Ayurvedic Roasted Carrot and Lentil Soup
If you’re looking to reduce inflammation, nourish your blood and warm your winter bones, this roasted carrot and lentil soup has got all bases covered.
Roasting carrots really brings out the sweet guna, which is extra pacifying for vata and pitta. The sweetness can aggravate Kapha, so be mindful of that if you have any mucus congestion or Candida.
Red lentils are full of protein and add substance to the soup. Try to soak them beforehand for up to 2 hours to reduce Vata aggravation.
Coriander seed is a diuretic and a digestive aid. It’s bitter guna reduces inflammation, and pungent guna improves digestion.
Roasted cumin seeds warm the digestive system and help food to be assimilated and digested properly (also helping with peristalsis). Cumin’s mega anti-inflammatory properties help with muscle cramps and clear mucus congestion, so great for Kapha-type colds.
Turmeric supports the liver while cleansing the lymphatic system as well as all vessels and tissues. It’s also amazing for blood cleansing and arthritis. Too much can aggravate pitta, so be mindful of overuse. There’s currently a trend to add turmeric to smoothies, lattes and even to down turmeric shots! Too much pungent taste can aggravate the stomach lining, causing excess heat in the body.
How to make it;
5 carrots roasted in some oil
Half a cup of red lentils
1 red onion
2 cloves of garlic
1 tsp ground coriander seeds
1 tsp ground cumin seeds
1 tsp turmeric
Handful of coriander leaves
1 veg stock cube
1 pint of water or more if needed
Fry the onion and garlic in oil suited to your dosha, then add the ground seeds and turmeric.
Fry for a few minutes, then add the red lentils, stock and water.
Meanwhile, roast the carrots.
When the lentils are soft, add the cooked carrots, coriander leaves and blend in a high-powered blender.
Serve with fresh black pepper and a side serving of watercress, which is amazing for the heart, blood and for regulating the thyroid.
By understanding yourself through the lens of Ayurveda, you gain the tools to work with your body’s natural intelligence, rather than against it. If you feel called to explore this path, I am here to guide and support you on your journey back to wholeness.