Ujwala's Delicacies

Indian inspired all natural kitchen.

Homemade wholegrain pizza with home-made sauce

Making pizza at home is not as hard as I thought. Home-made pizza is quick and easy recipes for fast, yet delicious weekday meals. Homemade pizza sauce is as easy as simply blending tomatoes, garlic, salt, pepper, olive oil, basil or oregano. I make sauce with fresh tomatoes. Fresh tomatoes drain lot of water. For this reason I cook till water is cooked off. You can make sauce in advance and store for 10 days in refrigerator. Raised dough can be made make up to 2 days before. When week is busy, time is short and you want to make home-cooked meals for yourself or family, pizza is the one. Making your own pizza gives you so many choices. Whole-wheat crust, vegetable crust, your favorite fresh toppings, high quality cheese, vegan cheese, home-made sauce, a variety of sauces and much more. You’ll start wondering why you order expensive, takeout meals and will realize that making healthy home-made meals for yourself and your family is, in-fact a great priceless experience!

Philippine purple Ube with indian spices

Can you tell whats wrong with this dish? Good for me if you haven’t noticed. Go to post to know. The point I am making about this photo is that, don’t be intimidated by dishes not looking great when you cook. When I was a kid, I was like that. If my mom’s dish doesn’t appeal me, I wouldn’t eat. As I grew, I understood that appeal is just about eye entertainment. If you are an amateur cook, take baby steps. Not worry about starting to cook and trying out new recipes.

Fish baked in Banana Leaf wrap

Banana leaf has a lot of culinary significance in South India. Cooks in every household, restaurants use banana leaves extensively in their kitchen. The leaves are not eaten by themselves but are used as natural disposable plates and food wrappers. In South India, traditionally food is served on banana leaf. It was common to use for serving food before plates were discovered, and when plates were not widely available. Food wrapped and cooked in banana leaves absorbs flavor and nutrients, making food lusciously aromatic and much healthier. A natural seasoning God gifted to us. Eco-friendly, all-natural, chemical free disposable serving plates and utensils. Precisely as someone said – A beautifully biodegradable table setting.

Spicy Chinese yam stir fry

Chines yam, though native to China, it is widely cooked in Japan, Korea, Vietnam. Chinese yam can be eaten raw, baked, fried and in soups. In its raw form, it is bland. Chinese yam is used in Chinese herbal medicine, traditionally to treat disorders related to the stomach, spleen, lungs, and kidneys. You will not find Chinese yam often in western countries. Do not miss if you find them. I published a home-made spice powder recipe earlier which instantly makes any dish flavorful and tasty. I used that spice powder. If you don’t have it, you can replace with salt, chili powder, coriander powder and grated coconut.

Stir fry is a way to pan-fry vegetables in a small amount of fat. Though they are completely cooked, vegetables remain firm and healthy. Stir fried vegetables is a quick, healthy and colorful dish that can be added to lunch or dinner or even served à la carte.

Red Chori | Adzuki Beans chaat

Chaat can be best described as salty, sweet and tangy savory snack. Chaat can be delicious and healthy if deep-fried items are avoided. Adding small amounts of fried stuff is ok, but consuming all fried items mean bloating yourself with calories. Though there are tons of varieties of chaats, every dish has a unique, most cherishing taste. Chaats are a great way to socialize and entertain. The road side carts in India and other countries serving chaats are favorite time pass spots to many families, friends, lovers, flirts. Chaats are excellent to entertain your guests with a side of cocktail or lemonade.

Sprouted Black channa with roti

Sprouts are nutritional powerhouses. They contain high amounts of protein, vitamins, minerals. Sprouting seeds produce enzymes doubling nutrition. Sprouting also makes seeds easy to digest, which are otherwise not digestible. Make a variety of healthy recipes to boost your mornings. Sprouted black chickpeas are highly nutritious and rich in enzymes which promote good health. Black chickpeas can be eaten raw while sprouted, roasted, pressure cooked or ground into flour.
Legumes are a staple food in India. They hold an important place in every Indian’s daily diet. Legumes are meat to Indians as most of the Indian population is vegetarian. Indians derive most of their protein needs from legumes. Legumes have a prominent place in Indian culinary. There are a number of tongue-tickling recipes make of legumes. Here is a steamed and sautéed version of kala chana (black garbanzo beans), cooked with onion, spices, ginger chilies.

