JoyFull – Cookbook Review & Giveaway

Joyfull: Cook Effortlessly, Eat Freely, Live Radiantly isn’t just another cookbook – it’s a New York Times Bestseller that brings together Radhi Devlukia-Shetty’s unique expertise as a dietitian, nutritionist, and Ayurvedic practitioner. Along with hosting the podcast “A Really Good Cry” and co-founding Juni Tea with her husband Jay Shetty (the global bestselling author and host of “On Purpose“), Radhi has created a comprehensive guide to conscious cooking and living.

Joyfull is a stunning collection of over 125 plant-based recipes, but it’s far more than just a recipe book. Through vibrant photography of food and family, Radhi weaves in the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda – a 3,000-year-old holistic healing system from India that approaches health as an interconnected whole. The book guides readers toward mindful cooking practices that deepen our connection with food and enhance overall wellbeing, complemented by Radhi’s signature beauty rituals, breathing exercises, and meditation practices.

What sets this book apart is its practical approach to Ayurvedic cooking principles. Radhi introduces readers to the six fundamental tastes – sweet, sour, salty, astringent, bitter, and pungent – explaining how different foods contribute to each flavor profile. One notable aspect is her innovative approach to cooking without onions and garlic (known inflammatory ingredients) and the layering of spices. Instead, she masterfully uses asafoetida, a spice derived from Ferula plants that, once cooked, provides an onion-like flavor while offering digestive benefits.

Five online recipes for you to try now:

• Buckwheat pancakes with compote and sweet cream
• Walnut-lentil Bolognese
• Moonglettes (savory lentil pancakes) 
• Sweet potato, cauliflower, green bean, and cashew curry
• Creamy pigeon peas with ginger and cilantro (Bharazi)

My experience with three recipes from the book proved impressive. The One-pot lemony spaghetti achieved remarkable flavor with minimal ingredients, becoming an instant family favorite – even winning over my picky husband and inspiring my 20-year-old to learn how to make it. It is creamy and comforting without the use of butter or other dairy products. The accompanying Pistachio gremolata added welcome texture and depth, though the pasta shines even on its own. Syrian walnut and red pepper dip (Muhammara) was equally successful, though in my excitement to taste it, I forgot to add the garnish for photos (click on the link for a photo)!

Other tempting recipes await me and include Sticky hoisin udon noodles, Rainbow noodle stir-fry and Pecan upside down cake just to mention a few.

For anyone looking to incorporate more plant-based meals into their routine, Joyfull offers an accessible entry point. The recipes are approachable and comforting, requiring minimal pantry overhaul while delivering maximum flavor and nutritional benefits.

Through this thoughtfully crafted book, Radhi shows how conscious cooking can transform not just our meals, but our entire approach to health and wellbeing.

Special thanks to the publisher for providing two copies of this title in our promotion open to US Members. Entry options include answering the following question in the comments section of this blog post.

Which recipe in the index would you like to try first?

Please note that you must be logged into the Rafflecopter contest before posting or your entry won’t be counted. For more information on this process, please see our step-by-step help post. Once you log in and enter your member name you will be directed to the next entry option – the blog comment. After that, there are additional options that you can complete for more entries. Be sure to check your spam filters to receive our email notifications. Prizes can take up to 6 weeks to arrive from the publishers. If you are not already a Member, you can join at no cost. The contest ends at midnight on February 28th, 2025.