What do you think?
Rate this book
Ayurveda Cooking for Beginners: An Ayurvedic Cookbook to Balance and Heal
Modern medicine treats most ailments with prescription drugs. However, the ancient science of Ayurveda takes a nature based approach by using the curative properties of the oldest medicine--food. In Ayurveda Cooking for Beginners, Ayurveda practitioner Laura Plumb offers a gentle guide to embracing Ayurvedic eating with easy, seasonal recipes for every body type--or "dosha."
--back cover
--back cover
223 pages, Paperback
Published February 20, 2018
728 people are currently reading
318 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 24, 2018
Derived from the words Ayur meaning life and Veda meaning science, Ayurveda is the art of living wisely. After a brief introduction from the author, Part One of Ayurveda Cooking For Beginners, An Ayurvedic Cookbook To Balance And Heal by Laura Plumb is an Ayurvedic Primer. Beginning with the Core Concepts of Ayurveda it includes information on the Importance of Paying Attention, the Three Doshas, and Correcting the Imbalances of Doshas etc.
Section 2 covers Ayurveda and Food. This also includes Food for the Dosha and Cultivating your Digestive Fire. Part three covers the Five Steps to Ayurvedic Eating. This section includes information on How to Plan your Meals and even includes a Seven-day Meal Plan for every season. It is here you’ll find the information on what to shop for and how to set up your kitchen.
Part Two of the book covers Recipes to Balance and Heal. The recipes are organized by meal type and in seasonal order within their chapters. Many of the recipes have few ingredients, most five or less (not counting ghee, spices, or seasoning).
Recipe icons and labels are included throughout. These will identify Year-Round Recipes, Seasonal, One Pot, 30-minutes or Less, and Kitchen Remedies with powerful healing benefits.
Recipe chapters include:
Staples & Spices
Teas & Tonic‘s
Breakfast
Hearty & Satisfying Lunches
Light & Simple Dinners
Ayurvedic Spins on Favorites
Soothing Savories & Sweets
Condiments, Spreads, & Sauces
Each recipe includes a brief description, and easy to follow directions. They also include makes (servings or quantity) Prep time and cook time. Where And ingredient is something you can make it, like ghee, the page number is conveniently referenced.
Some recipes also include a tip for preparation, ingredients, or serving, as well as the appropriate seasonal use, and the corresponding dosha. Many recipes offer variations to make the recipe comply for different doshas.
Disappointingly there are a few photos throughout the book, but as this is more of A lifestyle book than a cookbook this may be understandable.
There are several appendices at the end of the book:
An In-Depth Look at Doshic States
Seasonal and Dosha Bouncing Food Lists
The substances ever universe
The Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 List is included, followed by a Resources List including articles, books, blogs, and clinics.
The first recipe index is the Seasonal And Dosha Recipe Index. Following is a Recipe Index sorted alphabetically by recipe name, and then an index sorted by the main ingredient. Given the cross-referencing indexes, you should have no problem finding the appropriate recipe for you.
A Good Beginner Reference
This is not a recipe book that I would recommend for everyone. This is more of a lifestyle instruction manual than a cookbook. However, if you are interested in pursuing the Ayurvedic method/lifestyle, then I believe this is an excellent beginner reference.
See the full review and the recipe for Basil Pesto at The RecipesNow! Reviews And Recipes Magazine. This review is written in response to a complimentary copy of the book provided by the publisher in hopes of an honest review.
Section 2 covers Ayurveda and Food. This also includes Food for the Dosha and Cultivating your Digestive Fire. Part three covers the Five Steps to Ayurvedic Eating. This section includes information on How to Plan your Meals and even includes a Seven-day Meal Plan for every season. It is here you’ll find the information on what to shop for and how to set up your kitchen.
Part Two of the book covers Recipes to Balance and Heal. The recipes are organized by meal type and in seasonal order within their chapters. Many of the recipes have few ingredients, most five or less (not counting ghee, spices, or seasoning).
