Ujwala's Delicacies

Indian inspired all natural kitchen.

Gluten-free Teff flour pancakes in 10 minutes

Breakfast is an “important meal of the day”.

Take a break from brown rice, quinoa and even multi vitamin pills. Consuming a variety of grains gives you all the key nutrients you need. Unique nutrients in each seasonal whole-grains are your multi vitamin, omega-3 pills.

Breakfast being the most important meal of the day, kick-start your metabolism with with this 10 minute high protein, moderate carbohydrates and fiber rich breakfast. Healthy breakfast makes a difference in how your body produces and processes glucose, or blood sugar. If think breakfast is doughnut with coffee, or sugary cereal with store-bought fruit juice, you’re setting yourself in sugar havoc. Fortunately, as all-natural food blogger, I am here to help you with breakfast that is flavorful as well as healthy. There are many breakfast items that taste great and are good for you. Eating breakfast can improve endurance exercise performance.

Whole-grain, kale, moong lentil falafel

Those moong lentils sitting in your cupboard have been trying to say something. Let me out… play with spices and cook me crunchy. Fried in oil, moong dal can transform into a crispy, nutty, savory snack. Reach for something crunchy when you need snack. If you haven’t heard of Masala vada, allow me to do the honors of introducing. Masala vada is South Indian crispy, savory fried snack. It is one of most crowd cheered festive snack. Which makes its appearance in every home on a festival day, entertaining smiley family and friends. In different southern states, they are also called masala garelu, masal vadai, paruppu vadai. If you haven’t tried this snack yet, also allow me to introduce to all-natural step-by-step recipe. This is dangerous knowledge.

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.

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.

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.

Carrot sauté with turmeric, coconut

Sautéed carrots are perfect if you’re looking for a great vegetable that’s easy to make, healthy, and delicious. In western world carrot sauté is a side, but it makes a great entrée with rice, roti or tortillas. Carrots are fairly inexpensive which makes this dish most economical. This time of year farmers markets are bursting with greens, vibrant veggies and fruits. Many of the vegetables in season also come with their own greens– beets, turnips, carrots etc. Carrots healthy – sautéing is a cooking method that preserves a lot of the carrots’ nutrients, so that each bite is even better for you! With a side of brown or wild rice, this dish becomes a wildly healthy dish.

Asparagus, brussel sprouts 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 vegetables, nuts and tampering combination makes tasty and healthy chutney loaded with iron, vitamins and anti oxidants. Traditionally, chutneys are eaten with rice and ghee poured on top. Chutneys make excellent homemade dips for tortilla chips, pita chips, sakinalu, janthikalu and karappusa. They make excellent all- natural condiments too. Check out home made all natural condiment recipe Brussels sprouts pistachio spread sandwich here.