Often we think of comfort food as junk food, but I have a theory that traditionally comfort food was healing food. Think Kanji, or a baked sweet potato, a bowl of kitchari, masala dosa, rose lassi, or a cup of chai.
Meals at their best are nourishing, and nourishing is comforting. Which is why I believe that Ayurvedic cooking is, at its heart, the art of making healthy comfort food, adapted of course to the season, with the season’s freshest ingredients, and a handful of love.
Biryani is just that: A rice and vegetable dish full of nourishing, hearty comfort – whole and complete on its own, or a beautiful support to your main. In honor of your best health and deep comfort, I want to share with you this recipe for a simple Biryani from my book Ayurveda Cooking For Beginners.
Biryani is great for its adaptability. To the carrots and green beans in the recipe below, you could also add fresh peas, spinach, chard, kale, celery, zucchini, broccoli, or cauliflower, whatever is in season or in your pantry. Toss with fresh mint or basil leaves, or a fresh pesto depending on the season, your taste or dosha. For a tropical sweet crunch, top with toasted coconut flakes, which can be sauté with the raisins and cashews.
This is as good for breakfast as it is for lunch or dinner. Enjoy! 
Click here for Rice Biryani PDF to print
Season: Perfect for Autumn and Winter. In Summer trade cashews for pumpkin or sunflower seeds, and add lots of chopped seasonal greens.
Dosha: With the Autumn Spice Blend in my book (page 62), this is ideal for Vata. For Pitta, use the Summer Spice Blend (page 61) and follow the summer suggestions above. For Kapha, eliminate the cashews and use the Spring Spice Blend in my book (page 60) with hearty shakes of ground ginger or clove, and freshly ground black pepper.
Would you like to learn more about Ayurveda for this season? You can watch the replay of my Ayurveda Autumn Wellness Webinar here.
Would you like some guidance in Ayurvedic cooking? Ready for an Autumn Reset? I invite you to join us October 3-10 for my new Are you rnd deeply connecting Ayurveda Autumn Cleanse.
Do you feel tired, run down, burnt out? Autumn can be a season of depletion, when it is so important for us to rest and renew to charge up our energy and our immunity. I have a gift for one reader – 1 jar of Banyan Botanicals’ Adrenal Nourish, supporting energy, hormones and recovery from stress. Just drop a comment below to be entered. We’ll randomly draw over the weekend. (*Unfortunately we can ship to North America only.) GIVEAWAY CLOSED: Congratulations to Stephanie!
What do you love about Autumn? What are your favorite ways to nourish and renew this season?
Sending you love, xo
I have made a loved many dishes from your wonderful cookbook but have not yet made this one! I will certainly this week. Looking forward to it and the cleanse!
Thank you Stephanie. It is going into the Autumn Cleanse, as one of the options. 🙏🏽
I have this book would definitely recommend it
Thank you Julie!
I love the vitality of fall colors. It’s my favorite season your suggestions for preparing for the season are appreciated
That is one of the reasons I love this dish. It reflects the golden ambers and russets of Autumn. Thank you.
What I love about Autumn is only in theory this year. I love the fullness of the gardens and gathering the fruits of our labors to cushion and nourish us when the winter closes in. But this year I don’t have a garden and I’ve been searching for a house, some land, a place to ground myself and cultivate. The garden gives us whatever we need:
energy, quiet contemplation, sorting out thoughts, ideas. I am exhausted by the search but I will keep going. Thank you for your recipe to nourish a skittery vata at this time of year. warmly, barbara
Barbara, you are so right. A garden nourishes body, mind, heart and soul. I hope a good Vata-reducing meal like this one renews your strength to continue, and that you find the perfect land to warm and hug you home.
thank you 🙂
I love the smells of autumn and also the relief from the sweltering south Texas heat! 🔥
I hear you. The first morning when I wake up and reach for a shawl before my meditation is such a nice reminder that the intensity of the heat is lifted. Thank you Amanda. Enjoy.
My favorite season is Autumn🍁🍂I love everything about it. Here in NWPA, it is the season of preparation for a cold winter and turning inward. I love the mixture of cooler evenings and mornings, yet warm days with golden sun rays shining on Autumnal beauty. I love closing the garden, cleaning the house, preserving garden treasures and slowing down my often over scheduled days. I love listening to the birds who are coming and going, watching the squirrels and chipmunks storing up a bounty of walnuts from our trees, and feeling the soft and brisk winds of change.
I look forward to restoring whatever has been depleted, taking a day of fasting and reflection and perhaps once again a full seasonal cleanse. Thank you for your presence and continued gifts of Ayurvedic wisdom. ✌🏼❤️🌟
I love this. I feel I am right there with you, seeing, feeling, smelling, tasting the golden hue of it all. Thank you for bringing your appreciation so fully alive. Reading this is good nourishment!
I absolutely love the contrast of the warm colors and hues of fall with the cooler temperatures the season brings. I love the slowing pace of this season. I’m looking forward to the Autumn cleanse!!
The warmth, the hues, the slower pace – it is all so inviting. Thank you Gina.
Autumn 🍂 is the quiet season. As the earth turns on it’s axis, the sun tilts lower in the universe and I slow to a simmer physically, physically, emotionally, intellectually and immerse in the still,quiet mood of Mother Nature. I am in love and loved by fall colors of orange, gold, yellow, maroon, brown and reds….it’s the fall color wheel that
changes daily the landscape of foliage and my soul. Autumn 🍂 invites sweater weather, pots of soup and green chilies 🌶, fireplaces and cat naps in the sun. May we all be comforted by Autumn’s gentle silence and grace. I love Autumn 🍂 .
This is so poetic. Thank you Judith.
Just cooked this tonight — my first Biryani — so delicious — even my conventional meat eater husband loved it!
Thanks Jane. I am so glad to hear this!