Eat Turnips (Roasted Turnip Fries Recipe)

The Ayurveda Experience January 01, 2017

Ritucharya is seasonal living and eating.

As one of my favorite teachers likes to say, “Seasonal living invites you to align with a larger rhythm.”

The larger seasonal rhythm gives us a sound support structure in which to foster wellness. Find foods to balance the seasonal effects. Eat turnips to support balanced kapha.

Turnips are available through the winter and spring. So let’s sync up!

The seasonal effects layer with the effects of the time of life you are in and your natural make up. These interactions can help balance natural tendencies.

When the season, time of life and time of day layer to add to your primary dosha, whoa!

As a result most of us have a season or two or three, when we need to pay special attention and take steps to stay in balance.

Your schedule and self care and diet (your dinacharya) shift to support balanced expression of your prakruti.

With this understanding you can shape your food choices to align with the season, balance your dosha and foster your digestion and health.

3 Benefits to Seasonal Eating

1. Naturally balance seasonal influences.
2. Broaden the nutrient pool.
3. Add variety and color to our plates.

You might ask, “How do I know what is in season?”

Between our global economy and agribusiness many people have access to all produce all year long.

Weather patterns are shifting in response to global warming, adding more confusion.

Here are some ideas to stay aligned with seasonal foods:

• Eat dosha balancing  seasonal foods. Most Ayurvedic texts have food lists.
• Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). You pay ahead, then get what they grow in season.
• Shop local (Find a farm stand or two to get the local produce.)
• Grow your own foods. (Have a multiple season garden and harvest your own food.)
• Eat healthy local wild plants, from your yard or where they grow naturally away from pollution.

When you shop, forage, and eat this way you end up trying new things.

Maybe you have been eating sweet potatoes this Vata Season.  Then as spring comes you feel the need to change. Just go with it.

What to do with a CSA basket this spring with the whole bottom full of turnips? Turnips are Kapha pacifying.

Here is an idea to introduce turnips to your family.

Roasted Turnip Fries

You’ll need baking paper and a cooking sheet.

Ingredients:

• 1 large fresh turnip  2 lbs
• 1 – 2 Tablespons Coconut oil or ghee
• ½ tsp Sea salt
• ¼ tsp Black Pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 F
2. Peel turnip and cut off the root strings.
3. Chop into fry sized bites.  1/4 to 1/3 inch by 3 inches.
4. Place in a bowl.
5. Warm coconut oil or ghee to liquefy.
6. Add salt and pepper to the oil.  Use less or more to taste.
7. Pour seasoned oil over fries and toss to coat.
8. Lay out onto baking paper on cooking sheet in 1 layer.
9. Bake 10 – 12 minutes.
10. Turn the fries.
11. Bake on second side for another 10 minutes or so.
12. Serve hot.

These come out more than somewhat yummy.

If it suits your constitution you can spice them up with onion garlic, paprika, or cumin powder.   Start with ¼ tsp and play.

Enjoy!