Perhaps, like us, you’re still getting a few chilly days, occasional snow flurries and the frequent blanket of fog that settles over the day these weeks. Spring is sneaking in this year, and I’m here for it.
This tender transition, between the seasons, is a unique one in Ayurveda; the time of year when our bodies, minds, and the nature surrounding us are waking up from our long winter’s nap. We’re stretching, infusing a little extra energy into our days, but we aren’t quite ready to shake off the blankets completely.
For days like this, enjoying something warm and spicy, yet still soothing and smooth is the key and this Golden Milk Rice Pudding is a great example. From the top to the bottom – the base ingredients to the way a sultry spoonful feels on your belly and soul – this recipe is meant to gently ease the transition out of winter and into a vibrant spring in the sweetest way.
Rice pudding is an ancient dish enjoyed by many cultures throughout history. It’s a food perfect for the colder seasons of the year, recognized in Ayurvedic medicine as nutritious, easy to digest and supremely satisfying. Long before it was mentioned in cookbooks, Ayurvedic texts mentioned it as a balancing food.
Rice pudding is known for its deep Vata-pacifying qualities. The warmth and sweetness of rice, along with the density of the milk blend together to combat the cold and airy dryness of winter weather. In the case of this particular rice pudding, the warming spices of turmeric, cinnamon and ginger help further lift and warm, making it a great option as a snack, treat, breakfast or post-effort recovery meal for these cusp-of-spring times.
This golden, glowing rice porridge is a favorite snack or sweet to have on hand for a few specific reasons. It’s completely free of refined sugars, a wonderful source of carbohydrates, and so for those athletes out there, it’s a lovely recovery snack after a long endurance workout. We also enjoy it for breakfast, and as a sweet treat after dinner too. I love to use coconut milk here because it’s a bit lighter in quality than dairy milk, and thus more appropriate for spring. This does, however, reduce the protein content so keep this in mind if you’re using it as a refueling food; you’ll want to have more substantial source of protein within the hour after finishing an endurance effort (2 hours or more) if you’re not doing something smart like adding a little sprinkle of almonds to the top of your pudding!
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