SUMMER PLANTAIN BOWL

4 servings, 30 minutes

Bowl

• Cilantro lime rice

• Cucumber raita

• 2 cups steamed kale (see instructions below)

• Avocado slices

Optional proteins

• Cuban black beans

• Fresh paneer

• Cooked tofu - the creamy dill tofu would be yummy

• Cooked meat (chicken or turkey)

Plantains

• 2 medium ripe plantains, peeled and sliced into 1/4 inch thick rounds

• 1 tbsp ghee

• Salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Start by cooking the cilantro lime rice according to recipe instructions.

2. While the rice is cooking, cook the plantains: Add ghee to a large saucepan over medium heat. Allow ghee to heat in the pan for 2 minutes.

3. Once ghee is hot, add the plantains. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook for 4 minutes on one side, then flip, and cook for another 4 minutes on the other side. Transfer to a plate once cooked and set aside until you are ready to assemble your bowl.

4. Then make the cucumber raita and set aside until you are ready to assemble your bowl - you can make this while the plantains are cooking. It takes 5-10 mins MAX.

5. Steam the kale: in the same pan you used for the cucumber raita or the plantains (whichever is ready to go), add 2 cups of chopped kale, stems removed, to the pan over medium heat with 1 tbsp water. Cover, and allow to steam until bright green (about 3-5 minutes).

6. Now it is time to assemble your bowl - use the cilantro lime rice as the base, then top with the cooked plantains, steamed kale, cucumber raita, avocado slices, and your choice of protein (if using).

#summer #vata #pitta #lunch #dinner #caribbean

Notes

• Plantains are a known gut anti-inflammatory and anti-diarrheal in Ayurveda. They are a complex carbohydrate rich in Vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium while still being easy to digest. They are cooling, grounding, satisfying, and comforting making them great for pittas.

• Plantains can be astringent (which is why they are great for loose frequent BMs or gut inflammation), but the way they are prepared here, balances their astringent nature.

• Kaphas might get aggravated by their starchy, heavy nature - so if you are feeling heavy right now as a kapha but still want to make this, just keep the plantains, go easy on the rice and increase the amount of greens in this dish.

• All and all, summer is pitta season, so this is a great dish for summer for all doshas, especially if you are feeling generally well and want to continue to have good strong digestion and healthy tissues - this is a summer winner!