Functional foods are not simply a fad with the shift in our health-conscious lives. Unlike regular foods that offer energy and nutrients, functional foods offer specific health benefits. Benefits like immunity support, gut support, reducing inflammation, balancing hormones, and functional foods offer a way for nature to provide nourishment to the body with a purpose!

As we approach 2025, our awareness of functional foods has only widened. As preventive wellness becomes a more mainstream term, natural healing and holistic nutrition are no longer reserved for those aspiring to live healthy lifestyles. The emergence of the homemade functional food trend offers consumers to regain control of their health eventually!

But what makes a food “functional”? In simple terms, functional foods contain bioactive compounds - such as probiotics, phytochemicals, antioxidants, or adaptogenic compounds - that provide something beyond essential nutrition, helping to increase or modulate specific physiological functions. The good news is, you do not have to use special foods or supplements. Many of the most powerful functional foods can be made with simple ingredients in your home kitchen.

Foodism has brought to your attention some of the best functional food recipes you can make at home - 

Fermented Garlic Honey Recipe

Ingredients for Fermented Garlic Honey:

• 1 cup peeled garlic cloves
• 1 cup raw organic honey
• Sterilised glass jar with lid

Method to make Fermented Garlic Honey Recipe:

1. To begin making fermented garlic honey, first peel the garlic cloves.
2. Add the peeled garlic to a sterilised jar.
3. Pour raw honey over the garlic to completely cover it, ensuring the fermented garlic honey mix is fully submerged.
4. Close the jar loosely to allow gases to escape during fermentation.
5. Let the fermented garlic honey sit at room temperature for 2–4 weeks.
6. Shake the fermented garlic honey jar daily to mix.
7. Store fermented garlic honey in a cool, dark place and use a clean spoon each time.
8. Pro Tip: Take 1 tsp of fermented garlic honey daily on an empty stomach for maximum benefit.

Adaptogen Smoothie Bowl Recipe

Ingredients for Adaptogen Smoothie Bowl:

• 1 frozen banana
• ½ cup spinach
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 tsp ashwagandha powder
• 1 tsp chia seeds
• ¼ cup berries
• Optional toppings: sliced banana, nuts, seeds

Method to make Adaptogen Smoothie Bowl:

1. Blend frozen banana, spinach, almond milk, and ashwagandha to create a thick adaptogen smoothie bowl base.
2. Pour the adaptogen smoothie bowl into a wide bowl.
3. Top the adaptogen smoothie bowl with berries, chia seeds, and nuts.
4. Serve the adaptogen smoothie bowl chilled and enjoy immediately.
5. Pro Tip: Freeze bananas overnight for a creamier adaptogen smoothie bowl texture.

Homemade Kimchi Recipe

Ingredients for Homemade Kimchi:

• 1 Napa cabbage, chopped
• ¼ cup sea salt
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 1 tbsp garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp Korean chilli flakes (gochugaru)
• 1 carrot, julienned
• 3 spring onions, chopped

Method to make Homemade Kimchi: 

1. To make homemade kimchi, soak chopped cabbage in salt water for 2–3 hours.
2. Rinse and drain well for the homemade kimchi base.
3. Mix cabbage with chilli flakes, garlic, ginger, carrot, and spring onions.
4. Pack the homemade kimchi into a sterilised jar tightly.
5. Ferment the homemade kimchi at room temperature for 2–5 days.
6. Refrigerate homemade kimchi after opening.
7. Pro Tip: Taste homemade kimchi daily until your desired tanginess develops.

Golden Turmeric Ghee Recipe

Ingredients for Golden Turmeric Ghee:

• 1 cup organic ghee
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp dry ginger powder

Method to make Golden Turmeric Ghee:

1. Heat ghee in a saucepan to begin your golden turmeric ghee.
2. Stir in turmeric, black pepper, and ginger powder.
3. Simmer the golden turmeric ghee for 2 minutes.
4. Pour golden turmeric ghee into a sterilised jar and let it cool.
5. Store golden turmeric ghee in a cool place.
6. Pro Tip: Add a spoonful of golden turmeric ghee to your dal or rice daily.

