Ayurveda spice mix for digestion – Rasam

There are a lot of spices which are used in Ayurveda for proper digestion and metabolism. It is important to choose your spices in balance according to your body constitution. Though for each specific dosha – Vata, Pitta and Kapha there are specific spices, here I am giving a combined spice mix recipe which can be used by all for ensuring proper digestion and metabolism.

This recipe is called as ‘Rasam powder’ in South India. The word Rasam means taste. This powder can be used for a variety of preparations and can be even made to plain soup with tomatoes or lemon to enhance digestion and metabolism. 

Here’s my specific mix of spices for digestion –

Ingredients –

1. 1 cup whole coriander seeds

2. ¼ cup split pigeon peas

3. ¼ cup Bengal gram

4. 2 tbsp cumin seeds

5. 1 to 2 tsp pepper corn

6. 4 to 6 red chilies

7. ½ tsp fenu greek seeds

8. Handful fresh curry leaves

Method of preparation –

Heat a pan and dry roast whole coriander seeds, split pigeon peas, Bengal gram, red chilies and curry leaves. Take care you do not burn the ingredients. Transfer them to the plate. Now add cumin seeds and fenugreek seeds to the pan and dry roast them as well. Cool the ingredients and blend them in a blender to a smooth powder. Sieve the spice mix and store in an airtight container. 

Now that you know how to prepare an awesome spice mix, I will give a recipe for a plain tomato soup which is ideal for digestion and metabolism. 

You will need the following ingredients –

1. Coconut oil – 1 tsp

2. Mustard seeds – ¼ tsp

3. Curry leaves – few

4. Coriander leaves - few

5. Onion – ½ 

6. Tomato – 1

7. Water – as required

8. Asafetida powder – a pinch

9. Spice mix – 1 tsp

Method of preparation –

Heat oil in a pan, and splutter mustard seeds. Add curry leaves chopped onion, chopped tomato and stir well. Close the pan until onion and tomato turns mushy. Now add the spice mix and enough water (2 cups). Let it boil. Once boiled, garnish with coriander leaves and a pinch of asafetida powder and serve warm. 

This pacifies all the three doshas. Ideal to drink when you have a fever or cold. It pacifies Kapha dosha and cures symptoms of fever and cold.

Blog by Dr Arya Krishna ( Ayurveda BAMS)