The Best Yogic Recipes for July 2020

The middle of summer is the peak time for the fire element and the ayurvedic dosha of pitta to flare up. When the fiery energy of pitta (bio-elemental energy of warmth) becomes too strong, it can create and exacerbate anxiety, restlessness, anger, irritability, heartburn, constipation, excessive bleeding, or dry skin. The most straightforward approach to keeping your pitta from overheating is to hydrate properly and to eat more raw fruits and vegetables. We’ve collected seven terrific vegetarian recipes that are best suited for adopting yogic principles in your diet for July. These tasty and healthy yogic recipes incorporate seasonal veggies like dark leafy greens, cucumber, squash, peas, and tomatoes.

Field Salad, Kohlrabi and Apple Salad with Minty Poppyseed Dressing

—You can use any salad greens that you prefer, but darker greens will be more cooling for pitta. The “crunchy kohlrabi and apple give a great texture,” and the mint dressing adds additional cooling properties to this yummy summer salad recipe.

Vegan Pasta Primavera—This light and refreshing pasta dish can be made with cooling vegetables like broccolini, zucchini, summer squash, peas, and cherry tomatoes. If you are feeling a lot of heat, opt to remove or minimize the onions and garlic. This recipe is highly versatile, and you can use any type of pasta and veggies you have on hand.

Summer Gazpacho with Dill—This delightful chilled tomato soup will certainly cool you down on a hot summer day. Raw tomatoes with their high vitamin A content are cooling and support detoxification. You only need to throw in your blender a few tomatoes, a cucumber, and a few other everyday ingredients, and you can have this ready in just a few minutes.

Balsamic Basil Watermelon Antipasto—These healthy and delicious appetizers have a “surprising mix of sweet and savory and have a slight tang to them.” Watermelon is one of the most cooling fruits, so these are a great way to start off a summer meal or cookout.

Vegan Chickpea Pasta Salad—You can remove or reduce the red pepper flakes in this recipe to make it less warming. Otherwise, this delicious pasta salad is perfect for summer cookouts or picnics. This is another versatile recipe that accommodates using any type of pasta and veggies you have on hand. We recommend using as many raw veggies as possible to maximize the cooling effects of this salad.

Cold Peanut Noodle Salad—This recipe’s peanut dressing complements the crunchy veggies and tender pieces of tofu and adds a ton of flavor to the noodles. Hot spices are not great for pitta but serving this meal cold helps to balance any spiciness you use. This one-bowl recipe would make a great summertime meal for lunch.

Spaghetti Squash Burrito Bowls—This is a fun and great way to eat some spaghetti squash and have a different take on a Mexican meal. You can fill these with any of your favorite burrito bowl ingredients! The squash, Lime Juice, and Yogurt will cool down any spiciness you might add.