Recipes for Raw Indian Food

Most of us are pretty familiar with the health benefits of raw western food, but we don’t know much about other cultures’ healthy food options. Indian cuisine is known for its spice, strong flavors, and health benefits. Here are three Indian raw food recipes to spice up your dinner routine:

1. Detox Tea. This tea’s three main ingredients are ginger, turmeric, and water. Ginger is known for aiding digestion and reducing nausea, but it can do so much more than that. Ginger has many wonderful health benefits, including the treatment of osteoarthritis, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, ginger can potentially reduce blood sugar levels, relieve heart disease risk factors, and reduce cancer risk. Turmeric carries similar anti-inflammatory properties to ginger and is another good source of powerful antioxidants. It offers even more prevention power against horrible diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s, but it can also relieve arthritic pain, improve memory, and fight age-related chronic diseases. This tea is great in the springtime but has countless benefits that are valuable year-round. Ingredients:
   • 2 cups of water
   • 1 tsp of freshly grated ginger
   • 1 tsp of turmeric root or turmeric root powder
   • 1 tsp of natural sweetener of your choice
   • 2 tsp of lemon or lime juice (optional)
   • ⅛ tsp of crushed black pepper (optional)
   Steps:
   1. Grind your ginger and turmeric together to make a ginger-turmeric paste.
   2. Add water and bring the mixture to a boil.
   3. Simmer for about 15 minutes, until there’s only half of the original liquid left.
   4. Strain.
   5. Add preferred sweetener.
   6. Enjoy!
2. Fruit Chaat. This recipe is chock-full of your favorite fruits, including but not limited to apples, bananas, and grapes. We know that fruits are healthy for you, but how exactly are the fruits in this recipe helping you live a longer, fuller life? We have answers for you.Apples are good sources of fiber, potassium, and vitamin C. They’re also good for your heart, reduce the risk of diabetes, promote good gut bacteria, help prevent cancer, help fight asthma, are good for bone health, and protect your brain. Bananas also contain several essential nutrients and provide benefits related to digestion and heart health. Grapes are high in nutrients and antioxidants. Watermelons are full of antioxidants that can curb your risk of cancer and diabetes. Pomegranate is packed with nutrition that can prevent many diseases. Oranges have high levels of vitamin C and provide gut and health-protective fiber. Last but not least, pineapple can aid digestion, boost immunity and fight inflammation and disease.Isn’t it amazing how God gives us all these medicinal nutrients we need in the fruits He created for us? Find out how to make an amazing fruit salad with an Indian twist below! Ingredients:
   • 1 large cubed apple
   • 1 sliced banana
   • ¼ cup of seedless grapes
   • 1 ½ cups of cubed watermelon
   • ¼ cup of pomegranate
   • 1 cup of segmented orange
   • 1 cup of cubed pineapple
   • ½ tsp of black salt
   • ½ tsp of roasted cumin powder
   • ½ tsp of chaat masala powder
   • ¼ tsp of freshly ground black pepper powder
   Steps:
   1. Place all the cut fruit in one bowl.
   2. Sprinkle black pepper powder, roasted cumin powder, black salt, and chaat masala, and then toss well.
   3. Wrap cling wrap over the top of the fruit bowl and chill in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours before serving.
   4. Enjoy!
3. Coconut Curry Cauliflower RiceIf you were a fan of rice dishes on the SAD (Standard American Diet), then this recipe is the perfect choice for you. It’s vegan, raw, and absolutely delicious! Not to mention, full of all your favorites that are healthy and good for your body.Ingredients:
   • 1 small head of cauliflower
   • 1 cup raw shelled pistachios
   • 2 green jalapeno peppers, seeded
   • 1 handful of cilantro
   • 2-3 dashes of garlic powder
   • 1 teaspoon onion powder
   • 1 teaspoon yellow curry powder
   • Salt and pepper to taste
   • 1-2 tablespoons coconut butter
   Steps:
   1. Place everything in a food processor and blend until rice size consistency is achieved.
   2. That’s it!
   Enjoy your raw vegan rice dish and share it with friends at a potluck.

We’re so blessed to live in a world created by a loving God, one who provides everything we need to live rich, healthy lives. We’re also lucky to live in a day and age where we can share our favorite recipes with other cultures and learn a little about them and a lot about the special ingredients they use. We hope you enjoy these three Indian raw food recipes as you step out of your culinary comfort zone and into the world of spice and flavor!