Recipe icons and labels are included throughout. These will identify Year-Round Recipes, Seasonal, One Pot, 30-minutes or Less, and Kitchen Remedies with powerful healing benefits.
Recipe chapters include:
Staples & Spices
Teas & Tonic‘s
Breakfast
Hearty & Satisfying Lunches
Light & Simple Dinners
Ayurvedic Spins on Favorites
Soothing Savories & Sweets
Condiments, Spreads, & Sauces
Each recipe includes a brief description, and easy to follow directions. They also include makes (servings or quantity) Prep time and cook time. Where And ingredient is something you can make it, like ghee, the page number is conveniently referenced.
Some recipes also include a tip for preparation, ingredients, or serving, as well as the appropriate seasonal use, and the corresponding dosha. Many recipes offer variations to make the recipe comply for different doshas.
Disappointingly there are a few photos throughout the book, but as this is more of A lifestyle book than a cookbook this may be understandable.
There are several appendices at the end of the book:
An In-Depth Look at Doshic States
Seasonal and Dosha Bouncing Food Lists
The substances ever universe
The Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 List is included, followed by a Resources List including articles, books, blogs, and clinics.
The first recipe index is the Seasonal And Dosha Recipe Index. Following is a Recipe Index sorted alphabetically by recipe name, and then an index sorted by the main ingredient. Given the cross-referencing indexes, you should have no problem finding the appropriate recipe for you.
A Good Beginner Reference
This is not a recipe book that I would recommend for everyone. This is more of a lifestyle instruction manual than a cookbook. However, if you are interested in pursuing the Ayurvedic method/lifestyle, then I believe this is an excellent beginner reference.
See the full review and the recipe for Basil Pesto at The RecipesNow! Reviews And Recipes Magazine. This review is written in response to a complimentary copy of the book provided by the publisher in hopes of an honest review.
February 5, 2018
Tasty Ayurvedic meals
This book includes all the very basic Ayurvedic foods to get one started on tasty healthy eating. Some great sounding recipes that I’m looking forward to trying out.
This book includes all the very basic Ayurvedic foods to get one started on tasty healthy eating. Some great sounding recipes that I’m looking forward to trying out.
November 15, 2018
I see the Light!
I just happened to wonder onto this book and I have found that piece missing in my life. I have been very ill all my life because of a compromised immune system but I knew there had to be some way to fix it besides the conventional modes. I loved the quiz which very accurately determined what type of person I was in these three types. I could be one, or two, or three types. The author listed what type of characteristics I may have, what foods to avoid and eat, delicious recipes to get me started and how to adapt other recipes I should avoid but if I wanted it she had an adaption that made it "safe" for me to eat. What I was thrilled with is at the end of the book the author lists blogs to to visit to help me understand Ayurveda more, retreats to go to study and/or heal, and more in depth books to read from a variety of authors. This was easy to read and in my opinion spurred me on to wanting to learn more. The idea that if I get my mind and body balanced I may heal and seldom ever be ill again makes this book priceless. Oh, she has also made many of the recipes kid and picky eater friendly. Plus in the back there are vendors listed where I can go and get safe and/or organic supplies. But don't worry most of the recipes have ingredients that can come from the local grocery store. Nothing exotic and expensive that only 1% of the population could cook! Truly get your hands on this as your first step or your hundredth in the study of Ayurveda, you will not be disappointed.
I just happened to wonder onto this book and I have found that piece missing in my life. I have been very ill all my life because of a compromised immune system but I knew there had to be some way to fix it besides the conventional modes. I loved the quiz which very accurately determined what type of person I was in these three types. I could be one, or two, or three types. The author listed what type of characteristics I may have, what foods to avoid and eat, delicious recipes to get me started and how to adapt other recipes I should avoid but if I wanted it she had an adaption that made it "safe" for me to eat. What I was thrilled with is at the end of the book the author lists blogs to to visit to help me understand Ayurveda more, retreats to go to study and/or heal, and more in depth books to read from a variety of authors. This was easy to read and in my opinion spurred me on to wanting to learn more. The idea that if I get my mind and body balanced I may heal and seldom ever be ill again makes this book priceless. Oh, she has also made many of the recipes kid and picky eater friendly. Plus in the back there are vendors listed where I can go and get safe and/or organic supplies. But don't worry most of the recipes have ingredients that can come from the local grocery store. Nothing exotic and expensive that only 1% of the population could cook! Truly get your hands on this as your first step or your hundredth in the study of Ayurveda, you will not be disappointed.
