Rasayana/ Easy Fruit Salad/ Traditional Indian Fruit Salad

I had forgotten about this childhood treat until a friend mentioned it while chatting. So, I made it for some of my classes and not surprisingly everyone who had it fell in love with it and many made it for their families when they returned home and a few sent me the photographs too. This is a very, very simple and healthy dessert that can be made effortlessly in a few minutes. It tastes wonderful and is one of the foods that have an impact on the body. At the end of the day it’s about healthy eating and cooking foods that are a joy to make and to eat.

Banana Rasayana

Rasayana is a Sanskrit word that translates to “path of essence.” In Ayurveda, rasayana refers to both the science of promoting longevity and the herbal remedies used to maintain optimal health as well as to reverse the effects of aging.

2 bananas sliced; 4 dates, cut into pieces; 1 cup thick coconut milk; 1 gm cardamom ; sugar to taste.

Whisk coconut milk and cardamom together. Add dates and bananas. Chill before serving.

NB: You could use evaporated milk instead of coconut milk. I have used both and both taste phenomenal.

Instead of bananas use ripe mangoes or a combination of both. Bananas and mangoes are the most popular fruit for this dish. Alternately any soft fruit could be used. Experiment for yourself and see. That’s what cooking is all about.