My Vedic Kitchen^™

When the frost is on the pumpkin . . . it’s time to eat ‘em! Pumpkins are not only good for pumpkin-carving contests, they make a bright addition to any fall meal. They’re rich in nutrition, too. High in heart-protecting beta-carotene (vitamin A), cooked pumpkin provides a rich source of potassium. Moist and sweet like any squashes, they’re an ideal way to pacify the dry Vata dosha when added to breads or soups.

And don’t forget the seeds. Pumpkin seeds are excellent for pacifying Vata and Pitta, and in moderation, can also be eaten by those wishing to pacify Kapha dosha. Pumpkin seeds contain the minerals phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, iron and zinc. They also provide protein and vitamin K.

When selecting your pumpkins for baking, steaming, sautéing or pureeing, the small pie pumpkins, also called sweet or eating pumpkins, are best. Save the jack-o-lanterns for carving—their flesh is too watery and stringy to eat. Here are a few recipes to get you running to the pumpkin patch.

Delicious Sweet Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients:

4 cups pumpkin, peeled and diced in 1 or 2” pieces (width and length)
1 Tbsp tamarind paste
½ cup red, yellow and green pepper pieces
1 to 2 tsp salt
¼ tsp. turmeric
¼ cup chopped cilantro
10 tsp. Sucanat sugar
3 tsp. cornstarch mixed with ½ cup water

Spice mixture:

1 Tbsp. Maharishi Ayurveda Organic Ghee
1-2 tsp. Calming (Vata) Spice Mix
½ tsp. mustard seeds
1 Tbsp. fresh, chopped cilantro
curry leaves or 1-2 bay leaves to taste

Dissolve tamarind paste into one quart of water. Add pumpkin, salt, turmeric, pepper pieces and Sucanat.

Cook until the pumpkin is soft.  Five minutes prior to the end of cooking, add cornstarch mixture to the soup and then continue cooking for another five minutes.

Heat spice mixture ingredients in a pan, being careful not to brown.

Add spice mixture to soup.

Enjoy!

Healthy Party Mix

No need for guilt when indulging in this recipe.

9 oz. plain, unsalted pumpkin seeds
1 cup dried cranberries
2 Tbsp. Maharishi Ayurveda Organic Ghee
1 Tbsp. Stimulating (Kapha) Spice Mix
2 ½ cups toasted oat bran cereal or bite sized shredded wheat
¼ cup light brown sugar

In a saucepan, bring the ghee to high heat, being careful not to burn. Add the Stimulating (Kapha) Spice Mix, stir, and remove from the stove.

In a medium sized mixing bowl, add the remaining ingredients together and mix well. When thoroughly combined, pour the spiced ghee over the contents. Stir well again and serve. It is best eaten when fresh, on the same day it is prepared, but can be stored in an airtight container for longer periods. Enjoy!