April 18, 2018
A fascinating look into the principle of Ayurveda health care. Lots of information to take in but this is a beginners book and as a beginner with only a smattering of experience, it was plenty for me to take in yet much more comprehensive than anything else I have read to date.
I love the idea of cooking/eating what your body needs to get on and heal itself. This idea is becoming much more mainstream now - how the wheel turns. Ayurveda is the oldest known health system known and is still practiced.
I love the idea of cooking/eating what your body needs to get on and heal itself. This idea is becoming much more mainstream now - how the wheel turns. Ayurveda is the oldest known health system known and is still practiced.
March 29, 2018
Nice cookbook. Not a lot of photos, which is a shame as I love having pix. Having said that, this is a beginner's cookbook and does a fine job of explaining Ayurveda and the doshas.
Easy to follow recipes, but some take a lot of ingredients that are not always easy to find. Handy lists of "staple items" and a good grasp on what you will need in your kitchen.
I like it, especially the beverage section which I have already tried several recipes in.
Easy to follow recipes, but some take a lot of ingredients that are not always easy to find. Handy lists of "staple items" and a good grasp on what you will need in your kitchen.
I like it, especially the beverage section which I have already tried several recipes in.
March 8, 2021
My first book about Ayurveda. I am not sure if I really believe the idea that we can be identified into 3 characteristics (only 3). But I got the idea that it's important to pay attention to own body and eat good foods to build strong immunity. All recipes are easy to follow and accessible (not fancy items you have to go to special shops). Maybe you don't need to spend full price to get this but I've learnt so it's okay.
November 11, 2019
Very interesting, informative book that was easy to read and understand. I made the seasonal fruit compote and it's delicious. I look forward to trying more recipes and using this as a reference on ayurveda.
February 25, 2022
Yummy Recipes, Good Balancing Info
I read another book for Vata and was disappointed. This one had just the right amount of background, not too much. It spent more time on balancing the doshas and how to alter many recipes for each. Great book!
I read another book for Vata and was disappointed. This one had just the right amount of background, not too much. It spent more time on balancing the doshas and how to alter many recipes for each. Great book!
April 4, 2018
Simply great
This is a simply to read, informative books with lots of easy recipes. I highly recommend this not only for beginners, but those who just want a few basic recipe ideas.
This is a simply to read, informative books with lots of easy recipes. I highly recommend this not only for beginners, but those who just want a few basic recipe ideas.
April 11, 2018
impressive
I like the description about Ayurveda, three Dosha and food.
Recipes are very healthy and ingredients used are easily accessible.
I like the description about Ayurveda, three Dosha and food.
Recipes are very healthy and ingredients used are easily accessible.
August 6, 2018
I love ayurvedic cookbooks. I don't get tired of them, and this one has some neat recipes.
September 8, 2019
It seems simple... if you grew up with the logic. However thinking through this through as an adult, a mind process has to change and concentration is needed to form new habits.
January 12, 2020
Awesome book for Ayurvedic recipes!!
It is great to get the recipe compilation in this book. Some of the recipes are not found anywhere else and are rare.
It is great to get the recipe compilation in this book. Some of the recipes are not found anywhere else and are rare.
November 12, 2020
Changed my life in a very positive way! The beauty of this book is its simple, clear approach--you'll become a bit of an expert in no time!
March 3, 2021
Good
A well written book on Ayurveda, health and recipes for a healthy living. There are so many satvik recipes too
A well written book on Ayurveda, health and recipes for a healthy living. There are so many satvik recipes too
October 10, 2024
Some really good recipes
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews