Less Mess, More Flavour: One-Pot Meals For Effortless Cooking

From the all-time favourite khichdi to high-protein tofu bhurji, there are endless options when it comes to one-pot meals. If you want to cut down your cleaning time while still enjoying a healthy, homemade meal, give these options a try.

After an already exhausting day, the last thing you’d want is a pile of dishes sitting in the sink. While everyone loves elaborate meals, cleaning up after dinner before you can finally lie in bed can seem to be a nightmare. But who said you can only cook a lip-smacking meal when the kitchen counters are all messy?

With one-pot meals, you’d have minimal utensils to clean, and that too with maximum flavour. Without making a fuss, minimising your scrubbing time, one-pot dinner options will help you cook effortlessly. Just imagine all the ingredients getting cooked in a single vessel while you unwind after work, and when you open the pot, you get your aromatic dinner, ready to be savoured. So, ditch the multitasking and a range of cookware with these easy-to-make one-pot meals.

Dal Khichdi

The list for one-pot meals will be incomplete without including the go-to khichdi. From the traditional Gujarati-style khichdi to Bengali khichuri, the beauty of this meal is that you can customise it as per your taste. All you’d generally require to make dal khichdi is rice, lentils, ghee, and a mix of spices like jeera, hing, haldi, red chilli powder, and salt. You can simply put all the ingredients together and pressure cook them for fifteen minutes. Then, prepare a tadka using ghee, jeera, dried chillies, etc, and pour it over the khichdi.

Top Pairings: Add a bowl of dahi and a side of papad to make your meal truly satisfying.

Vegetable Pulao

Another one-pot dish that you can make in under twenty minutes is pulao. Since you can add all sorts of veggies to pulao, it is the best way to make your meal balanced. Simply start by rinsing and soaking rice. Till then, you can heat some oil and sauté jeera, chopped onion, and spices like turmeric powder, red chilli powder, cloves, bay leaf, salt, and so on. Then, add in the vegetables like chopped potato, tomato, peas, cauliflower, carrot, soya chunks, etc. Add in the soaked rice and pressure cook for about ten minutes, and your vegetable pulao will be ready to serve.

Bonus Hack: Let the pressure release on its own to get fluffier rice.

Fish Curry

Perfect for seafood lovers, fish curry is an impeccable option to make in crunch time and without using a lot of utensils. All you need to do is marinate fresh fish in a mix of curd and spices. In the meantime, you can cook the gravy with tomatoes, onions, ginger-garlic paste, coconut milk, and a blend of your favourite spices. Once thick, you can add the marinated fish and simmer for another five to ten minutes. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves, and you’re all done.

Serving Tips: You can serve the fish curry with rice, roti, or even Kerala-style flaky parotta.

Paneer Makhani

Paneer makhani is the rich and creamy classic that is a staple dinner option in most North Indian households. To make it in your kitchen, you’d need basic pantry ingredients like paneer, tomatoes, onions, fresh cream, and of course, spices. You can start by making the gravy by pureeing tomatoes and cooking it with onion, ginger, and garlic. Add in spices such as cumin seeds, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, cloves, cardamom, bay leaf, etc. Let the sabzi simmer for some ten to fifteen minutes and serve with rice or roti.

To Make It Aesthetic: Add a swirl of cream on top of paneer makhani and make it richer and aesthetically pleasing.

Tofu Bhurji

If you are a vegan or have lactose intolerance, you can whip up tofu bhurji in no time. Just like you would make paneer bhurji, scramble tofu and sauté it with chopped onions, tomatoes, and a blend of herbs and spices. Once the tofu is evenly cooked, garnish with coriander leaves and pair it with a millet roti or a multigrain bread slice.

How To Make It Healthier: You can make the one-pot meal even healthier by adding more vegetables like peas or ingredients like soya chunks.

Baingan Ka Bharta

Known for its smoky flavour, baingan ka bharta can also be made in just one vessel, and it can also make your day. You can start by roasting an eggplant on an open flame, cautiously flipping it to toast all sides. Once the skin turns darker, turn off the flame, and peel the skin. Mash with a fork and cook the brinjal with chopped onion, ginger, garlic, and your usual spices. Once the baingan is soft and well-mixed, garnish with chopped cilantro and serve with freshly prepared phulka.

Shopping Hacks: Always pick a longer and thinner brinjal as it’ll have fewer seeds.

Aloo Matar

All-time favourite one-pot meals for kids, aloo matar is relatively easy to prepare. To make the gravy, you can puree tomatoes with onions and some water. Once smooth, you can cook it, and you get a thicker consistency. Add in a smooth paste made with minced ginger and garlic and spices like haldi, red chilli powder, dhania powder, garam masala, and salt. You can taste and adjust the seasonings as per your spice tolerance and taste. Finally, add chopped potatoes and boiled peas and let the sabzi cook on a low-medium heat.

Best Paired With: You can pair aloo matar with fluffy poori, luchi, or even jeera rice. Don’t forget to add a bowl of boondi raita for a complete meal.

Palak Paneer

Palak paneer is one of the best ways to achieve a balanced meal, as it has a good iron and protein content. And the best part is you can make palak paneer in just a single pot without compromising the aesthetics of your kitchen. Blanch spinach and blend it with minimal water until you get a smooth puree. Cook it with cream, cubes of paneer, and a blend of spices, till aromatic and serve it with a namak ajwain paratha.

Serving Tips: Add a pinch of kasuri methi and a squeeze of lemon just before serving for an added punch.