Ujwala's Delicacies

Indian inspired all natural kitchen.

Vegetable 65

A snack, ultimately satisfying in taste, calories and health. There’s no need to skip when you make healthy appetizers! Appetizers are bite sized anticipation of an upcoming meal. Sounds good, but what is 65? It has a story. Many years back, there was a military canteen in some place in Andhra Pradesh, India. Their chicken section had item number 65. It was quiet famous. To order, they say chicken 65. Thats how chicken 65 evolved. Vegetarian 65 is same recipe as chicken 65 with few modifications. Modifications are necessary because vegetables become soggy and dish is supposed be crispy. This bite-sized appetizer easier to grab and consume, very little effort or mess while maintaining hygiene. With minimal store-bought ingredients, this dish is most environmentally friendly, safe for pets too. Don’t forget to use bio degradable toothpicks instead of plastic forks.

Cilantro and onion chutney

Chutney made of vibrant greens and rich veggies, is vegetarian heaven. A natural multi vitamin. This vegan, vegetarian cruelty-free dish leaves you a priceless satisfaction especially when you make at home. Try it once. Incorporate brightly colored vegetables in your diet. Being on all-natural diet rich in leafy greens, fresh vegetables, and brightly colored produce that you see in farmers market and local market have lot of health benefits. Make your way through the farmers’ market today.

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 an ultimately delicious and healthy. Chutney’s made of such unique blend is loaded with iron, vitamins and anti oxidants. Traditionally, vegetables are cooked in spices and crushed with hand in mortar pestle. Chutneys is usually consumed with rice with ghee poured on top.

Gongura Biryani

Gongura, which is known to western world as Roselle, is 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 people’s hearts. It is called as Andhra favorite dish – Andhra maatha or Andhra Shakambari Varaprasadam. Gongura known as Jamaican sorrel leaves in carribean countries, as Roselle, florida cranberries in western countries. It is known as ambadi or pulicha keerai, LalChatni, Kutrum, Tengamora, Aamelli, Pundi Palle, Pitwaa, Taka bhendi, Khata Palanga, Kotrum, Mestapat, Amaari in other parts of India.

Purslane with mung lentils

From salad to stir-fry to dals, purslane is versatile leaf to use. Purslane is native to India and Persia, and thats where it is known as an edible plant. Rest of the world knows it as weed. It is known as Paruppu Keerai in tamil, gangabayala kura in telugu, kulfa in hindi. Many countries use purslane as a food.

Purslane has fleshy succulent leaves and stems. It can be called as tasty, easy to grow weed with rich nutrients. Purslane grows anywhere from fertile to the infertile soils. You can substitute spinach in many recipes with purslane and get 2-6 times more nutrients. Young, raw leaves and stems are tender and are good in salads and sandwiches. They can also be lightly steamed or stir-fried.

Black eye peas, samosa with alfalfa sprouts 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 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 side of cocktail or lemonade.

Telangana chicken curry

Telangana is India’s most hot and spicy non-vegetarian state. Telangana’s most known spicy non-veg dishes are Kodi Pulusu aka Chicken pulusu, mamsam vapudu. They are served with garelu (lentil falafel), rice or roti. Hot mango pickle called as Maagaya pachadi is staple food. It is a must have dish in every day meals.

In Telangana tamarind based gravy is called Pulusu. It’s sour, tangy taste mixed in vegetables is Telangana’s favorite dish. Though Kodi pulusu says pulusu, it is not made of tamarind gravy. Pulusu also means gravy. Kodi pulusu means chicken in gravy. Vankaya Pulusu, Aratikaya pulusu, bendakaya pulusu are few of Telangana peoples most favorite pulusu dishes.

Pompano in coconut, blue poppy seed gravy

If you’re trying to lose weight or on nutritions diet, then fish is your best friend. The American Heart Association recommends that you eat at least 2 servings of fish each week. Fish is not just delicious, but it’s nutritious as well. Seafood is a rich source of protein, vitamins, Omega-3 and minerals. It’s a nutritious, exotic, low calorie addition to any meal. Cholesterol content in fish is almost equal to red meat and poultry. However, the fat is mainly poly – unsaturated. The human body can’t produce omega-3s, but yet they’re needed for a healthy body.

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.