Tri-Doshic Rice Porridge with Rose Marmalade

If you are always preparing oats in the morning, let me tell you, this one is better for you.

Rice porridge is perfect to start the days during colder months of the year. It is warming, nourishing, easily digestible and is tridoshic, meaning it balances all three doshas.

To keep ourselves well-nourished during autumn and winter, we should avoid cold, light and dry foods, such as granola, oats or cereal. They will aggravate Vata in the body, due to dryness and heat up our Pitta, which then may be imbalanced.

Your digestive fire, your Agni has a very important role to keep your health and overall bodily functions going. A warming breakfast is necessary. You may add warming spices, such as cardamom, cinnamon or ginger to assist your Agni. Having a well-balanced Agni means that your body can eliminate waste correctly and incorporate nutrients. However, if your digestive fire is too high or too low, it won’t be able to eliminate food correctly and toxins might build up in your body.

In general, rice builds ojas. Ojas is the most refined byproduct of our digestion, when we are able to digest correctly. Ojas is nourishing and gives our body strength and vitality. It can be described as our body’s “natural honey”. Basmati rice is most sattvic, aromatic and can be slightly cooling. It pacifies Vata and Pitta and in moderation it can be also eaten by people with a Kapha constitution. Start listening to your innate intuition, it always knows what is right for you.

Raspberries are used in the topping of the porridge. They are good for your blood, contain antioxidants and help balance Vata and Kapha, while aggravating Pitta because of their natural sour taste. We will change this effect, by mixing them with a bit of honey or maple syrup and sacred rose water.

Through my previous post raw rose chocolate you will see, why I love adding roses into dishes. The properties of roses are simply divine, they will raise your frequency.

Incorporating the nectar of gods, honey, into your diet will reward you with health and strength. Ayurveda promotes honey as one of “the five nectars of immortality”. Since bees actually pre-digest honey, its properties change. It is the only natural sweetener, that has pungent, heating, astringent and slightly drying qualities and stimulates our metabolism. Honey is digested and absorbed much more efficiently by our body, than any other sweetener. And its cleansing quality may help to lower cholesterol and free arteries from plaque. Honey is used for colds, in many cultures, especially for treating sore throats and coughs. Honeys slight heat is able to liquefy and expectorate mucus and it will disperse fluids from your respiratory system. Honey is anti-bacterial, anti-septic, and anti-fungal, which also aids our skin, when used externally. Still, too much honey can aggravate Vata and Pitta constitutions.

The soaked and peeled almonds in this recipe should be incorporated into our daily routine. When consumed regularly, they regulate a lot inside your body: such as metabolism, pulse, premenstrual syndrome and liver function. They will build strength and energy, which most of us lack during shorter and colder days. Almonds contain more protein than any other nut with 20% by weight. They are rich in calcium and magnesium which supports muscle function and relaxation. Almonds also contain a lot of vitamin E, nourishing your hair and skin from within. Consuming them on a regular basis will make you feel more calm and at ease and will improve your ability to think clearly. To ensure these benefits for your brain, almonds should be soaked and peeled. Only peeled almonds are sattvic, otherwise they are acidic. Almonds are great for Vata and Pitta constitutions, and if you don’t overeat on them, they can also be consumed by people with a Kapha dosha.

This recipe will create enough porridge for 2 servings and takes about 20 minutes.


INGREDIENTS

-       1/2 cup basmati rice

-       2 cups of coconut or almond milk

-       1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

-       1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

-       1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

-       6 almonds, soaked and peeled

-       4 cm ginger, finely grated

-       1 tablespoon full raw cane sugar or maple syrup while cooking (if needed), or as I recommend: honey to put on top after cooking (I used Manuka honey)

-       1 cup raspberries

-       1 tablespoon sacred rose water

-       1 tablespoon honey

INSTRUCTIONS
Soaking the basmati rice overnight will speed up the cooking process. Gently simmer the rice with the milk of your choice, I would recommend people who have a Kapha constitution, or people who would like to lose some weight, to use half water and half milk and to consume less rice.

Add almonds and spices and cook approximately for 15 minutes.

Feeling extra funky? Then you should add lemon zest to your rice while cooking! That is my secret tip, it will create an amazing taste in this dish. Please only add lemon zest, when you use plantbased milk, cow’s milk in general should not be combined with citrus.

You can add maple syrup during the cooking process, if you like to sweeten it.
Please don’t use honey during the cooking process, only afterwards. When heated over 40-45 degrees celsius, honey creates toxins, also known as Ama. Make sure you purchase raw, unprocessed, high quality and real honey. I used Manuka honey, produced by Waiheke Honey Company from New Zealand. You can find it here.

Manuka Honey is really rich and has great healing properties. Normally, you should use it as a remedy for scratches, cough or a sore throat, or like here, as an extra treat. Any raw, unprocessed and real honey will work well for this meal.

I also advise you to cook this porridge freshly and not to meal-prep with rice in general. When re-heated, the starches will change and might accumulate in your joints.

To garnish this dish, warm the raspberries and when lukewarm, mix them with honey and sacred rose water. You can do this with a fork.  

If you want to eat this meal as early dinner, you may add nutmeg, which is absolutely delicious paired with all other ingredients and might make you a little sleepy, since it is a natural sedative. Therefore, you might want to skip the nutmeg in the morning, although it also creates a very delicious aroma, paired with all other ingredients.

If you have enjoyed this recipe, please share your experience with me on social media, you will find the links on the homepage, or here! Would love to see your creations.

Much love&light,

Lisa