Ujwala's Delicacies

Indian inspired all natural kitchen.

Sautéed Malabar spinach with tahini

Introducing Malabar spinach (Basella alba or rubra) to the western world. Malabar spinach is highly grown and consumed widely in India and other parts of South Asia. Malabar spinach is fleshy, thick and slimy. Leaves and tender and vine stems are edible. They may be eaten in appetizers, sautéed, stir-fried, in soups, and curries. Even use in omelets, pasta dishes, casseroles.

Malabar spinach is not spinach. To me, there isn’t any relation visually or in taste. Maybe scientifically they are distantly related. This dish called bachali Kura in Telugu.

Celery, tomatillo chutney

Chutneys are a staple food in Southern India. Chutneys can be made with a variety of vegetables. Mix n match a wide variety of vegetables, nuts, seeds to make rich, enticing, exquisite chutney. This is a Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, Paleo, nut-free recipe. Aromatic spices with vegetables, nuts in tampering makes chutney an ultimately delicious and healthy. Whichever vegetable you make chutney out of, Chutney is loaded with iron, vitamins, and antioxidants. Traditionally, vegetables are cooked in spices and crushed with the hand in mortar pestle to make chutney. In the modern generation, grinders are used. Chutney is usually consumed with rice and ghee poured on top. Lately, with low carb consciousness, people prefer eating chutneys as homemade dips for tortilla chips, pita chips, south Indian snacks as sakinalu, janthikalu and karappusa.

Authentic hyderabadi Chicken Biryani

Biryani is every Indian’s favorite party dish. Hyderabad Dum biryani is more special. To Hyderabadis, biryani doesn’t need an introduction. Biryani corners, takeouts, high scale restaurants popped everywhere in Hyderabad. Biryani is often described as aromatic, heavenly delicious. Dum is a method of slow cooking with marinated raw chicken and spiced basmati rice arranged in layers, and finally sealing the pot with dough. When every biryani is served in gatherings, weddings, celebrations, it is the center of attraction. Biryani’s characters as you can tell – rich spices, aromatic flavor is what draws everyone’s attention and makes people drool for it.

Gongura, potato curry

Gongura, which is known to the western world as Roselle, is a tangy and sour leaf. Roselle plant leaves and flowers both are edible. 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 which is translated to “Vegetarian mother of Andhra”.

Avakaya Biryani

Avakaya is South India’s state of Andhra Pradesh favorite pickle. It is go-to pickle at festivals, weddings, gatherings, pujas, and wherever people gather. If you taste, you will soon realize the exaggeration about Avakaya is genuine. In other words, you will experience heaven on earth. Avakaya biryani is basmati rice cooked with avakaya. Avakaya biryani is an extravaganza.

Avakai is spicy, reflecting Andhra’s significant taste. Made from scratch, using household ingredients, Avakaya is a seriously tasty pickle. It is an exceptional combination to eat with rice and ghee. It also goes great with any dish which needs more flavor and spice. It even works as a dip. Lastly, it can be transformed into India’s favorite dish Birayni.

Shrimp scampi

Shrimp scampi is one of the quick and easy recipes for fast, yet delicious and impressive weekday meals. Just toss shrimp in a white wine, garlic, parsley, chili flakes, and pasta. You’ll have the most satisfying dinner ready in less than a half hour. I use fresh shrimp. I never use frozen shrimp. I buy fresh shrimp, peel, devein. Yes, it sounds like a lot of work, but once you taste fresh shrimp, you don’t feel like going back. Fresh shrimp is so soft, that it hits the spot every time. When the week is busy, time is short and you want to make home-cooked meals for yourself or family, pasta is the one.

Vegan creamy gravy for Indian curries

Gravy is the base for most Indian dishes. Indian gravy is not the turkey gravy as most westerns are familiar with. This vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, paleo gravy adds up taste and smooth, silky texture to the dish. In parties, festival gatherings, gravy curry is staple. Thats because gravy adds up volume and smooth gravy simply slides thru the throat. Though I am not fan of freezing, you can make extra gravy, freeze and use when you need.

Common way’s to use Indian gravy is to cook with vegetables or meat and as a side to biryani dishes. Add your favorite vegetables or meat to this gravy, simmer and enjoy. Chicken and Potatoes are most crowd cheered combination which is cooked in gravy.

All-natural, home-made vegetarian Tofurkey, stuffing and gravy

An all-natural, fresh, soft and tasty than store-bought tofurkey. Try something different with Thanksgiving dinner this year, make it meatless. It’s like a Thanksgiving present for the planet. A study of the veggie-loving Adventist community in California found that even non-organic vegetarian diets used 2.9 times less water, 2.5 times less energy, and 13 times less fertilizer than meat-centric eating. Go organic and the benefits get even bigger. Your body will thank you, too, if you swap out the meat for a Tofurkey. The vegetarians at your table will undoubtedly love it if your dinner features something they can eat, especially a dish that recalls the traditional poultry they’ve given up. Non-vegetarians can enjoy knowing that vegetarian dinners, even those that aren’t 100 percent organic, take less of an environmental toll than meat-centric suppers. Tofurkey is definitely the best-known brand of veggie-based turkey alternatives; it’s handcrafted from tofu to look somewhat turkey-like, and stuffed with a vegetarian stuffing. But it’s far from the only option. The downside of buying store-bought Tofurkey is there aren’t many certified-organic meat alternatives out there. Use your own certified-organic tofu and ingredients when you make at home.

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.