Ayurvedic Curried Potato Leek Soup | For Balancing Vata, Pitta, and Kapha

Another incarnation of a classic fall recipes. Grounding for Vata, cooling for Pitta, and invigoration for Kapha dosha. Read about vata, pitta, and kapha balances, and then adjust the recipe so it's a remedy!

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Ayurvedic Curried Potato Leek Soup | For Balancing Vata, Pitta, and Kapha

The humble potato. It's a common, abundant, and flexible root vegetable. According to UC Davis, "They're rich in vitamin C, which is an antioxidant. Potatoes were a life-saving food source in early times because the vitamin C prevented scurvy. Another major nutrient in potatoes is potassium, an electrolyte which aids in the workings of our heart, muscles, and nervous system."

Some might even say the of potato--boil em, mash them stick em in a stew--that they're, yup, precious.

What about that other common root vegetable the leek? According to WebMD, "Leeks are rich in flavonoids, especially one called kaempferol. Flavonoids are antioxidants and may have anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and anticancer properties, as well as other health benefits."

Vegetables that grow in the earth are inherently grounding, soothing to Vata and nourishing to Vata, Pitta, and Kapha dosha.

Before jumping to how to make our Ayurveda Curried Potato Leek Soup, look at Ayurvedic signs and symptoms of doshic imbalance for Vata, Pitta, and Kapha so you learn how to adjust the recipe for your doshic picture.

Our recipes are designed to provide you with maximum balance of your doshic picture. Follow our two steps for customizing recipes.

First, learn how to modify our recipes to optimally support you. Read about Vata, Pitta, and Kapha dosha signs and symptoms of imbalance.

Second, follow the Vata, Pitta, and Kapha recipe tweaks below.

How do I know if Vata is out of balance?

Symptoms of Vata imbalance in the Mind

• Anxiety

• Panic attacks

• Restlessness

• Dizziness

• Feeling ungrounded

• Forgetfulness and spacing out

• Feeling (or getting) lost

Symptoms of Vata Imbalance in the Body

• Constipation, gas, and bloat

• Dehydration

• Dry/rough skin, hair, joints, and eyes

• Feeling cold (particularly hands and feet)

• Poor circulation

• Pain, aches, and tightness

To learn more about Vata and Pitta, peruse our article, Ayurveda for Anxiety and Burnout – 7 Ways to Reclaim Your Calm

How ToI know if Pitta is out of balance?

Signs and Symptoms of Pitta Manifesting Emotionally and Psychologically:

1. Short fused

2. Hot tempered

3. Mental burnout

4. Feeling mentally overly intense

5. Frustration, anger

6. Being judgmental

7. Irritability, impatience, intolerant

8. Excessive perfectionism

9. Overworking

10. Burning bridges 11. Packing one's schedule too full

12. Being overly critical of oneself and/or others 13. Difficulty relaxing

14. Overthinking, overanalyzing, living in one's head 15. Intensity

Signs and Symptoms of Pitta Manifesting Physically

1. Red irritated skin conditions

2. Migraines

3, Acid reflux, heart burn, gastric reflux, upset stomach 4. Loose stools

5. Nausea 6. Unpleasant body odor

7. Excessive sweating 8. Painful menstrual cycles, may also be clotty and heavy

9. Dry, red, irritated eyes 10. Intestinal and stomach ulcers

11. Acne

12. Physical burn out 13. Eczema and other skin conditions 14. Liver issues 15. Bad breath 16. Anemia 17. IBS, ulcerative colitis

How do I know if Kapha is out of balance?

Symptoms of Kapha Season imbalances include:

• Colds, allergies, and congestions

• Poor circulation and cold extremities

• Low energy and drowsiness

• Heavy moods and depression

• Craving heavy foods and weight gain

Ayurveda teaches when something is out of balance, we can regain harmony by increasing the opposite. But every person and situation is unique – and there’s no absolute framework for finding Ayurvedic balance.

What makes root vegetables grounding for Vata?

Look at where they grow-under the earth. They are anti-Vata veggies! Root vegetables ground us, help us heal and recovery when depleted or tuckered out and support the root (Muladhara) chakra. If that wasn't enough, root vegetables are chocked full of complex carbohydrates and phytonutrients.

Tweak Our Recipe to Match Your Doshic Picture.

Follow these easy modifications and provide yourself with a meal that becomes medicine.

How to customize this recipe to balance Vata

For spicing for Vata, the overall spiciness is important to help aid in digestion. Don't hold back as Vata types tend to have weaker digestion and this time of year lean towards being easily chilled with the hallmark cold hands and feet.

How to customize this recipe to balance Pitta

For Pitta to optimize this recipe by adding coconut milk or coconut cream for its cooling qualities and sweet taste. Garnish with chopped cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

How to customize this recipe to balance Kapha

Kapha needs to be invigorated as it may tend to be slow, sluggish, and dull. To customize the recipe for Kapha dosha--turn up the heat. Add more ginger and some nice hot chile and in general, add more volume of spice.

Ayurvedic Curried Potato Leek Soup | For Balancing Vata, Pitta, and Kapha is a hearty, grounding, and satiating meal.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons your best oil from your Saumya food program

• 1 large onion

• 4 leeks, washed well to remove the grit, white and light green parts only, thinly sliced

• 2-3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

• 12 ounces of potatoes, or more, cut into 1/2 chunks

• 1-2 tablespoon curry powder or similar spice mix

• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds

• 4 cups veggie broth

• Additional water as needed to achieve the consistency you enjoy

• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, divided

• Pink Himalayan salt, to taste

• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Curry powder is a spice mix traditionally made with ground coriander, turmeric, cumin, ginger and chile peppers. Mustard seeds, curry leaf and cinnamon can also be used. Play around and have some fun. Saumya clients consult your food program and make a spice mix from your “best spices” for optimal dosha balancing.

Instructions:

1. Heat oil in a heavy bottomed soup pot.

2. Sauté onion and leeks for about 5 minutes.

3. Add the potatoes, spices, and water.

4. Mix well.

5. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and cover for about 20 minutes.

6. Make sure the spuds are cooked until tender.

7. Now, here’s a choice. Put it all in a blender or keep it a hearty, chunky soup.

Grab your favorite bowl and fill it to the rim with this delcious, customized to your doshic picture, curried potato leek soup.

"Turn your food into medicine by learning how to adjust any recipe to optimize its health benefits." - Veena

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“I feel greatly improved. Stress fell of like an old hairy coat. I’m just not anxious. Depression is way decreased. I was haunted by anxiety my whole life, and it’s just gone. The mudra, mantra...WOW. This is so cool! I have regained hope. Something wonderful is taking place. You and your knowledge come to me after a lifetime of searching and prayer. I am forever grateful.” --Mark Hughes, Minnesota

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Veena is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and meditation teacher, and monk.

She is President Emeritus of the Meditation Center and former staff member of the Minnesota Institute of Ayurveda.

Veena fell in love with the traditional medicine used in her family’s home learning herbal remedies at her grandmother's knee. She remains passionate for over 30 years, helping clients feel their best physically, emotionally, and spiritually with Ayurveda.

Veena individualizes treatment plans to each person, rather than offering a one-size-fits-all approach, so it fits your life and becomes woven into your daily life, naturally.