Digestion10 min
Black Pepper and Jeera Sprinkle on Fruit Chaat
Freshly ground black pepper, roasted cumin and a pinch of black salt over a bowl of cut fruit, a tasty way to make fruit easier on the stomach.
What to know about black pepper
Kali mirch (black pepper) is pungent and warming. Its compound piperine helps the body absorb curcumin from turmeric, and Ayurveda uses it in small amounts for appetite and congestion.
Some people feel bloated after fruit. Indian street-style fruit chaat adds pepper, cumin and black salt, which Ayurveda considers digestive, and makes a bowl of papaya, guava or apple more appealing.
Ingredients
- 1 bowl cut seasonal fruit
- A pinch of freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp roasted jeera powder
- A pinch of black salt
- A squeeze of lemon
How to prepare
- Cut the fruit just before eating.
- Sprinkle pepper, jeera, salt and lemon, and toss.
How to use
- Eat as a mid-morning or evening snack, not straight after a big meal.
- Enjoy one bowl a day.
Helpful habits
- Grind pepper fresh; ready powder loses aroma quickly.
Precautions
- People with diabetes should pick lower-sugar fruits and keep portions small.
- Too much can irritate the stomach and throat.
- If you take regular medicines or have a long-term condition, check with your doctor first.
Frequently asked questions
Which fruits work best?
- Papaya, guava, apple, pear and pomegranate are good choices.
Why not after meals?
- Ayurveda suggests eating fruit on its own; it digests faster than a full meal.
How much is a pinch of pepper?
- About two or three crushed peppercorns.
