The Cardamom Pod: Karma free clean eating

The ethos of the Cardamom Pod is to help people ‘eat their way to a better world’. For them, this means leaving a lighter footprint on the planet by serving only Indian vegetarian dishes, but it also means that each dish is prepared with heart.

The restaurant is located within The Brickworks Centre – a bustling shopping precinct incorporating the famous Ferry Rd Market. The precinct capitalises on the Gold Coast’s tropical climate and has become a citywide attraction for an indoor and outdoor shopping and dining experience.

Indian Vegetarian Karma cooking

The style of cooking used at The Cardamom Pod has its roots in ‘prasadam’ which began in ancient India and describes the action of food being cooked as an offering of love for Lord Krishna. Prasadam is the concept that that everything belongs to Krishna and because these things belong to Krishna they should be prepared with love and used for Krishna’s pleasure. Devotees offer food to Krishna during ceremonies, but the dishes must use pure vegetarian ingredients which is the style of cooking The Cardamom Pod offers its diners.

Devotees of Krishna believe most food contains karma, because although it may be vegetarian, living things could have still come to harm in the process of obtaining or preparing it. For example, the farmer may accidentally kill insects when growing and cultivating crops. However, when the food is offered to Krishna he accepts the love and devotion present in the offering and removes all sins from it. Honouring (eating) this food offers spiritual advancement and sharing prasadam food is also very important.

The food offered to Krishna can’t include meat, fish or eggs. Additionally, onions, garlic and caffeine are also not offered because they cause disturbance to the mind and are therefore not beneficial for meditation and a spiritual life.

On the menu – Indian Vegetarian styles

The team at The Cardamom Pod believe that eating clean, plant-based food helps to create a healthy body with a clear conscience whilst also helping the future of the planet. Their dishes are imaginative, use the best ingredients possible and are incredibly well presented.

For a sweet breakfast, the Pumpkin Pie Pancakes are light and fluffy and are served with native wattleseed cashew cream, homemade healthy Nutella sauce, gingerbread soil, crushed meringue, chocolate bark and fresh berries. Or, for something more traditional, the Blinged Out Avo Benny is avocado on an English muffin with potato fritters, sautéed baby spinach, cashew hollandaise sauce, grilled tomato and smoked facon.

The all-day menu also has delicious lunch dishes like the Superfood Burger – a nutrient dense patty made with sprouted brown rice, kumara, activated almonds and mixed vegetables, mushrooms and tahini. It’s topped with pesto, lettuce, tomato, avocado, gherkins and truffle aioli with a side of panko crusted cheesy potato balls. The Yogi Bowl is a customer favourite, made with risotto style brown rice, quinoa and three types of lentil, topped with smoked eggplant, crispy buffalo cauliflower, tomato and pomegranate salad, spiced roasted peanuts and beetroot labneh.

Where?

Website: www.cardamompodbrickworks.com

Address: 3/3 Brolga Avenue, Southport, 4215

When?

Monday – Sunday | 8am – 3pm

More Gold Coast sustainable dining options here

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