Get Grounded and Restful sleep with this Vata Balancing Spiced Veggie Bowl!

Vata-Balancing Spiced Vegetable Bowl for Grounding and Sleep

Ingredients:

• 1 large sweet potato (cubed)
• 1 zucchini (sliced, cooked until very soft)
• 2 parsnips (peeled and sliced)
• 2 carrots (peeled and sliced)
• Subsitute the folowing spices with our Vata Spice Mixture 
• 1-inch fresh ginger (finely minced or grated)
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp black pepper (freshly ground)
• ½ tsp fenugreek seeds or powder
• ½ tsp turmeric powder (optional)
• Pinch of hing (asafoetida)
• Cooked basmati rice (with ghee and cumin seeds)
• ½ cup black urad lentils (cooked with ghee, cumin, ginger, and turmeric)
• Spiced warm yogurt or lassi (with cumin, black salt, and ginger)

Directions:

Step 1: Roast the Vegetables

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. In a bowl, toss the cubed sweet potato, sliced zucchini, parsnips, and carrots with ghee or sesame oil, cumin seeds, ground cumin, fenugreek, black pepper, turmeric, ginger, and a pinch of hing.
3. Roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes, stirring halfway through, until soft and caramelized.

Step 2: Cook the Urad Lentils

1. If not cooked already, rinse and soak the black urad lentils for 20-30 minutes.
2. Boil the lentils in water with a pinch of salt and drain when tender.
3. In a pan, heat some ghee and sauté cumin seeds, ginger, turmeric, and hing for a minute, then add the cooked lentils. Stir for a few minutes to coat the lentils in the spices.

Step 3: Cook the Basmati Rice

1. Cook basmati rice as usual, but add ghee and cumin seeds while cooking to make it more grounding and Vata-friendly.

Step 4: Make Warm Spiced Yogurt

1. In a small pan, gently warm some plain yogurt (do not boil). Stir in a pinch of cumin, black salt, and ginger. Serve on the side or as a drinkable lassi.

Step 5: Assemble the Bowl

1. In serving bowls, place a portion of cooked basmati rice, top with roasted vegetables and spiced urad lentils.
2. Add a spoonful of the warm, spiced yogurt on the side.
3. Garnish with fresh herbs like cilantro, or drizzle with more ghee if desired.

Why It’s Grounding for Sleep:

• Ghee and warm, spiced yogurt help pacify Vata and are calming for the nervous system.
• Sweet potato, parsnips, and carrots provide natural sweetness and grounding energy.
• Warming spices like cumin, fenugreek, ginger, and black pepper stimulate digestion, which is essential for balancing Vata, especially before bed.
• Basmati rice is light but satisfying, making it ideal for a gentle meal before sleep.
• Black urad lentils are grounding and nourishing but made digestible with the spices, reducing any heaviness that might otherwise disturb Vata.

This meal will help ground your energy, balance Vata dosha, and prepare your body for a restful night's sleep.