Protein-Rich Sattu Drink Recipe

Ingredients for Protein-Rich Sattu Drink:

• 4 tbsp sattu flour
• 1 cup cold water
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• ½ tsp roasted cumin powder
• ¼ tsp black salt
• Fresh mint leaves

Method to make Protein-Rich Sattu Drink:

1. Mix sattu flour with water to make a smooth, protein-rich sattu drink.
2. Stir in lemon juice, cumin, salt, and mint.
3. Shake or blend the protein-rich sattu drink thoroughly.
4. Serve the protein-rich sattu drink chilled.
5. Pro Tip: Drink the protein-rich sattu drink mid-morning for sustained energy.

Seed Cycling Energy Balls Recipe

Ingredients for Seed Cycling Energy Balls:

• 1 cup pitted dates
• 2 tbsp flaxseeds
• 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
• 2 tbsp sunflower seeds
• 2 tbsp sesame seeds
• ¼ cup nut butter

Method to make Seed Cycling Energy Balls:

1. Blend dates and nut butter to form a sticky base for your seed-cycling energy balls.
2. Mix in all seeds thoroughly.
3. Roll the mixture into small seed cycling energy balls.
4. Chill the seed cycling energy balls for 30 minutes before serving.
5. Pro Tip: Alternate seeds in your seed cycling energy balls according to your menstrual phase.

Fermented Beet Kanji Recipe

Ingredients for Fermented Beet Kanji:

• 1 beetroot, peeled and cut into sticks
• 1 carrot, cut into sticks
• 1 tbsp mustard seeds
• ½ tsp black salt
• 1 litre of water

Method to make Fermented Beet Kanji:

1. Place beets, carrots, mustard seeds, and salt into a glass jar to prepare fermented beet kanji.
2. Pour water over to cover the fermented beet kanji mix.
3. Cover and leave in sunlight for 3–5 days to ferment.
4. Stir the fermented beet kanji daily and taste for sourness.
5. Refrigerate fermented beet kanji once ready.
6. Pro Tip: Drink fermented beet kanji with meals to aid digestion.

Homemade Plant-Based Yoghurt Recipe

Ingredients for Homemade Plant-Based Yoghurt:

• 2 cups coconut milk
• 1 probiotic capsule or 2 tbsp starter culture
• 1 tsp agar-agar (optional, for thickening)

Method to make Homemade Plant-Based Yoghurt:

1. Heat the coconut milk slightly for your homemade plant-based yoghurt.
2. Stir in probiotic capsule contents.
3. Pour into a jar and set the homemade plant-based yoghurt in a warm place overnight.
4. Chill and use homemade plant-based yoghurt as needed.
5. Pro Tip: Add fruit or vanilla to your homemade plant-based yoghurt for flavour.

Chia Seed Jam Recipe

Ingredients for Chia Seed Jam:

• 1 cup mashed berries (strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries)
• 2 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp honey (optional)

Method to make Chia Seed Jam:

1. Mash the berries and heat lightly to prepare your chia seed jam.
2. Stir in chia seeds, lemon juice, and honey.
3. Let the chia seed jam sit for 1 hour until thickened.
4. Store the chia seed jam in the fridge for 1 week.
5. Pro Tip: Use frozen berries to make chia seed jam year-round.

Moringa-Infused Parathas Recipe

Ingredients for Moringa-Infused Parathas:

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tbsp moringa powder
• Salt to taste
• Water as needed
• Ghee for cooking

Method to make Moringa-Infused Parathas:

1. Combine flour, moringa powder, and salt to form the moringa-infused paratha dough.
2. Roll out small balls into flat moringa-infused parathas.
3. Cook each moringa-infused paratha on a hot tawa with a bit of ghee.
4. Serve moringa-infused parathas hot with yoghurt or chutney.
5. Pro Tip: Add grated paneer or methi to moringa-infused parathas for extra flavour.

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