Curry Maple Yam Soup

I vividly remember my first fall, we were staying in Virginia at that time and had visited the Shenandoah Valley.

Spectacular panoramic hues of yellow, orange, and red leaves with some dwindling greens are daubed all across the valley. This was the place that made me fall in love with nature!! Before this experience, I was never much of a nature lover to begin with….

We visited this place like a pilgrimage every year until we moved out of Virginia!  Nature has it right…no matter what the season, but vata (fall) season is mother nature giving us permission to relax, reflect, and rejuvenate!

Per Ayurveda, during this season vata is predominant in our outer surroundings. The key qualities of vata are dry, light, cold, rough. When these qualities are in a balanced state, the vata person experiences excellent health, stability, creativity and freedom. Vata imbalances manifest as dry skin, constipation, flatulence.

Here is a yummy soup made with yams to keep our vata in balance. I prefer yams to sweet potatoes as they tend to be less sweet, dry and astringent compared to sweet potatoes. Yams also tend to be easier on digestion compared to sweet potatoes.

Benefits of Yam:

• Reduces vata dosha
• Rich in dietary fiber helps in constipation
• Good source of Vit B6
• Helpful for female endocrine function
• Reduces menstrual cramps
• Aids in proper digestion and prevents gastro-intestinal disorders

• 1 cubed Yam (steamed or baked)
• 1 Red Onion chopped
• 1 tsp EV Olive Oil
• 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
• 1-2 tsp Curry Pwd
• 2-3 minced Garlic
• 2 small Bay Leaves
• approx 3 tsp Pumpkin Seeds
• 1 pinch Nutmeg Pwd
• drizzle of pure Maple Syrup
• Salt to taste
• Water (soup consistency)

Saute onions, garlic and bay leaves in olive oil. Once onions are transparent add cumin seeds, curry pwd, pumpkin seeds and steamed yams. Saute for few more mins to incorporate all the seasonings into the yams. Blend this to a soup consistency adding water as needed. Then simmer for few more minutes adding a pinch of nutmeg and salt per taste. When ready to serve, drizzle your favorite kind pure maple syrup…SUPER YUM!!