Ujwala's Delicacies

Indian inspired all natural kitchen.

Beetroot, carrot raita

Raita is a mixture of yogurt, vegetables, sometimes fruit. It is Indian’s most favorite dish. It is an excellent combination with rice, biryani, pulav, kebabs. Usually consumed at end of meal maybe to cool down the spices. Not sure if cooling is the intent but it always works.

Raita recipe has no set rules to be followed. Thats because recipe is adaptable. A simple mix of homemade yogurt, veggies, herbs, spices or fruits will yield a luscious, flavorful raita. Cucumber, onions and carrots are usual veggies added to raita.

What is ghee, how to make it? Is ghee good for you?

Nothing can make your dish luscious aromatic like homemade ghee. Homemade as always is fresh, flavorful and way better than store-bought. I am a big fan of ghee. Ghee has a big significance and is a staple food in India.I grew up watching my grandma making butter in olden way by churning with a round wooden spoon, then heating it to make ghee. The word “ghee” kept rumbling in my ears all my life from my grandma, mom, aunts. I even used to steal and eat ghee while my mom was asleep.

Traditional Indian cuisine is never complete without aromatic Ghee. Not only in cooking, ghee is also an excellent all-natural moisturizer, lip balm and used in Ayurvedic medicine. Hindu rituals are performed of pouring ghee into fire.

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas

May this joyful season greet you with health and happiness. With the holidays coming up, it’s time to spread some cheer! Holidays mean spending time with family and friends, catching up, kids happily playing around and bonding…usually while waiting for food. And while food is a big part of most people’s holiday season, that doesn’t mean you have to go for the same unhealthy fare you grew up with. If you’re looking for a healthier way to celebrate, check out the healthy Indian food found on Ujwala’s delicacies. Motivate yourself, your family and guests with your healthy choices. Each of my healthy Indian recipes is made from fresh, whole-grain, never-canned, never-frozen ingredients. Don’t wait until New Year’s to start your healthy lifestyle. Check out my healthy Indian recipes today!

Gongura pesto pasta

Gongura (Hibiscus Sabdariffa) leaves – the most popular dish in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, India. Gongura leaves are widely used in andhra pradesh. It holds a very special place in andhra peoples hearts. It is called as Andhra favorite dish – Andhra maatha or Andhra Shakambari Varaprasadam. Gongura known as Jamaican sorrel leaves in carribean countries, as Roselle, florida cranberries in western countries. It is known as ambadi or pulicha keerai, LalChatni, Kutrum, Tengamora, Aamelli, Pundi Palle, Pitwaa, Taka bhendi, Khata Palanga, Kotrum, Mestapat, Amaari in other parts of India.

Different types of diets and where would Indian food fit?

Vegetarian, Vegan, Paleo, all-natural, Atkins, South-beach, weight-watchers… What are these diets? What’s the difference?

Vegetarian diet doesn’t include meat, poultry or seafood.

Vegan diet is total vegetarian which does not include meat, poultry, fish, or any products derived from animals, including eggs, dairy products, honey and gelatin.

The paleo diet is eating natural food with little or no processing. In other words, the paleo diet focuses on eating foods nature gave us to eat. This diet typically includes vegetables, fruits, nuts, roots, meat, and organ meats. Foods such as dairy products, grains, sugar, legumes, processed oils, salt, alcohol, coffee, pasta, cereal, candy etc are not included.

All-natural diet is eating all-natural aka unprocessed ingredients. It is similar to Paleo but includes legumes, grains, coffee.

The Atkins diet is a low-carbohydrate diet, eat as much protein and fat as you want. It is usually recommended for weight loss.

South Beach Diet is about choosing the right carbs and the right fats. There are 3 phases in South beach diet. Phase 1 restricts carbohydrates, phase 2 introduces a few restricted foods are introduced. Phase 3 is maintenance to keep weight-loss last long.

Weight watchers diet – The Weight Watchers eat foods which have assigned points and calculate points of food they eat every day. Points System is the key to lose or control weight.

So…where does Indian Cuisine fit?
See the post to know more.

