Healthy Lunches Made Easy: Recipes You Can Prep In Minutes

If you have been sticking to salads, cut fruit, or millet bowls just to have something quick and healthy, this is your sign to cook some Indian classics. Ready in minutes and made with basic ingredients, try these lunch recipes and add variety to your daily meals.

Marking the halfway point of the day, lunch times can be tricky. With a growling stomach and pending tasks, more often than not, everyone looks for quick meal fixes. To break your monotonous cycle of toasting bread or making an oatmeal bowl every day for lunch, you need to read on these healthy lunch recipes that are easy to prepare.

And who said healthy food is limited to boring salads or chopped fruit bowls? If you go back to the classic Indian dishes, you’d get to have the best of nutrition and taste. If you are someone who gets drawn towards takeaways or ready-to-eat food, this is just the right article for you. Here are some healthy lunch recipes that can be whipped up using day-to-day kitchen ingredients.

Chana Chaat

Chana chaat, also known as chickpea salad, is one of the healthiest and easiest-to-prepare lunch options. All you need to do to make a bowl of filling chana chaat is start by boiling chickpeas in a pressure cooker. In the meantime, you can chop some fruits like grapes, bananas, apples, pomegranates, or veggies like onions, cucumber, tomatoes, and cabbage. Once the chickpeas are soft, mix them with the mixture of chopped fruits or vegetables, as per your preference and dietary requirements. Finally, add in a squeeze of lemon, season with salt and pepper, and serve.

Methi Malai Matar

If you are looking for a healthy and wholesome lunch recipe, a creamy serving of methi malai matar will be just perfect. And the best part is, apart from the goodness of fenugreek leaves and peas, the sabzi can be whipped up in under twenty minutes. You can start by grinding some cashew nuts to make a thick paste and keep it aside. Simultaneously, you can saute some chopped onion, and mix in ginger and garlic paste, with a blend of your favourite spices. Once aromatic, add the cashew nut paste you just prepared. To even out the consistency, add milk and a little water. Then, mix in boiled peas, chopped methi, and let the sabzi simmer for about ten to fifteen minutes. Garnish with a sprinkle of red chilli powder and serve with a fluffy roti.

Bhindi Masala

For a spicy lunch option, you can make bhindi masala. Making the most of okra, you can customise it as per your personal preference. Be it semi-dry, gravy-based, or a dry sabzi, you can adjust the amount of tomato-based puree and whip up a quick meal. As a thumb rule to prepare the masala, you can heat some oil and saute chopped onions. Once they turn pinkish, add chopped bhindi, tomatoes, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, dhaniya powder, salt, and some dried red chillies. If you want to make it gravy-based, you can add tomato puree and let the sabzi simmer. Finally, garnish with chopped coriander leaves and enjoy with a namak mirch ka paratha or chapati.

Fish Fry

As for non-vegetarians, fish fry can be a quick saviour. If you live in the coastal areas, you can make the most of fresh fish and make a lip-smacking fish fry. To make it at home, you can start by marinating fish pieces in a ginger garlic paste mixed with your go-to spices. Then, shallow fry the coated fish till it is crispy. You can also add the khatti meethi imli ki chutney and curry leaves to give it a tangy twist. Pair it with roti or rice and enjoy your lunch the right way.

Paneer Makhani

Paneer makhani is another comfort food for many Indians. To make this protein-rich dish, you can start by making a masala with spices like turmeric powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder, dried fenugreek leaves, and salt. Add chopped onion, ginger and garlic paste, and tomato puree. Once the masala thickens, add cubed paneer pieces and let the gravy simmer. In about ten minutes, you can check the consistency, garnish with coriander leaves, and serve hot.

Mushroom Masala

If you are a fan of mushrooms, you must try this Punjabi-style mushroom masala sabzi. To make this famous mushroom delicacy, wash and chop button mushrooms. Next, make a tomato-based gravy with chopped onions, tomatoes, ginger-garlic paste, and a blend of your go-to spices. Then add the mushrooms and cook till they absorb all the flavour, and check if they are tender. Garnish with a swirl of fresh cream for an enhanced taste and pair it with rice, roti, or naan and dig in.

Soya Keema

Soya chunks or granules are the go-to protein-rich sources for vegetarians. While you must be familiar with baked soya beans, you can move on to the next delicious dish, soya keema. The best part about the dish is that not only does soya keema fill your plate with the right amount of protein, but it is also a drool-worthy dish. Made with soaked granules cooked in a tomato and onion-based gravy, you can quickly prepare it even in between meetings. Just pair it with a freshly prepared roti and dahi, or make a wrap and have it while working.

Aloo Baingan

Aloo baingan, made with the goodness of potatoes and eggplant, is a delicious and nutritious dish. Whether you want to make lunch for your kids or yourself, aloo baingan is sure to please even the pickiest eaters. Start by icing both eggplant and potatoes into cubes. Then, make the masala with oil, jeera, and the usual spices like turmeric powder, red chilli powder, and salt in a kadai. Then, add chopped onions, ginger, and garlic and cook till they are golden brown. Finally, add chopped potatoes and eggplant and cook till the veggies soften. In about fifteen minutes, your lunch should be ready to serve.