Indian cuisine is considered one of the most versatile and complex cuisines, but everyday Indian food doesn’t include many spices and time-taking cooking methods. There are easy Indian recipes that are not only easy-to-cook but also nutritious.
People tend to believe that Indian recipes can either be basic or delicious; they can’t be both. But if we talk about an average Indian household, they cook three meals a day, which is not always lengthy as it is not practical. Still, they come out to be rich in taste and flavour.
Here are a few Cooking Tips For Beginners To Make Cooking Easier:
However, when you start pursuing something new, it isn’t easy, to begin with, but it can be made simpler by keeping in mind a few tips. The same goes for cooking, and therefore, here are a few basic tips for beginners to follow while cooking:
- Selection of simple ingredients/ spices
- Limited use of spices
- Advance Preparation of cooking to avoid rush
- Choosing the most basic dishes
Easy-To-Cook Indian Recipes For Beginners:
If you are willing to take the plunge of cooking an Indian dish but are confused between a variety of options, here are some of the easy-to-cook Indian recipes for beginners that can be made without much effort:
1).Masoor Dal
Masoor Dal and Chawal, i.e., Split red Lentil and Rice is cooked every other day with limited ingredients and spices. Along with the taste, it provides great nutritional value, and it takes around 30 min to cook.
Preparation and cooking time: 40 minutes
- 3/4 Masoor Dal (washed and drained)
- 1 tbsp refined soybean oil
- 1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
- 1 tsp asafoetida (hing)
- Salt to taste
- 1/2 finely chopped onions
- 6 curry leaves
- 1/2 chopped tomatoes
- 1 tsp garlic paste
- 1 tsp chilli powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tbsp ginger-green chilli paste
- 1/4 cup finely chopped coriander
- Add masoor dal, a pinch of salt, and 2 cups full of water in a pressure cooker, boil for 2 whistles.
- Keep it aside and let the steam escape.
- Take a non-stick pan and add refined soyabean oil, let it heat, and then add cumin seeds and asafoetida, now saute them on a medium flame for about 30 seconds.
- Now add garlic paste, curry leaves, and onions and cook them for 1 minute.
- Add tomatoes, chilli powder, salt, turmeric, coriander powder, and ginger-green chilli paste, mix them well and cook for 2 minutes while stirring it every 30 seconds.
- Lastly, add masoor dal, 1 cup of water, and coriander and cook for 4 minutes.
2).Aloo Matar
The most basic Indian main course for beginners includes spiced peas and tomatoes in a tomato gravy which goes perfectly with rice and roti and can be served as dinner and lunch.
Preparation and cooking time: 20 minutes
- 1 tbsp refined soyabean oil
- 1 tsp Cumin seeds
- Ginger Garlic Paste
- 2 ½ chopped Onion
- 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
- 2 tbsp Coriander powder
- Salt to taste
- Tomato- Green-chilli Paste
- 1 ½ tbsp red chili powder
- 2-3 tsp Ghee
- 6-7 medium Potato (chopped in cube shape)
- 1 ½ cups fresh Green peas
- 3-4 cups Water
- Take a pan and add refined soybean oil in it, let it heat, and then add cumin
- Now, add ginger, garlic paste, and onions and saute them.
- Add turmeric powder, coriander powder, and tomato-green chilli paste and cook for 3 minutes on medium heat.
- Add red chilli powder and ghee, and mix them well.
- Add potatoes and peas, and stir it well.
- Add 4 cups of water and mix everything.
- Lastly, cover it with the lid and cook for 8-10 minutes.
3).Egg Bhurji
The favourite breakfast for people who eat eggs and easy-to-cook Indian recipe for beginners. It is basically modified Indian-style scrambled eggs with spices and sometimes veggies, and it usually takes less than 10 minutes to cook.
Preparation and cooking time: 7-8 minutes
- 1 tbsp refined oil
- 4 beaten eggs
- 1 chopped onion
- 1 chopped tomato
- 2 green chillies
- Salt to taste
- Take a pan and heat oil; add onion, tomato, and green chillies; saute until tomatoes are cooked.
- Add beaten eggs, use a fork to scramble them, and cook for 3 minutes.
- Lastly, add salt to taste and mix it well.
4).Khichdi
The comfort food of every student living away from home and the most light yet fulfilling meal for every beginner. It is made with Dal and rice and takes around 45 minutes to cook. Doctors even recommend it while you are sick.
Preparation and cooking time: 40-50 minutes
- 1/2 cup Dal (of your choice)
- 1 ½ Refined soyabean oil
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp red chilli powder
- 2 tomatoes
- 4g coriander
- 1/2 Rice
- 10g ginger garlic paste
- Wash Rice and Dal and Soak them separately for 30 min
- Take a pan and Heat refined soyabean oil in it; add cumin seeds and then green chilli
- Add Ginger garlic paste
- Once the ginger garlic paste is cooked, add all powdered spices and then add the tomato and saute it
- Now, add soaked rice and water along with water and salt. Mix it well and cover it with a lid
- Open the lid after 20 minutes and add coriander to garnish
5).Poha
It is an excellent breakfast and can be cooked in less than 10 minutes. It is the easiest cooking recipe for beginners. With the addition of different ingredients, it can work as a meal and snack.
Preparation and cooking time: 10 minutes
- 2 cups Poha
- 1 Potato
- 1 chopped Onion
- 1/2 cup Peas
- 2 Green Chilli
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 sprig curry leaves
- 4 tbsp refined soybean oil
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/2 lemon
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
- Salt to taste
- Soak poha in water (it is the most crucial part)
- Heat refined soyabean oil in a pan and add mustard seeds
- Add the curry leaves and chopped onions.
- Add the potatoes, peas, chopped green chillies, and salt, saute them and cover with a lid to cook the potatoes
- Now, add the poha, turmeric powder, and sugar
- Let it cook on a slow flame for 5- 7 minutes
- Cool it down, and then add lemon juice
- Garnish with chopped coriander (optional)
Conclusion:
There are many other easy-to-cook Indian recipes for beginners that you can find in cookbooks. But not all are suitable for everyone. These selected dishes are some of the most basic Indian dishes with the simplest ingredients. Along with rich nutritional value, they are time friendly too.