What's on the left side in my plate?

In Vedic tradition, food is served in a plate from left to right. The left side is all appetizers and flavorful recipes to be eaten in small quantities along with the main staples. E.g. a slice of lemon, a few slices of ginger, varieties of chutney, achaar, dry chutney powders, murabba, a teaspoon of curds, raita, finely chopped seasonal salad, koshimbir, chilli, salt, etc...

The left side list is long, it's filled with mouth-watering, zesty, tangy, colourful seasonal, local, genius recipes !!

Ayurvedic texts describe a balanced meal should have four types of recipes.

 " Ashitam Peetam Leedham Khaditam"

meaning

1. Ashitam: something solid that can be chewed

2. Peetam: something liquid to drink

3. Leedham: something semisolid to lick on

4. Khaditam: something hard or crispy.

Be it a seasonal raw mango chutney or an all-time Idli molagai podi or curry leaves dry chutney or nutrition-rich black sesame chutney, it is all so impressive !!

The perfect blend of spices used and the combinations, proportions and use of varieties of ingredients!! Sure to add plenty of micronutrients and minerals to your diet. On top of it, they activate the palate and taste buds, making meal times more pleasant and enjoyable.

Go ahead, find out more about chutneys eaten traditionally in your region and use them daily in your meals.

The recipes served on the left indicate that one should eat those in tiny quantities. However tasty these are, they are spicy and salty, their purpose being served well only in a limited portion.

The seasonal selection of these recipes is important. Select dry ones during humid weather, cooling ingredients during hot months, sweet and without spices during hotter days...

Also, select the ingredients or modify them as per your health. Use rock salt/lemon in place of table salt /tamarind if you have more Pitta. Use ghee on your podis in place of oil for children. Use natural preservation methods instead of refrigerators.

Go ahead, enjoy!