Instant Ulavacharu Using Readymade Paste

Ulavacharu is a traditional Andhra special dish originated from Krishna and Guntur districts. Ulavacharu is a soupy (rasam/ saaru) kind of dish made from horsegram (Ulavalu in Telugu and Kollu in Tamil). Its a protein-rich, low fat food that contains a high amount of dietary fibers and is known to lower cholesterol, helps to reduce obesity. It looks thick, dark in color and it has a spicy, tangy taste with an earthy smell and flavor. Ulavacharu is usually served with plain rice adding a dollop of fresh cream, butter or ghee.

Recently people from Sitara foods, a homemade and handmade food brand based out of Hyderabad reached out to me. They are supported and recognized by the Government of India as a women empowerment startup. Friends , do check out their website sitarafoods.com to see their Andhra special pickles, pulihora paste, masala powders, traditional sweets and fryums. When they asked me to try their readymade ulavacharu paste and make a post in my blog, I had no clue about this recipe. After watching few YouTube videos, I came to know that making ulavacharu is a lengthy process which involves hours of cooking. But Sitara foods has made this authentically on wood fired mud stoves or poyyi by boiling Ulavalu for 14 to 15 hours and then made this readymade paste adding tamarind, spices and is prepared without any preservatives. You can make and enjoy this healthy ulavacharu using this paste effortlessly at home.

Here is the picture of readymade ulavacharu paste. 

All you have to do is just mix the paste in water, simmer and boil till thick. You can do the tempering with or without onion, garlic as you like. I did small modifications in this recipe by adding chilli powder as the spice level is less in this paste. So you can adjust it as per your taste buds. I made it for our weekend lunch. The smell was amazingly good. While boiling, its aroma was wafting through the entire house which tempted us to eat. I am sure everyone would love to try this delicious and delightful dish undoubtedly. As I am not aware of the authentic taste of ulavacharu, I passed a sample of this paste to my neighbor who is from Andhra. She too liked it and gave a good feedback. Apart from the spice level, everything is good in this paste. Friends, do check out and buy this ulavacharu paste from Sitara foods. It will be helpful for bachelors and people who travel abroad to make a quick lunch. Sitara foods is giving a shelf life of 9 months for this product under refrigeration. I hope you find the price reasonable as well. Ok, lets see how to make this yummy and tasty Andhra special ulavacharu easily, instantly and quickly using this readymade paste from Sitara foods.

Ulavacharu using readymade paste

Andhra special ulavacharu using readymade paste

Cuisine: Andhra

Category: Side dish for rice

Serves: Serves 4

Prep time: 10 Minutes

Cook time: 20 Minutes

Total time: 30 Minutes

Chitra Ganapathy

INGREDIENTS

1 cup = 240ml Readymade ulavacharu paste - 3 tbsp (adjust as per taste) Water - 2 cups Red chilli powder - 1/2 to 1 tsp (as per taste) Salt - as needed To Temper Cooking oil - 1 tbsp Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp Urad dal - 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp Red chilli - 2 (pinched into two) Green chilli - 1 (slit into two) Curry leaves - few Big onion – 1 (finely chopped)

HOW TO MAKE ULAVACHARU USING PASTE

1. In a bowl, take 2 cups of water and mix 3 to 4 tbsp of ulavacharu paste.
2. Heat a kadai and add this diluted ulavacharu. Boil for few minutes in low flame.
3. Check for taste and add some chilli powder, salt if needed.
4. In the mean time, heat a small kadai with oil. Temper mustard seeds, urad dal and cumin seeds.
5. Add red chilli, green chilli and curry leaves. Saute onion till transparent.
6. Add to the boiling ulavacharu. Boil for few minutes till it reaches desired consistency.
7. Serve hot with plain rice adding butter, ghee or fresh cream. Enjoy !

METHOD - STEP BY STEP PICTURES

Take 3 to 4 tbsp of ulavacharu paste and mix with 2 cups of water. Check for taste and add some salt and chilli powder if needed. I added 1/2 tsp chilli powder. Heat a kadai and add this mixture. Let it roll boil for few minutes in low to medium flame. In the mean time, heat oil in a small kadai. Splutter mustard seeds, urad dal, cumin seeds, curry leaves. Add onion and saute till transparent. Add to the boiling ulavacharu. Boil for few more minutes till it reaches the desired consistency. I made it slightly thick in consistency as it becomes thicker over the time. Serve hot with plain rice adding ghee or butter or fresh cream. We relished it adding ghee. You can refrigerate the leftover paste and use for few months.

Note

Adjust the quantity of paste as per your taste. I felt the paste was less spicy. So I used red chilli powder. Tempering and adding sautéed onions makes this ulavacharu tastes so good and flavorful. So don’t skip it.

Try this Andhra special Ulavacharu easily using the paste and enjoy with plain rice !

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