So, you find an Ayurveda or Asian cuisine recipe, read through the ingredients and see some ingredients you haven’t heard of before, or don’t know where to find. What next?
In the beginning of my Ayurvedic cooking journey I often struggled to find a short description of common ingredients and where I could easily buy them in the Netherlands. I was especially on the look out for organic options. After a lot of researching, cooking and eating (of course) I put together a list. I hope the information below will help you on whatever type of cooking journey you are on!
Mung beans
If you usually have problems digesting beans, these are a great alternative. These nutrition packed beans are popular in many Asian and Ayurvedic based recipes, including kitchari (soupy bean and rice dish), mung bean fritters and recently I’ve even tried delicious mung bean pancakes and chutney. I have seen them mostly in 3 types i) whole green mung beans ii) split mung beans with the green skin and iii) yellow split mung beans (the skin has been removed). The split mung beans are easier to digest and great in dhals.
Tip: soaking mung beans in water overnight makes them easier to digest and reduces cooking time.
Where to buy mung beans/moong dhal in the Netherlands: supermarkets such as Odin, Ekoplaza (many locations such as Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, The Hague, Alkmaar and more) & Albert Heijn. Organic split mung beans should be available in some tokos- I have personally found them in Authentic India in Amsterdam and have seen them online at https://www.ekirana.nl/ (they also have a wide range of organic lentils used in Indian cuisine)
Asafoetida
Also known as ‘hing’: stinky on the outside but yummy on the inside, a pinch of this spice brings a delicious garlicky savory flavor to your dish. Its a great addition to currys, dhals (in tarkas for dhals), soups and rice dishes. It is usually found combined with other ingredients such as fenugreek or tapioca.
Tip: Adding a pinch of asafoetida to beans (e.g. mung beans/chickpeas) whilst they are boiling can also help reduce their gassy nature.
Where to buy Asafoetida n the Netherlands: I have found this in Authentic India but most Indian supermarkets should have this available. I have also seen some organic versions online, but have not yet tried these.
Ghee
Sweet nutty ghee adds a rich creamy full taste to both sweet and savoury- you can add a teaspoon to your morning porridge, roast or sauté veggies with it and use it instead of butter when baking some sneaky desserts. It’s clarified butter which is basically butter that has been boiled and the milk solids have mostly been removed. You can make it yourself or there are some great organic options available.
Tip: Sauté apples/pears with cinnamon & ghee for a satisfying afternoon snack. You can also try this with many seasonal fruits e.g. cherries, pears
Where to buy Ghee n the Netherlands: I have used the brand Ghee Easy, and is available in Marqt, Odin and Ekoplaza. Other organic brands are widely available and there are many recipes online of how to make this yourself.
Dates
Most of you probably already know what dates are and have tried them before. They are a great snack to eat alone, add to breakfast porridge or a nice way to add sweetness to desserts. The thing about dates is that type and quality makes a huge difference- my personal favorite are medjool dates due to their rich caramel taste. I recommend buying the ones usually found in the fresh fruit section as opposed to dried ones as they have a lovely smooth texture.
Tip: When you are feeling a bit peckish, have a plain date as an afternoon snack. For those feeling like something a bit more decadent, cut the date down the middle and try adding almond butter or tahini
Where to buy dates in the Netherlands: My favorite so far has been those sold in the fresh fruit section in Odin supermarket. They are also available in many other supermarkets and green grocers.
Jaggery
You’ll see some recipes mention jaggery which is an unrefined sugar (Jasmine Hemsley's book East by West as mentioned in my article has a few of these). It usually comes in a large block (which you need to cut into pieces) and is used in curries as well as sweet dishes, creating a rich distinct taste
Tip: Its a great addition to rice pudding and to sweeten warm milk like drinks e.g. hot chocolate, chai, tumeric latte
Where to buy jaggery in the Netherlands: So far, I have found it at Authentic India
Curry leaves:
This is a common ingredient in Indian cuisine, for example dhal dishes. They are commonly fried in ghee, along side other spices.
Where to buy curry leaves in the Netherlands: They are sometimes available at some tokos (even though I have had great difficulty finding fresh ones, frozen varieties seem to be more readily available). I have also found them here before
If you are curious to try out some Ayurveda inspired recipes, check out my article "Best Ayurveda Cookbooks"
Comments