Mung Dahl Perfect Protein Soup

Have you ever read the book, The 3-Season Diet, by John Douillard? Well, if you haven't you should check it out. It is based on one of the most healing nutritional theories in the world, the Ayurvedic approach. Which this approach originally comes from India, and is really more a way of life, than an approach. But for the sake of the western mind, we have labeled it to be more of "a nutritional approach" than a way of life so we can add it to the rest of the fad diets we consume. In his book, I think John Douillard tries to bring the concepts of helpful Ayurvedic theories down into our American culture, and helps us find ways to really make it intertwine into our daily lives. Ever since I have learned more about it, I have been asking myself how I can eat more seasonally, with the cycles of life and more for my body type or imbalances.

In his book, The 3-Season Diet, John Douillard speaks of how the American diet that has gone through the assortment of fad diets has not helped America get healthy, but instead has put our bodies, along with the help of the speedy culture, into a form of panic mode. When our bodies are in that place of panic, with our stress, asking what foods to eat, wanting to loose weight...we start to spiral downward without seeing any positive results with out health and weight. It's confusing though. How can we try and eat healthy, stay consistent, and have positive results with so many diet theories out there? I truly do recommend reading this book or looking more into the Ayurvedic approach. Instead of trying the latest and greatest diet, try changing some areas of your lifestyle that will change how you even look at food and how you gather and prepare food. You need to deal with why you need coffee to start your day, or a sugar bust mid-afternoon to make it home, or why you are so forgetful tired and depressed all the time. It may be related to what you are putting in your body and how rapidly you are living your day. Fast, cheap and easy doesn't have to be the big yellow arches or any other fast food joint for that matter. It can be done in the comfort of your own home and with full nutritional values. That is what I love about this book. It is a solution to living in our day of age, to be more aware, centered and ultimately a wholly healthy person. So buy the book, find it at the library, or read up on it online.

But why am I talking about this book anyways? Well, the recipe today is based off a recipe from the book. On page 72 of the book, John shares his recipe for a "perfect protein soup". It doesn't contain anything abnormal to make it perfect. It is just a good combination of vegan proteins along with helpful spices that will feed the mind, body and soul. So...perfect. It says this soup is best for those in a weakened state, so after a sickness, during a detox, or maybe for the younger or older with a weakened immune system. It is a thick and warming soup also for this time of year, but is said that it can be eaten at any time of the year. I have made this soup quite a bit and I have viewed it more as a medicinal soup. Sometimes you have to think of food as medicine. Something you need to feed your body to restore balance and health. Food is not really about commercials, popularity, or packages. It is the basis of life in how we sustain and fulfill the basic needs of our life to be filled, healthy and striving. So that is why I share this recipe with you, as it was shared with me.

Perfect Protein Soup Recipe

1 cup of split yellow mung dahl beans

2 cups of white basmati rice

1 inch, fresh gingerroot sliced

2 TB. of ghee (clarified butter)(lactose free)

1 ts. of ground tumeric

1 ts. of ground coriander

1 ts. of cumin powder

1 ts. of whole cumin seeds

1 ts. of mustard seeds

1 ts. of kosher sea salt

1 pinch hing (asafoetida) (spice mixture)

12 cups of pure water

***Bragg Liquid Aminos can be added after cooking for flavor or to replace salt

1 small handful of washed and diced cilantro leaves

Some of the added spices I like to add: a few dashes of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves
Wash the beans and rice together until the water runs clear. In a large 8.5 quart pot on medium heat mix the ghee, and all the spices for a few minutes. The seeds will pop a bit after a few minutes, and then add the rice and beans into the spice mixture and stir again together. Add the water and the salt and bring to a boil. Boil for 10 minutes and then turn the heat to low and cover pot. Continue to cook until rice and beans become soft (about 30-40 minutes). Add more water towards the end if it is thickening up more than you would like. Add the cilantro leaves before serving, and add some more salt or Brraags if need be. It isn't the most aesthetically pleasing soup, but it will be very filling.

So that is the recipe for the perfect protein soup from 3-Season Diet. It is something worth trying. The recipe makes a ton, so if you are eating for one or two you may want to cut the recipe in half, or make the whole thing and freeze half of it for a later date. It freezes well, and is convenient if you are sick and need to pull something from the freezer to warm up. I hope you try this, read up on Ayurvedic Medicine, and find peace and rest today.

Much love to you!