8 Budget-Friendly Induction Cooktop Recipes For Students And Working Professionals

One of the more hard hit groups in the rising crisis around LPG gas cylinder shortages in India is that of students and professionals who are either living in hostels or as boarders in guesthouses or are simply living on rent in studio apartments. Quick, budget-friendly induction cooktop recipes can come to the rescue as they grapple with the growing predicament and gloomy prospects of canteen and restaurant closures.

An induction cooktop is a very user-friendly appliance to have in a small apartment kitchen or in the hostel pantry. It is a versatile appliance that runs on electricity, a particularly friendly option amidst the growing LPG gas cylinder crisis. With the uncertainty of the operationality of restaurants, hostel messes and canteens, a simple induction cooktop is a great tool to have in the kitchen. It can be used to prepare a number of budget-friendly, healthy and nourishing meals without the need to use gas for cooking. Compact, energy-efficient and facilitating quick cooking with temperature control, induction cooktops can be go-to alternatives that make home cooking easier for students and working professionals.

Masala Egg Bhurji

A protein-rich dish that is ready within minutes, masala bhurji requires minimal prep. Finely chopped onions, tomatoes and ginger-garlic paste is enough to make a masala egg bhurji. Some green chillies can build heat into the dish, coupled with garam masala for a more sabzi-like effect. Cook the bhurji on an induction-friendly fry pan by first sautéeing the veggies in the masala and then pouring beaten eggs over them. The eggs can be scrambled to integrate them fully into the veggie masala mixture. This bhurji can be simply had with pav or toast as a light, affordable dinner.

Kande Pohe

A breakfast staple across many Indian regions, kande pohe is nothing but flattened rice tossed in a tempering of mustard, green chillies, hing, finely chopped onions and some curry leaves. Peanuts can also be added to the pohe recipe for a nuttier, crunchier textural flourish. Simply spiced and brightly coloured, kande pohe are easy to make on the induction in a compatible kadai as they require just a light toss and two minutes for steaming well before they are ready. Students desiring a quick, no-gas breakfast can find kande pohe to be an easy recipe to prepare in the morning.

Vegetable Khichadi

A simple rice and lentil dish that can be cooked in one flat-bottomed vessel, vegetable khichadi is a nourishing and comforting dinner for working professionals returning home feeling fatigued. The khichadi can be prepared using whatever veggies are available in the fridge including carrots, capsicum, tomatoes, onions and even brinjals and pumpkin chunks. Toss the rice and moong dal mixture in a tempering of ghee, cumin, red chilli powder and turmeric along with the veggies for introducing subtly spiced, comforting flavours into the dish.

Stir-Fried Noodles

A delicious recipe for students wishing to gorge on a mouthwatering guilty pleasure, stir-fried noodles can be made on the induction by first boiling noodles in a multi kettle or in boiling water on the stove top itself. The noodles can then be added to a mixture of minced ginger and garlic, shredded carrots, shallots, cabbage and beans as they are being tossed in a fry pan on the induction. Build the noodles with lots of veggies and proteins like tofu, paneer cubes or shredded chicken to make them more wholesome options while preparing a budget-friendly, comforting, no-gas dinner.

One-Pot Pasta

Boil pasta in a large induction-friendly pot and take it off the heat to prepare a sauce in a separate fry pan. Use simple ingredients like tomato purée, fresh basil, salt, white pepper, oregano and fresh rosemary to craft an aromatic, tangy pasta sauce. Add the boiled pasta as the sauce simmers on the induction and finish the simple dish off with a parmesan cheese sprinkle. The one-pot pasta can be a quick, fuss-free dish to prepare on an induction cooktop in the absence of gas. A dish that uses basic pantry staples, the pasta does end up producing delicious flavours using minimal ingredients.

Masala Tossed Paneer 

Think paneer cubes stirred in a simple condiment mix comprising red chilli powder, turmeric and garam masala as a protein-rich meal cooked on the induction. The paneer can be accentuated with fresh coriander, onions, tomatoes and other veggies like sweet corn or bell peppers if they are readily available in the fridge. Masala paneer paired with leftover rotis or warm rice makes for a satiating meal cooked without using gas. What’s more, the paneer can be prepared quite quickly, so it is the perfect dish for students living in a hostel to make on the induction without monopolising the appliance for too long a time.

Quick Dal Tadka

When leftover dal rests in the fridge, turn it into a quick dal tadka for dinner, using the induction. Simply prepare a tadka using oil, dried red chillies, curry leaves, cumin, mustard, some hing and turmeric. Pour this over the dal and let the mixture simmer for a while on the induction. The dal tadka will be ready within minutes, acquiring an even cook on the electric stove. Uniformly done, the dal tadka can be served with rotis or rice as a comforting and nourishing meal.

Vegetable Upma

The working professional can easily prepare a simple veggie upma using the classic semolina or even millets or quinoa according to their preferences. Dry roast this core ingredient in a flat pan on the induction. Let it rest on the side and in the same pan make a tempering of assorted spices, peas, finely chopped carrots, cabbage and onions. Add warm water, followed by the semolina or millets used to make the upma. Warm, nourishing and delicious, veggie upma can be prepared swiftly as a breakfast staple in the morning, no matter the absence of gas in the kitchen.