/Pitta conditions which are exacerbated by their breakfast choices - and this usually means they are eating a lot of oats!

Ayurveda categorises food by its 'gunas' or qualities. Oats/granolas/ seeds and cereals are light, dry,cold 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.

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 check before adding any.

If you are in a hurry cook the rice the night before and refrigerate straight away. You can then warm it with a little more milk in the morning and eat. There is a variation of this breakfast in my BOOK.

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup white basmati rice

1 cup of milk/coconut milk/almond milk

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground cardamon ( or 2 crushed seeds from pods)

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

2cm piece of grated root ginger

1/2 tsp organic ghee ( coconut oil if vegan)

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 in a pan with the milk and spices for 15 minutes on a gentle heat with the lid on. Keep an eye and add a little water of some more milk if the pan starts to dry out during cooking.

Once the rice is cooked and creamy, check taste and add sweetener if you wish and stir in the ghee.

Enjoy straight away!