Ingredients & Ayurvedic Properties
| Ingredient | Weight | Ayurvedic Profile |
|---|---|---|
 Pearled barley | 220 g | Sweet, Astringent · Cooling |
 Bitter gourd, sliced | 240 g | Bitter · Cooling |
 Dry ginger | 2 g | Pungent · Heating |
 Black pepper | 2 g | Pungent · Heating |
 Ghee | 12 g | Sweet · Cooling |
 Rock salt | 4 g | Salty · Cooling |
 Raw honey | 12 g | Sweet, Astringent · Heating |
| Water | 1100 g | Whole culinary ingredient |
Step-by-Step Preparation
- Rinse and soak the barley for 35 minutes, then drain.
- Simmer the barley in the water until tender and separate; drain any excess water.
- Warm the ghee, add the bitter gourd, dry ginger, pepper, and rock salt, and cook until tender with dry edges.
- Arrange the warm barley and bitter gourd together, then let the plate cool until no longer hot.
- Drizzle the raw honey lightly over the barley only after cooling below hot serving temperature.
Dosha Modifications & Seasonal Guidance
Vaidya Culinary Note (ritucharya-inspired vasanta meal tradition)
Barley, bitter gourd, and restrained fat give this spring plate a deliberately light character. Vata: add a little ghee and cook the barley softer. Pitta: reduce pepper and omit honey if the bitter-sweet contrast is unwelcome. Kapha: retain the dry texture and small honey measure.
USDA Nutrition Facts for Vasanta Kapha-Clearing Meal
| Nutrient | Per 100g | Per Serving (1 serving (398g)) |
|---|---|---|
| Energy (Calories) | 61 kcal | 243 kcal |
| Protein | 1.9 g | 7.6 g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 11.5 g | 45.8 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.9 g | 11.4 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.7 g | 2.9 g |
| Total Fat | 1.1 g | 4.4 g |
| Calcium | 10.3 mg | 41.1 mg |
| Iron | 0.60 mg | 2.40 mg |
| Magnesium | 22.1 mg | 88.1 mg |
| Phosphorus | 41.6 mg | 165.6 mg |
| Potassium | 111 mg | 441 mg |
| Sodium | 103 mg | 409 mg |
| Zinc | 0.52 mg | 2.06 mg |
| Copper | 0.08 mg | 0.33 mg |
| Manganese | 0.34 mg | 1.35 mg |
| Selenium | 5.3 µg | 21.2 µg |
| Vitamin C | 12.7 mg | 50.4 mg |
| Vitamin A (RAE) | 10.1 µg | 40.3 µg |
| Vitamin E | 0.11 mg | 0.45 mg |
| Vitamin K | 0.6 µg | 2.3 µg |
| Thiamin (Vitamin B1) | 0.10 mg | 0.38 mg |
| Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) | 0.05 mg | 0.18 mg |
| Niacin (Vitamin B3) | 0.71 mg | 2.83 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.05 mg | 0.21 mg |
| Folate (DFE) | 13.5 µg | 53.9 µg |
| Choline | 0.3 mg | 1.0 mg |
