Ujwala's Delicacies

Indian inspired all natural kitchen.

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”.

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.

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.

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.

Steamed rice balls in pumpkin, poppy seed gravy

Pumpkin season is right around the corner here in United States. Perfect time for Ganesh Chaturthi prasad. Why not take advantage this season? Pumpkins are actually very healthy! They are low in calories, fat and sodium, and rich in vitamin A, potassium and fiber! Pumpkins may not be available in every region. You can certainly substitute pumpkin with sweet potato. Follow same cooking instruction. But cooking time may vary. This dish can certainly made vegan. It takes very less milk. Replace milk with coconut milk.

Ganesh chaturthi is also festival of food. Lord Ganesh is said to be foodie. His favorites varieties of prasad are modak, kheer, puran poli, undrallu, kudumulu and list goes on. Foodies wait for mouth-watering food made of grated jaggery, coconuts and dry fruits.

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.