12 May Yogi in the Kitchen
by Elaine Gavalas, M.A., M.S.
Elaine Gavalas, M.A., M.S. wants to convince us that yoga isn’t just about exercise anymore. She advocates that you can also enjoy fresh, healthy and incredibly simple to prepare meals – yogi-style – with her cookbook Yogi in the Kitchen: More Than 100 Enlightened, Delicious, Healthful Recipes for Body and Soul.
This unique cookbook includes an unusual but useful beginning section that details simple yoga postures to help aid in digestion; for example, while cooking, practice a “modified seated-forward bend”, which not only tones the abdominals, but also improves digestion. Pair this with dishes such as Pasta with Roasted Vegetables and Goat Cheese and “Yogani” Oatmeal Cookies to not only please the palate, but strengthen the body as well! Of course, you don’t have practice yoga to reap the benefits of these delicious recipes, most of which are vegetarian but include easy substitutions for meat eaters.
Yogi in the Kitchen is conveniently divided into two parts, the first featuring information about the practice of yoga and the second focusing on recipes. In the first section Gavalas encourages readers to diagnose their individual mind-body type, or dosha, and read what foods, ingredients and exercise would be the best for them according to type. Based on this theory, eating the wrong foods for one’s mind-body type is one of the leading reasons for body imbalance, resulting in sickness and fatigue. Gavalas instructs which foods to embrace and which to stay away from in order to feel your best. Readers also learn about the different herbs and spices prevalent in a yoga diet, where to find them and how best to prepare them according to one’s dosha.
Even though I practice yoga regularly, I still feel like the terms and methods in this book would be easy for people to understand even if they are unfamiliar; the poses are very clearly defined, and the recipe ingredients are easily found in a local supermarket. I made the Spicy Tofu Stir-Fry found in the Yoga Grains, Beans and Soy section (the tofu in this spicy entrée can easily be exchanged for boneless, skinless chicken or turkey breast), and found it to be absolutely marvelous. Even people who might have borderline queasy feelings when it comes to tofu (my family for example) might change their minds after tasting this dish: The mixture of spices and peppers in the marinade is absorbed into the tofu, which is then stir-fried to create an irresistible spicy shell that is complemented by plenty of fresh basil and crunchy honey-covered peanuts. I make this dish often, usually once a week, and serve it atop a bed of fresh brown rice.
The Pasta with Pesto recipe from the same section of the book also makes for a simple weeknight meal. As a fan of fresh spinach, I made the pesto with a mixture of that, roasted pine nuts, garlic, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and olive oil. It was perfect – fresh, tasty and not too heavy – over whole-grain pasta. The recipe can also be made with any type of baby green or fresh herb, but I urge spinach with this not only for its vast health benefits, but also for its fresh taste!
One of the most tempting chapters in this book, I think, is the one dedicated to smoothies and juices. Learn how to make sweet treats that fuel the body such as the Chocoholic Dream that includes chocolate frozen yogurt, chocolate soymilk, honey and protein powder. Now that sounds good! One of the few drawbacks is the need for a juicer in many of the recipes; however, they sound so good – especially the Good Vibrations Juice and Om Juice – that it might be worth considering such an investment!
I own a lot of cookbooks – my collection probably numbers in the hundreds by now. However, Yogi in the Kitchen is one of my most prized staples; it’s what I turn to when I don’t know what I want for dinner, but at the same time want something healthy and quick. The Dark Chocolate Chip Sorbet in the dessert section is perfect for those hot summer evenings, and satisfies any chocolate lover’s sweet tooth. Do yourself a favor today and start incorporating some of these meals, and perhaps poses, into your diet – your body just might love you for it!
Review by Jennifer Weber