Apple Beet Bounty

APPLE BEET BOUNTYServes 2Ingredients4 beets, scrubbed4 cloves garlic1 hearty tablespoon of ghee1 pinch pink salt & 1 pinch black pepper2 apples, cored and cubed, sliced or shredded, as you prefer2 handfuls butter lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces2 handfuls pumpkin seeds2 teaspoons fennel seeds1 handful basil leaves, tornDressing1/4 cup orange juice1 tablespoon walnut, hazelnut or extra virgin olive oil1/4 teaspoon fresh ground corianderfresh cracked black pepperInstructionsPreheat your oven to 400F. Line the bottom of a baking tray with parchment paper. Add a dollop of ghee and place in the oven for a couple of minutes to melt the ghee.Cut the stems and tails off the beets. Pull the baking tray from the oven. Place the beets in the pan, sprinkle with salt and pepper and roll around to cover in ghee. Put in the oven and roast for 20 minutes.Peel the garlic and after those 20 minutes, toss with the beets and roast an additional 15 minutes, or until beets and garlic are cooked through.Meanwhile, slice/shred the apples and place in a salad serving bowl. Remove the beets from the oven. Toss with apple slices. As the apples warm and the beets cool, toast your pumpkin and fennel seeds in a dry pan over medium heat. Give the pan a few good swirls and shakes to brown evenly. As soon as the seeds begin to pop turn off the heat. Leave the pan for a moment to allow the seeds to continue to roast.Take one of the cloves of garlic and fork mash it in a small glass jar. Add to that the orange juice, oil, coriander and pepper. Shake until well combined. Taste, and adjust.  Add pink salt if needed.Once the apples are warm, slice the beets and slightly mash the garlic. Toss the butter lettuce in with the beets, apple and garlic. Drizzle the dressing over the salad. Sprinkle with basil and toasted seeds.Dosha ModificationsThis recipe is balanced for the season, and generally when we are in good health eating seasonally is all we need for optimal balance, energy and wellness. However, if you have a doshic imbalance then you can try these suggestions to reduce or at least not aggravate that dosha. Vata: As in the photo above, rather than lettuce serve with lightly sautéed greens or roasted carrots, and consider grating the beets. When toasting the seeds, add a small handful of chopped hazelnuts.Pitta: Toss in a handful of mint/cilantro and optionally cubed avocado. If Pitta is high, lime juice is better than orange juice, and reduce or omit the garlic.Kapha: Replace orange juice with grapefruit juice and sprinkle generously with red pepper flakes.