beet
Beet Apple Celery Kale (BACK) Salad
Wow, some of us have experienced an intensely hot summer this year! The Ayurvedic way tells us to cleanse at the end of summer to rid ourselves of excess heat, and this salad is perfect for doing just that.
Excess heat can cause dryness in the body. In turn, the body responds by creating reactive mucous in order to lubricate itself. Mucous breeds bacteria that makes us sick. This response to dryness is one of the classic fall scenarios that lead to sinus infections, intense allergies, and more.
Beets contain B vitamins, calcium, iron, and have amazing antioxidants, too. The liver tends to harbor heat, and beets provide super support for the liver in its ability to release heat and function well.
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away…” How true it is! Apples have an affinity for scraping the body of ama (toxins) and heat with their pitta (fire) pacifying, astringent, and cooling qualities. Autumn’s apples are an ally for sure!
Celery stimulates the sweat glands to release heat, and reminds the lymph to move. It simultaneously scrapes mucous from the digestive tract as it aids in digestion and detoxification.
Another pitta-friendly pal, kale’s bitter quality cools as its fibrous nature aids in maintaining intestinal integrity.
This simple salad is a powerful panacea for fending off fall and winter woes and enabling you to take “BACK” your balance.
Beet, Apple, Celery, and Kale (BACK) Salad
- 1 head kale, chopped (if you take this recipe further into fall, you can omit the kale)
- 2 beets, grated
- 2-3 stalks celery, chopped
- 1 apple, chopped (the sweeter the apple, the more cooling it is. Try Gala, Honeycrisp, or Golden Delicious!)
- Lemon or lime juice, to taste
- Flax oil for drizzling
- 1/2 to 1 cup cilantro leaves, or about 2 tsp ground coriander
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp ground fennel
- pinch of Himalayan pink sea salt (go easy on salt, as it tends to be heating!)
Directions
1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
2. Mix well with flax oil and citrus juice.
Eat this salad at midday for optimal digestion and assimilation of nutrients.
Serves 4.
Interested in learning more about Ayurveda and the programs at the Art of Living Retreat Center? Check out our annual catalog here!
Ayurvedic Recipes: Beet & Kale Salad
‘Beet’ the heat and build your blood
Ayurveda tells us that we begin to accumulate heat in the body just prior to the summer, so we want to stay ahead of the game by paying attention to the qualities of foods that can help us maintain balance.
Beets are nourishing for the liver. Cooked beets cool and cleanse the blood, strengthen the eyesight, and improve anemia, therefore increasing stamina by bringing more oxygen to the blood cells.
Kale is cooling as well. The fiber in kale prompts healthy elimination, while the bitter taste of kale and beets stimulate the flow of bile. This helps keep the gallbladder and liver from becoming congested. As the bile flows, it flushes toxins from the body and encourages healthy lymphatic flow, which detoxifies the body and fortifies immunity.
This recipe is proof that eating Ayurvedically does not require time-consuming cooking methods or obscure ingredients. The ease with which this salad can be prepared is very supportive to our modern lifestyles.
Beet & kale salad
- 1/2 cup grated carrots, steamed until soft
- 1 1/2 cups grated beets, steamed until soft
- 1 head of kale, chopped, with spines removed and discarded, steamed until soft
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut, toasted or raw
- 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
- 1/2 cup flax seed oil
- mineral salt to taste
- large handful of chopped cilantro
Directions
1. Toss all ingredients together, and voilà, you’re done! You can’t ‘beet’ this for a fast, fresh salad that you can enjoy at home or take on a picnic.
Serves 4
Interested in learning more about Ayurveda and the programs at the Art of Living Retreat Center? Check out our annual catalog here!
