Easy Tiffin Recipes For Busy Work Or School Days

Cooking for yourself counts as the greatest form of self-care. Even though the working hours can get hectic, with these tiffin recipes, packing lunch for yourself or your school-going child would no longer be a daunting task.

With jam-packed schedules, continuous meetings, and the hustling life, finding time to plan and prepare meals can be daunting. Whether you want to pack a lunchbox for work or for your kid’s school, finding the time can be a challenge. Even though a quick takeaway from the canteen or the cafe next door might seem tempting, it’s not the best option.

So, with a little plan and some creativity, you can turn a variety of tiffin box meals that not only take little time to prepare but are also satisfying. So, while you work the hectic hours, let your lunch box put a smile on your or your loved one’s face. Here are some quick tiffin recipes that you can make in a jiffy and add variety to your meals.

Vegetable Pulao

The one-pot dish, pulao, is an all-time favourite for all the right reasons. With just a little effort, you can quickly make vegetable pulao in a pressure cooker. All you need to do is rinse and soak them till you chop the vegetables. Then, heat some oil, and add cumin seeds, cloves, bay leaf, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder, and your other go-to spices. Once aromatic, add chopped veggies like onion, potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, peas, etc. Mix in the soaked rice and water and cook the pulao for two whistles. Add a bowl of curd to your tiffin filled with a colourful serving of pulao, and your meal will be ready within fifteen minutes.

Paratha

For a filling and scrumptious tiffin idea, you must make parathas. Based on your preference, you can choose a filling for your paratha. For example, you can make aloo paratha, paneer paratha, dal paratha, gobi paratha, mixed paratha, and so on. After deciding, you can knead a dough with wheat flour, water, spices like salt, red chilli powder, ajwain, garam masala, etc., along with chopped veggies based on your filling. Take small portions of the dough, roll, and cook on both sides till crispy. Pack the parathas with achaar and chutney, and your kids will eagerly wait for their lunch break.

Cucumber And Chutney Sandwich

Isn’t everyone fond of the ‘hari chutney’, typically made with pudina, dhaniya, and green chillies? If you and your kids love the chutney, you can quickly whip up a cucumber and chutney sandwich and always find the tiffin empty. Spread some green chutney on slices of bread, add a slice of cheese, and some cucumber or tomato slices if you like. Grill or toast it for a couple of minutes, and your scrumptious sandwich will be ready to be packed.

Methi Aloo

If you want to make the classic combo of sabzi and roti, try making methi aloo. It’s not only easy to prepare but also super nutritious to make your lunchbox healthier. To make methi aloo, you can start by boiling some potatoes. In the meantime, prepare the tempering by sautéing mustard seeds, cumin seeds, and green chillies. Once aromatic, add chopped onion, ginger, garlic paste, and methi. Chop the boiled potatoes into smaller pieces and mix them in. Simmer till the potato pieces absorb the flavour. Garnish with chopped cilantro and pack the sabzi with freshly prepared rotis.

Yoghurt And Sprout Salad

For those days when you prefer something light yet fulfilling, a yoghurt and sprout salad is just perfect. You can start by mixing together sprouted moong beans, chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions. Next, add yoghurt as per your liking, some chaat masala, and a pinch of salt, and you’re done! It is the easiest and the healthiest option, especially for the days when you forget to set the alarm for work.

Bread Roll

There are days when you just want to address your cravings for something savoury and spicy. One of the easiest recipes that is perfect for lunchtime is a bread roll. Since they are extremely versatile, it is up to you to make the filling healthy. Depending on your preference, you can make a filling with veggies like mashed potatoes, chopped onion, crumbled paneer, soya chunks, chopped carrots, steamed peas, and so on. Add a blend of spices, chopped green chillies, and some mayonnaise to bind the fillings together. Next, you can place a spoonful of the filling in the centre of a bread piece and roll it from the ends. To minimise the oil content, air fry the bread rolls until crispy and pack them with some chilli sauce.

Roti Wraps

If you have leftover sabzi and chapatis from last night, you can turn them into roti wraps to make a quick and healthy meal for lunchtime. So, whether you have a dry sabzi like paneer bhurji, jeera aloo, tofu scramble, etc, or chopped salad, you can make a delicious filling. Simply mix the leftovers with some mayonnaise, your favourite sauces, chopped onion, cucumber, lettuce, and more. Then, take the leftover chapati and add a spoonful of filling in the centre. Wrap the roti and heat on a tawa till golden brown. In about three to four minutes, your roti wraps will be ready to be packed into tiffin boxes.

Tofu Stir-Fry

Tofu is widely popular for its nutrient content, and it’s time that you try tofu stir-fry as an incredible option for lunch. To make it at home, you can take fresh tofu, dice it into cubes and stir-fry it till they are golden brown. Next, stir-fry the usual kitchen vegetables like onion, tomatoes, capsicum, carrots, broccoli, etc. Once done, mix them with the stir-fried tofu. All that is left for you is to add soy sauce, ginger-garlic paste, and your go-to spices to taste, and coat the tofu while stirring the contents. Pack tofu stir-fry with some freshly prepared rice or fulkas with a side of salad for a wholesome meal.