Day 13: 🔥 Ayurveda Meets Flavor – Paneer Butter Masala with Cashews & Lychee Magic!" 🌿✨
- Gianna Bormolini
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
🍲 Nutrition: Nuts & Seeds for Deep Nourishment
🔥 Ayurveda Element: Herbal Abhyanga (self-massage with oil)
✍️ Reflection: How does my body feel before vs. after self-massage?
🌿✨ Gentle Readers, Welcome to Day 13 of "The Challenge"! ✨🌿
🌿 "I am nourished by nature, balanced by breath, and awakened through mindful touch. My body is my sacred temple." ✨ |
💜 🔥Let this affirmation guide you today as we deepen the connection between
nourishment, energy, and
self-care. 💜🔥
✅ Week 2: Energy & Balance (Strengthening Body & Mind) The focus: Dosha-aligned spices, movement, and building inner resilience.
This week's focus: Energy & Balance: building inner resilience through movement, dosha-aligned spices, and strengthening the body and mind.
As we embrace this theme, today we dive deeper into the power and benefits of nuts and seeds for deep nourishment.
🌰 Nourishment & Inner Strength: Nuts & Seeds for Deep Nourishment
One of the things that fascinated me when I landed in India was the rich flavor that nuts and seeds bring to a dish. It's not just about texture—it’s about unlocking layers of taste that make a meal unforgettable!
✨ Take chestnuts: they weave their magic into Butter Paneer or Butter Chicken Masala. That subtle sweetness, combined with the richness of the gravy, creates pure bliss.
💡 But here's the Secret Ingredient: Lychee seeds! When slow-cooked alongside chestnuts, they add depth, balance richness, and nourish the body.
......spice lovers!........Today, we’re bringing magic to the kitchen—but not just with paneer!
We’re infusing this dish with a powerful Ayurveda duo: cashews (anacardi) for creaminess & strength, and lychee seeds for cooling balance.
🔥 Paneer Butter Masala with Cashews & Lychee Seeds – A Fusion of Richness & Balance
🌿 Cashew Wisdom: ✔️ Boosts energy & brain health
✔️ Strengthens bones & muscles
✔️ Rich, buttery texture = indulgence
🍃 Lychee Seeds Magic:
✔️ Cooling & hydrating
✔️ Balances fiery cashews
✔️ Adds depth to the dish
👩🍳 How to Cook It (Fun & Easy!):
🥣 You Need (for 4 people):
✔️ 200g paneer (or tofu)
✔️ ½ cup cashews, soaked
✔️ 1 tsp lychee seeds, ground
✔️ 1 tbsp ghee (or coconut oil)
✔️ 1 onion, chopped
✔️ 2 tomatoes, blended
✔️ 1 tsp turmeric
✔️ 1 tsp garam masala
✔️ 1 tsp cumin
✔️ ½ cup coconut milk
✔️ Salt to taste
🔥 Steps:
1️⃣ Blend cashews & lychee seeds into a creamy paste.
2️⃣ Sauté onion & spices in ghee until golden.
3️⃣ Add tomato puree, let simmer.
4️⃣ Mix in cashew-lychee paste, then coconut milk—watch it turn golden! ✨
5️⃣ Fold in paneer, let flavors soak in for 5 mins.
6️⃣ Serve hot with naan or basmati rice!
💡 Spice Quiz!
Which spice do YOU think makes this dish pop?
🔸 Turmeric for color & healing
🔹 Garam Masala for depth
⚡ Cumin for earthiness
Drop your choice below—let’s spice up this convo! 🍛🔥 Who’s ready to cook? 👀✨
👉 "Unlock the secret to creamy, natural-flavored Paneer Butter Masala!"
🌿 Food as Medicine: Energy Balancers for Vitality
Today, nuts and seeds play a bigger role than just nutrition: they’re energy balancers.
Pair them with dosha-aligned spices to strengthen your vitality:
✔️ Sesame Seeds + Cinnamon → Warming & Root Chakra Support
✔️ Pumpkin Seeds + Turmeric → Anti-inflammatory & Solar Plexus Strength
✔️ Flaxseeds + Cardamom → Cooling & Heart-Centered Nourishment
🔥 Abhyanga: The Ayurvedic Ritual of Sacred Touch
Self-massage with herbal oils is a deeply nourishing practice that aligns energy, balances doshas, and strengthens the body.
My Ayurvedic doctor has prescribed me with an abhyanga massage min one a week.... a shooter for my nerves and a booster of my circulation!
🌿 Step 1: Choose Your Oil
✔️ Vata → Warm sesame oil for grounding
✔️ Pitta → Cooling coconut or sunflower oil
✔️ Kapha → Stimulating mustard or olive oil
💡 Pro Tip: Warm the oil slightly before application, never over direct heat, such as on fire or in the microwave. Instead, gently heat it using a bain-marie (bagno maria) method. This enhances absorption and soothes the nervous system.
🌿 Step 2: Set the Mood
Find a quiet space, dim the lights, and take a few deep breaths.
This is your time: a moment of self-care and connection.
🌿 Step 3: Apply Oil with Intention
✔️ Start at the Head → Massage in circular motions.
✔️ Face & Neck → Gentle upward strokes, encouraging circulation.
✔️ Arms & Hands → Long strokes along the limbs, circular motions at the joints.
✔️ Chest & Abdomen → Clockwise circular strokes to support digestion.
✔️ Legs & Feet → Long strokes downward, grounding energy.
💡 Chakra Activation Tip: As you massage, silently chant "Om/AUM" for overall balance.
🌿 Step 4: Let the Oil Absorb
Relax for 10-15 minutes, allowing the oil to penetrate deeply.
This is when the magic happens—your body drinks in nourishment, releasing tension and toxins.
🌿 Step 5: Rinse with Warm Water
Use a mild herbal cleanser or simply rinse with warm water.
Avoid harsh soaps; they strip away the benefits of the oil.
Click here to buy an ayurvedic milk soap, smelling beautifully! Made in India from authentic ayurvedic centers.
✨ Reflection: How does your body feel before vs. after Abhyanga? Share your sensations below! 🌿🔥
✍️ Reflection & Journaling - write it in your journal
After your self-massage and mindful eating today, take a moment to journal:
🔸 How does my body feel before vs. after the ritual?
🔸 Did I notice any shifts in energy or mood?
🔸 Where did I feel tension dissolving?
💬 Let’s Connect! What did you discover through today's practice? Did any unexpected sensations arise? Share your insights below! 💛✨
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