Spring is in the air – cherry blossoms are blooming, bees are buzzing, and fresh buds are poking up out of the cool, damp Earth. The world is waking up, warming up, and blossoming into a new season. With a change in seasons comes a change in the body’s needs to stay balanced and in homeostasis – that sweet spot of harmony and health where we feel fully alive and energized.
Spring is a perfect time to cleanse and lighten, purify and strengthen. As the snow melts and temperatures rise, water begins to flow again. And so too, fluid needs to be moved and released in the physical body. Winter can leave stagnation in the body – this looks like heavy and dense qualities expressed as mucus and congestion. The best way to support the body is to opt for light, dry, and simple foods that build up digestive fire and pungent, bitter, and astringent tastes that encourage cleansing. Some examples include seasonal greens, berries, fresh ginger and turmeric, and nourishing, spicy soups. Pay attention to avoiding or reducing foods with dense and heavy qualities like dairy, cold food and drink, fatty meats, roasted nuts, and excess salt and sugar. These simple shifts will support your body in acclimating with ease to the new season.
Here’s a recipe you can try out to support gentle cleansing and easeful digestion – a Spring Time Soul Soup adapted from The Everyday Ayurveda Cookbook.
Spring Time Soul Soup – Ingredients for 2
- 1 bunch asparagus OR 1 large head broccoli
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup cooked white beans (great northern beans or cannelloni beans)
- juice from 1/4 of a lemon
- pinch of pink or Himalayan salt
- zest from the lemon
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- pinch cayenne pepper
- 2-3 tsp dried basil – more if fresh is available
Method
- Trim the ends of the asparagus stalks or broccoli
- Boil your vegetable of choice in 1 cup of water until tender crisp – about 5 minutes
- Place vegetable and cooking water in a blender with additional cup of water, olive oil, white beans, and remaining spice ingredients and blend on medium hight until your desired level of smoothness is reached (you could also do this step with an immersion blender in the soup pot)
- Place mixture back on the stove on low and stir in the lemon juice
- Serve with a lemon wedge and some black pepper
Enjoy on its own or with some rye toast or crackers. Savor the simplicity and nourishment along with the deliciousness of this soul food.
Author: Alexandra Kasimir- YouVeda Wellness Contributor
