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.

Butternut squash soup

There is nothing more comforting than a piping hot soup during winter. This healthy, all-natural, vegan, vegetarian, paleo, gluten-free, no-stock soup is full of good stuff. When you want to keep your dinner light, this delicious soup is the one. This warm and comforting soup is your weight loss treatment, your vitamin pills. Fresh from the farmers market, fine butternut squash is simmered, adding body, and cooked in all-natural spices.

Butternut squash is steamed, preserving valuable nutrients, loaded with unprocessed spices and flavor. Low in fat, calories, high in protein, vitamins. Healthy starter, snack whatever you can think of.

Till and almond laddu

Makara Sankranthi is celebrated for three days. The first day is Bhogi. North India is known as Lohri.The second day is Sankranthi which is dedicated to worshipping Surya (the Sun god), Varuna (the rain god) and Indra (king of gods). The third day is Kanuma which is dedicated to cleaning cows, farm animals, and farm equipment and also offering prayers to them for helping with a successful harvest season.

Bhogi day starts with Bhogi manta (Bonfire) in the early hours of the morning. People light a bonfire, offer prayers to fire god discarding outdated things and ideas and welcome new things and new ideas to prosper. In the evening Bommala Koluvu (arrangement of images of Gods, toys, and dolls) is arranged at homes.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.