Mindful Gifting - Sharing Love and Nourishment
As a minimalist, vegan and sustainability enthusiast one of the difficult places I have struggled is gifting, giving gifts and receiving gifts.
Initially it was so difficult to say no. Eventually I learned, not to say no by words but by action. For people who came to visit us with mysorepak, we served dried fruits and coconut rose milk, this act sparked great conversations.
Places where we had to gift, we asked them what they want. Mindful conversations deepened our relationships beyond gifting. Lots of mistakes led us to learn and love people.
Now I believe, gifting is an opportunity to share love.
I feel, food is the best gifts to give. To nourish one’s body, and soul.
The best gifts according to me is natural materials+ your time+ effort+ your personal value aligned +usable+ perishable.
Recently I had an opportunity to gift. This is what I gave , salad dressings!!!!. My love for salads started after I attended a 7 day retreat at sharan. Salads are the yummiest with a dressing.
Post SHARAN I have researched various places, tested many recipes with our family of different age groups, interests and varied level of understanding the logic behind salads and finally these are our first set of, go to recipes. Recipes picked from around the internet, people I met, camps and courses I have attended. I have broken down the recipe to Indian availability and more fresh alternatives and direct ingredients. For example- instead of tahini sauce I use sesame seeds directly. If recipes calls for peanut butter I use roasted peanuts directly. Here are the most simplest and straight forward dressing recipes from an urban Indian pantry.
This format of making all the recipes together can be used for gift preparation or prepare ahead and store for your own use through out the week. These preparation stays good in the coldest part of the fridge for a week. Many tend to eat more salads when the dressings are ready.
The key to prepare 5 dressing at a single shot is planned buying.
I have shared a shopping list with separate fresh and dry ingredients for all the 5 salad dressings. As many dry ingredients would be already available in our pantry. The recipe serves for 2 people.
Prep for making all 5 salad dressings:
Prep the night before certain items, so that making 5 dressings together is a breeze. It took only half an hour to do all the dressings.
-Peel Garlic
-Clean Ginger. I use it with skin
-Wash and dry on a towel- coriander
-Roast Peanuts
-Roast Sesame
-Soak Cashew
-Soak Channa
Shopping list for all 5 salad dressings :
Dry :
Roasted peanuts
Black channa dhal
Cashew
Sesame seeds
Sesame oil
Coconut aminos or soya sauce
Apple cider vinegar
Palm jaggery
Pepper powder
Coriander powder
Red chilli
Dates
Fresh :
Lemon 6
Garlic 4 bulbs
Big onion 1
1/2 bunch coriander
Green chilli 2
Ginger 1 thumb
Tips:
1.Never underestimate the power of rubber spatula. Only during my chef training I understand how it makes the process easy.
2.Work near a tap so that its easy to wash and reuse the mixie jar, spatula, and measuring spoon.
3.You can use any veggies to go with these dressings. The common ones are cucumber, carrot, cabbage, lettuce, beetroot, capsicum.
Amazon links to the materials I have used:
-Sujatha mixie, I highly recommend this mixie for smoothies and smooth dressings.
Recipe :
Peanut Satay dressing
The best guest pleaser recipe. A sure shot hit for Indians.
1/2 cup roasted peanuts
1 tbsp coconut aminos or soy sauce
2 dry red chilli
1 tbsp palm jaggery
1/2 tsp coriander powder
Juice of one lime
1tbsp water
Salt
Grind them all to fine or coarse paste and add water to your desired consistency.
Cashew Mayo :
The recipe that kids love. Cucumber sticks and mayo makes a great lunch.
1/2 cup cashew nuts (I buy broken bits as its cost effective)
2 tbsp chopped big onion
Juice of one lime
2 clove of garlic
Pinch of salt
1/4 tsp pepper powder
1/4 cup water
Lemon Coriander dressing :
This dressing is more like the pain puri green chutney types.
Juice of 2 lemons
1/2 bunch coriander leaves
1 small green chilli
2 tbsp sesame seeds
1/2 cup water
5 dates
Salt
Sesame Ginger Dressing:
This is my favourite for the taste and its nutritional value.
1/2 cup sesame seeds
2 tbsp cold pressed sesame oil
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp coconut aminos or soya sauce
1 tsp tsp ginger
1 tbsp palm jaggery
Hummus:
The most filling and long shelf live dressing.
1/2 cup cooked black channa( I sprout my channa and then steam them)
Juice of half a lemon
1 tbsp sesame seeds
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 cup water
Salt if you have not added to cook channa.
Food conveys your love like no other. Not even words.
Happy nourishing.