Stewed Apple Breakfast

Cooked apple is tangy, sour, and sweet all at the same time, and the addition of cloves to this recipe brings a refreshing and warming element to this breakfast or snack. 

Why Would You Cook A Perfectly Good Apple?

While apples are an incredibly nutritious fruit that are rich in fiber and antioxidants, eating an apple raw requires more energy from the digestive system to break down. In Ayurveda, raw apples are known to be Vata provoking, meaning they increase dry, cold, and rough qualities in the body, and can lead to Vata symptoms such as dryness, constipation, bloating, and gas.

By cooking your apple and adding warming spices to it, they have the complete opposite effect. They become much easier to digest, and can help aid in a bowel movement.

Digestive Spices

Cloves open up your pores to induce sweating and they open up your blood vessels, which supports blood circulation to the extremities to help keep you warm – making this a perfect meal on a chilly morning. Cinnamon and ginger both aid in digestive support.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup water
• 1 apple, cored and cut into chunks
• 2 whole cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger

Instructions

1. Using a small saucepan, add water and bring to a boil on medium heat.
2. Add all the ingredients to the water and reduce the heat to medium.
3. Cover, and simmer until soft, about 5 minutes.
4. Transfer to a serving bowl and enjoy right away after the apples cool slightly. Drink the water with the apples, or reserve and use in cooked soup or cereal, or as a natural sweetener in herbal tea. 

Note: This recipe can also be made with a pear which is pacifying to both Pitta and Kapha dosha. If you struggle with constipation, try adding 1 tablespoon of raisins which when cooked, can help. You also might choose to remove the apple skin (which is high in fiber, but can be hard to digest) until your digestive system is strong enough to assimilate it properly.