Whole-grain, low-carb, high-fiber dosa

For those who don’t know what Dosa is, it can be described as Indian crunchy sourdough crêpe pancake. A breakfast which is light in carbohydrates and sugars, high in protein, fiber is categorized as healthy breakfast. Traditional Dosa has high carbohydrates, no sugar, moderate in protein and fiber. Most of western breakfasts are not in healthy category. Usual western breakfasts are made of highly processed all-purpose flour, sugars and topped with whipping cream. With a few changes in recipe, Dosa can be low in carbohydrates and no sugars, high in protein and fiber. Once batter is prepared and fermented, A well made Dosa is wonderfully delicious, and a healthy breakfast for busy mornings. Choosing savory breakfast over sweet has many benefits. It cuts down lot of sugars to your daily intake. Adding peppers in breakfast gives you essential minerals which keep you active all day.

Once dosa batter is prepared, it can be refrigerated up to a week. With a little preparation ahead, Dosa is easy and healthy breakfast for busy mornings. A number of instant dosa packages are available in stores these days. Be-aware that these products and restaurant dosa’s contain higher amounts of rice and non nutritious dehydrated ingredients. Since packaged dosa mix is not fermented, they lack key nutrients. Think of it as just consuming a package of dehydrated carbohydrates.

Asparagus Chutney

Chutney’s are staple food in Southern India. A variety of chutneys can be made with mix n match of vegetables, oils and nuts. Aromatic spices with vegetables, nuts in tampering makes chutney ultimately delicious and healthy. Chutney loaded with iron, vitamins and anti oxidants. Traditionally, in olden days, vegetables were cooked in spices and crushed with hand in mortar pestle. Chutney is usually consumed with rice with ghee poured on top. Lately with low carb conciousness, people prefer to eat chutneys as homemade dips for tortilla chips, pita chips, south indian snacks as sakinalu, janthikalu and karappusa. They make excellent all-natural condiments too. Chutneys are one of the easiest recipes to make. Chutney can be made with little less effort and a handful of fresh ingredients. Secret for perfect chutney is balanced amount of vegetables, chillies, salt and a sour agent usually tamarind. Optionally jaggery can be added. Salt, chillies, sourness and sweet blends into a unique tasty dish. Check out few home-made all natural chutney recipes here.

Whole grain idli

Idli is a traditional staple breakfast in South India. For those who are don’t know what Idli is, it can be described as steamed lentil cakes. Because Idli is pain in taste, it is consumed with home-made peanut chutney, most beloved amber (lentil soup) or pod (spice powder) mixed in ghee or oil. This idli recipe is modified version to make it less in carbohydrates, high protein, high fiber. Which makes it excellent breakfast for modern low active lifestyle, diabetic patients, infants and seniors who have poor digestion and for those who need probiotics to get immunity. Making whole-grain and low-carb does not change the taste, rather they are more soft, fluffy for long time.

Lemon rice with turmeric

You call it lemon rice or yellow rice, it is Indian’s most favorite festive food. It is favorite offering to Indian gods. One of the easiest and a favorite dish made for guests, special occasions. In fact, a number of rice-based recipes are made in different regions. An all-natural, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, paleo dish. Replacing white rice with brown rice or quinoa will add a great number of nutrients.

For westerners, lemon is rice is known as yellow rice. For them, it is probably a mere rice dish. But this dish made a special appearance in millions of family get-togethers, weddings, festivals etc. In typical south Indian family lemon rice is a staple food and also a very festive dish. If you are looking for an authentic way of making lemon rice, here it is.

Multipurpose vegan, gluten-free spice powder

What if you have a magic spice and just by adding to dish it intensifies flavor, aroma and taste 10 times better? Yes this is it. Soy sauce. wasabi, green, red sauces are great condiments which boosts flavor and taste. But finding naturally brewed, no chemical soy sauce is hard. Chemical soy sauce is commonly available and is cheaper. It is made with quick process, usually within days. It is made of soy protein, corn syrup and caramel. It doesn’t have natural flavor as naturally fermented sauce. Chemical soy sauce is super salty. Authentic wasabi? Whats called wasabi in stores and restaurants is green color, corn starch added horse-radish. It has no wasabi in it.

Another flavor boosting condiments – green and red sauces are full of chemicals, colors. More over, we are adding chemical filled sauces to packaged noodles. Packaged noodles already carries enough preservatives. For those who wants to make all-natural chemical-free meal, options are low. I, as an All-natural blogger, I can help you here.