Banana leaf wrapped veggies cooked in green Coconut

In south India, traditionally food is served on banana leaf. The leaves are not eaten by themselves but are used as natural disposable plates and food wrappers. It was common to use for serving food before plates were discovered, better yet plates were widely available. Food wrapped and cooked in banana leaves absorbs flavor and nutrients, making food lusciously aromatic and much healthier. A natural seasoning god gifted to us. Eco-friendly, all-natural, chemical free disposable serving plates and utensils. Precisely as someone said – A beautifully biodegradable table setting.

Banana leaf is digested slowly. By cooking food on a banana leaf, you get the nutrients which are hard to digest for humans if eaten as-is. The waxy water proof coating on banana leaves gives the food a distinct better taste.

Malabar Spinach in lentils

Dal with rice or roti is a staple food in every Indian household. My childhood was no different and I’m carrying on the tradition with my family. Lentils are a tasty, nutritious item on a vegetarian dinner plate. Low in calories, and high in protein, calcium, fiber, lentils are versatile food to your diet. Many ways to transform lentils – dal, salads, spreads. Lentils cook much quicker than dried beans and do not need soaking before cooking. You will love this simple, easy, homespun weekday meal. Boost your dal by adding any greens or veggies to make it heart friendly, diabetic friendly. Lentils are a hassle-free addition to any meal with nutty and earthy in flavor. Lentils are available with or without the husk. The husk contains the highest amount of dietary fiber. Consuming lentils with husk adds taste and highest amount of dietary fiber content to your diet.

Malabar spinach or Indian spinach is not spinach at all. It doesn’t look or taste like spinach at all. Malabar spinach leaves are thick, fleshy. They cook very fast. Other than making lentils, you can saute, make soups out of Malabar spinach. This dish called bachali kura pappu in Telugu.

Brussels Sprouts, raw mango chutney

Consuming fruits and vegetables of all kinds is associated with quality health. It significantly lowers risk of many lifestyle-related health conditions. Eating green vegetables as raw mangoes, brussels sprouts decreases the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and weight gain. Brussels sprouts don’t normally elicit a positive reaction from many people. Take a chance this holiday season to cook up more yummy recipes featuring Brussels sprouts. And every season, these recipes convert more and more people into Brussels sprouts lovers! These veggies are full of fiber and vitamin C, making them a nutritious addition to any meal!

Raw mango recipes are probably new to the western world. For Indians, especially South Indians, raw mango dishes are a staple. Mango has culinary significance at all stages, mature and immature. Pickles, soups, dal, mango rice, chutneys, salads, desserts, drinks, you name it. Mango is considered to be the king of fruits as it is the top fruit crop of India. Mangoes grow in tropical and subtropical weather where there is no high humidity and rain during the flowering stage. Southern India fits ideal cultivation conditions for mango.

Vegetable Ulava chaaru Biryani

“Ulava Charu” in other words horse gram lentil soup or kollu rasam, is South Indian states Telangana and Andhra Pradesh’s favorite soup. Ulava Charu is a traditional yet lusciously luxurious Andhra Rasam. It is generally served with rice and topped with home made butter. Instead of ulava chaaru mixed in rice yourself, this recipe brings you that aroma, taste immersed together. It gives most pleasure to taste buds. It is served as a special dish when special guests arrive. Horse Gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum) is not very popular bean anywhere other than South India. In South India it a rich and delectable food.

In South India, Rasam or Charu is staple food. It is watery and soup consistency and is usually consumed with rice, lentils and ghee. Sometimes rasam is served as a gravy with dry fry dishes. Lately, its been consumed a soup as well. Rasam tastes sour, tangy and flavorful. It is made of tamarind juice base. It can be made of tamarind juice cooked in a variety of vegetables or plain cooked tamarind with tampering, cooked lentils and spices. You can make wide varieties of rasams by changing sour agent. Click post to see more.