When it comes to nutrition and nourishment, Ayurveda teaches us to honor the changing needs of the body according to changes in the seasons, our environment, our lifestyle, and our own individual state of balance.
In general, summertime is a great time for eating more foods that are light and raw, such as salads, fresh fruits, and raw nuts. Thanks to the natural heat of the season, our agni, or digestive fire, tends to have a heightened and brightened capacity to digest some of the foods that may be more difficult to digest in the colder months.
This summer in particular, which has arrived in the context of so much uncertainty, change, and upheaval in the world, may find us needing a little extra dose of comfort and joy. This may simply look like soaking up the warmth of sunshine on your skin, taking time for self-care, or planting colorful flowers in your garden. It may also mean giving yourself permission to enjoy an actual tasty and edible treat!
These healthy coconut truffles are a delicious way to nourish your soul, uplift your heart, and connect to the simple pleasures of life. And because they are ridiculously easy to make, they're also a great way to get the little ones involved in a fun and simple activity because you're basically just mixing ingredients together and rolling them into little balls.
The truffles are made with a base of coconut, which is cooling, balancing to pitta, and great for soothing any excess summer heat. And, in case your agni is a little weak or has a harder time digesting raw foods, I've added some fresh ginger and cardamom to the recipe to keep these treats nice and easy to digest.
Have fun with these—may they bring a little taste of comfort and pleasure to your day!
Ingredients:
- 4 cups unsweetened coconut flakes or shredded coconut
- 1 cup pure, real maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
- 3 pinches of saffron, crushed
- 1 teaspoon cardamom powder
- 3 teaspoons fresh grated ginger (optional)
- Dark chocolate chips, melted (try to get at least 70% cacao)
Directions:
Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Mix all of the ingredients together, minus the chocolate. It should reach a consistency where a small handful will easily stick together when squeezed. Roll the mixture into balls and place them on the baking tray. Take your melted chocolate and place a dollop of the chocolate over the tops of each truffle. Alternatively, roll each truffle gently in coconut flakes.
Freeze your truffles overnight and enjoy the next day as a wholesome, nourishing, and well-deserved treat!
Be sure to store these in the fridge or freezer to ensure that they don't melt or fall apart.
