Ujwala's Delicacies

Indian inspired all natural kitchen.

Nuvvula saddi

అసలీ బతకమ్మ పండగ ఏమిటి?

బతుకమ్మ తెలంగానోల్లకు షానా పెద్ద పండగ. బతుకమ్మ పండగను తొమ్మిది రోజులు జేస్తరు. దసరాకు రెందు దినాల ముందస్తది. వర్షా కాలంలో వర్షాలు పడ్డంక రోడ్డెమ్మటి తంగేడు పూలు, గునుగు పూలు బాగా పెరగ బడతయి. గవాటితోని బతుకమ్మ ని పెద్దగ పేరుస్తరు. పసుపు తోని గౌరమ్మ ని జేషి దాని పైన బెడ్తరు.
In the state of Telangana, monsoon rains starting in June till October, bring plenty of water into the lakes, rivers. Many colorful flowers as gunugu, tanged, banti, chamanti bloom everywhere. Women arrange these floweres in a tower shape in a plate called batukamma. Groups of women sing and dance around the batukamma. The festival begins 9 days before the Saddula Bathukamma which falls two days before Dassera. Women sing and dance all 9 days and immerse batukamma them in near by lake or pond. On the last day of 9 days of batukamma, men bring huge quantities of flowers and women make huge batukkammas. Large group of women gather, sing and dance around batukamma.

Batukamma karivepaku saddulu

This is the time of the year 9 sacred days are celebrated in large scale. Though they are called different names, celebrated differently, worshipping avatars of Durga is common. Navratri, Mysuru Dasara, Batukamma, Kullu Dussehra, Durga Puja, Nadahabba etc. This high-spirit festival is celebrated in many different ways. Some fast, some feast, some jagaran (not sleeping thru the night), some dance every night, some worship with high devotion.

Batukamma palli saddi

Bathukamma is a unique flower festival celebrated in the state of Telangana, India. It is a highly enthusiastic festival, especially for women. It represents Telangana’s culture. Bathukamma is a beautiful round flower arrangement with colorful seasonal flowers stacked in the shape of temple gopuram. The arrangement signifies the Gouri goddess Bathukamma. Flowers used to make Batukamma are Bera, Thangedu, Thamara, Gunugu, Banthi, Gummadi, Kanakambaram, Mandhara, and Ramabanam. Women arrange floral batukammas beyond their creativity. Women dress up in their best, expensive pure silk sarees, wear jewelry. In the evening, all women carry plates of flowers to a nearby lake, arrange all in a circular shape. They dance around batukammas clapping rhythmically with traditional songs praising the goddess and to take birth again.

Brown poha chewda

Even if you’re a purist who only eats whole foods, you still have those craving moments to have a satisfying snack. It is certainly hard to find a satisfying snack which is healthy, low in calories, low in sugars and carbs which always hits the spot. For those who want to be on a low-calorie diet or on a healthy diet, store-bought chewda is not an option. Don’t lose hope, you can make a modified version of chewda, which gives the same satisfaction, yet a healthy one without unhealthy oils, unknown ingredients, and chemicals. Chewda is a popular Indian snack, which is a mixture of a variety of crunchy snacks. Chewda can be compared to Chex mix, that many westerners know.

Turai, coconut chutney

Turai aka Ridge guard is well known in Asian countries, especially in India, China, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Japan. All of these cuisines have such a unique way of transforming this plain tasting vegetable into something amazing. Today, I introduce you to South Indian state Telangana way of transforming turai (beerakaya) into an amazing chutney (beerakaya pachadi). Not a lot of non-Indians know about chutney. Not just Indians, but non-Indians can enjoy chutneys too. Chutneys are so versatile, they can be eaten with rice as South Indians do or use as condiments for sandwiches, burgers. It also can be used as pasta sauce. Vegans all over the world or those who are struggling to find delicious and tasty meatless recipes should know about chutneys. Also those looking for diabetic friendly recipes, low carb, low sugar recipes, chutneys are rejoiced. Chutneys are all-natural, clean, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and paleo. No regrets.

Masala peanuts

Masala Peanuts!! An easy, healthy Indian snack, a great side to cocktails. Masala peanuts are such an easy and perfect snack with optimal crunch, spice, nutrition, and satisfaction. It will be ready in just minutes. When you are hungry on weekdays, when you want to keep a clean snack ready after school for your kids, when you have surprise guests, when you want to munch on vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free snack, when it is raining and you want to eat something, or in any other difficult situation, Masala Peanuts will rescue you.

Coconut, blue poppy crab cakes

Presenting clean crab cakes with an Indian twist. Adding Indian twist to crab cake will make everyone’s jaw drop. Are you that person who likes to make special food for family and friends? Then this recipe is for you. Crab cakes recipe typically includes mayonnaise. You can make clean crab cakes without mayonnaise. I replaced mayonnaise with healthy fat in coconut. To replace mayonnaise creamy texture, I used poppy seed paste, and egg for binding. You will not miss mayonnaise, on the other hand, you will enjoy healthy, fresh, clean crab cake made of least processed ingredients. No artificial flavors, chemicals. You can safely replace blue poppy seeds with regular white ones.

Lotus root curry in onion, poppy seed sauce

Yet another delicacy and an absolute Vegans and vegetarians heaven. Farmer’s market and local markets carry far more varieties of veggies than you think. Some are rarely found veggies. Lotus root one of them. It is found abundantly in summers. If you find one, don’t miss it. Lotus root is a versatile vegetable. You can make an appetizer, veggie taco, veggie bowl, saute or curry out of lotus root. Vegetables or Chicken simmered in gravy with spices is most commonly known Indian westerners. This time, cook with a twist by adding lotus root. Adopt ancient Indian clean recipes. Indian cuisine offers many dishes than just naan and chicken butter masala as most of westerns see in Indian restuarants. There are many vegan, vegetarian curries made of vivid ingredients.

Moth bean chaat salad

Have you ever experienced salivation unattractively? That’s what happens when you think of Indian Chaats. Chaat can be best described as salty, sweet and tangy savory Indian snack. Chaats are India’s street food. India has some of the best street food in the world. Chaats were my and most of Indian’s all-time favorite kind of food. For children eating at chaat street cart is a great memory, for teens, they are great flirting places. No matter where Indians immigrate, they always cherish Street food moments. Besides curries, Indian cuisine offers a number of Vegan, vegetarian, paleo, gluten-free, nut-free dishes. Customize the Indian dish to your taste buds and it will hit the spot every time. Moth bean chaat is Vegan, vegetarian, paleo, gluten-free, nut-free. Not just for Indian food lovers, this chaat salad is must eat dish for everyone who wants to try meatless, healthy, clean recipes.

Instant Rava and flax meal 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 the western breakfasts are not in the healthy category. There are instant versions of dosa’s which are made of semolina. Since semolina is high in carbohydrates, this modified version with little semolina is low in carbs, high in omega-3. Instant flax dosa is a vegan, vegetarian, nut-free and paleo recipe, which gives you 100% nutrition. With a few changes in the recipe, traditional rava dosa is made with low in carbohydrates and no sugars, high in protein and fiber. A well made Dosa is wonderfully delicious, and is a healthy breakfast for busy mornings.

Usual western breakfasts are made of meat, highly processed all-purpose flour, sugars and topped with whipping cream. Choosing savory breakfast over sweet has many benefits. It cuts down a lot of sugars to your daily intake. Adding peppers in breakfast gives you essential minerals which keep you active all day. Instant Rava and flax meal dosa is one of the best Indian meatless option. Choose this best out of vegetarian Indian breakfast dish.