Ayurvedic Curried Potato Leek Soup | For Balancing Vata, Pitta, and Kapha
Updated: Apr 19
Another incarnation of a classic fall recipe. 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?
Signs and Symptoms of Vata Imbalance
When Vata Dosha becomes imbalanced, it can manifest in both the body and mind:
Body:
Poor circulation (cold hands and feet), muscle spasm, pain, and aches, tightness
Aches and pains and muscle spasms
Mind:
18. Fear
20. Fatigue
21. Stress
25. Brain fog
26. Anxiety attacks
How do you ground Vata immediately? With the Ayurveda Breathwork Pranayama and our guided practices.
Start to ground Vata today: Learn Diaphragmatic Breathing and Change Your Life
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
2. Migraines
5. Nausea 6. Unpleasant body odor
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 delicious, 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, Saumya Ayurveda
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Veena is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and meditation teacher, and monk.
She is President Emeritus and teaching faculty of the Meditation Center.
Veena fell in love with the traditional medicine used in her family’s home, learning herbal remedies at her grandmother's knee.
These childhood experiences were the seeds of a lifelong passion. For over 30 years, Veena has dedicated her life to the world’s oldest healing system: Ayurveda.
She draws on this ancient wisdom to help others find their compass to a healthy life – and support those left wanting by Western medicine.
An experienced Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, Veena’s deep, intuitive knowledge of Ayurveda empowers her clients to reclaim their fullest, most vibrant lives –mentally, physically, and spiritually. Veena individualizes treatment plans to each person, rather than offering a one-size-fits-all approach, so it fits your life and becomes woven in your lifestyle, naturally.