Cooking sometimes seems like a big ask. It can get overwhelming at times.
Especially when you are far away from your homeland in a place like Canada, the attempt at self-cooking mostly leads to several moments of kitchen disaster.
With all the chores, appointments, and workouts that people must fit into their busy schedules, making a healthy Indian lunch is starting to seem like a distant dream.
However, as people become more health-conscious, there is a rise in the desire for home-cooked meals.
However, deprivation of Ghar ka Khana can pop up at any given time of the day, and all you need is a quick-fix lunch menu idea which can give the warmth and comfort of home food.
Here is a list of healthy and nutritious lunch recipes in a unique way.
1. Paneer Bhurji Wraps – Quick lunch fix
Unwrap your hustling Monday mornings with vegetarian scrambled egg filler.
The simplest wrap, not taking more than 10 to 12 minutes of your cooking time is a protein-packed lunch box.
Toss a proportionate amount of crumbled paneer on a hot pan. Then saute with green chillies, chopped pieces of tomato, and onions and alongside add a pinch of salt, turmeric, and if needed, extra flavour, add a tinge of garam masala too. While it begins to sizzle with the aroma, simmer it down, transfer it to a whole wheat roti and roll it up.
And that’s a Paneer Bhurji wrap for your lunch.
Just like the way you wanted, take it to go lunch and eat it wherever you want, in between travel and Zoom calls.
Pro-Tip: Add an extra cup of mint chutney or curd as a perfect companion to the solid wraps.
2. Veg Pulao – The snoozy weekend lunch
We need it all with health but in less preparation time.
A Sunday break is all we wanted. Many times, the weekend leaves no spare time due to a piled-up to-do list- laundry, dishes, stocking up groceries, and many household chores.
While your heart wants to cook a lip-smacking, delicious meal of the day, the clock keeps ticking with the exploding list of duty calls.
The hottest and healthiest weekend dish, “Veg Pulao,” is a one-pot wonder that has saved the day in just such a time. The rest is a simple sauté of the aromatic spices (garlic, clove, ginger, turmeric, cumin, and potato) with the remaining vegetables (carrots, peas, potatoes, and beans).
Afterwards, whisk in the drained basmati rice and a pinch of salt. Simmer, covered, for 15 to 20 minutes. Open the lid and serve yourself with a heavenly lunch.
Pro-Tip: With a cup of onion or Boondi raita, you have got a Sunday feast fuelling up your energy levels.
3. Rajma with brown rice- A hard-to-miss home food
Among the glittery choices of recipes, the need for comfort food never fades.
Rajma rice is a bowl of home comfort that someone can offer themselves. The red kidney beans drenched in an onion-tomato gravy made with a little extra jeera, cumin and cinnamon is a hearty and wholesome lunch platter.
To all those health aspirants, you can cut out the regular white rice and replace it with fibre-enriched rice, brown rice to give the timeless Indian classic an extra nutritional upgrade.
Whispering all the goodness from your mom’s kitchen, this menu is a hit list and repeat-worthy lunch every week.
While you still think that Rajma cannot make it through your demanding schedules, you still have it. Like every Indian Tiffen centre, Toronto, cannot miss out on including this on its weekly rotational menu.
So, when you don’t have enough time to cook, get it delivered to your doorstep.
4. Lemon rice- Tangy Delight
Give your leftovers a chance to relive with lemon rice.
When you open that refrigerator you know it’s already stocked with plain rice. While your mind hits the dilemma of either throwing it out or seeing if it can be a little more than that, press pause and think again.
You heat the oil in the pan, toss away a pinch of mustard seeds, cumin, dried red chillies, fenugreek, curry leaves and some roasted peanuts till they begin to crackle. Then add a half teaspoon of turmeric, squeeze some lemon juice and mix it up well with the rice. Your mid-week lunch got ready just in time and all you need is to spare 7 to 8 minutes from your hectic schedule.
A flavorful, zesty and mostly quick fix lemon rice is a smart lunch box to fuel your day.
If you still fail at consistency, get your order placed in one of the homemade food delivery services and get the South Indian delight of lemon rice.
5. Channa Masala- A guilt-free delight
Food needs to reciprocate- instant energy and filling.
It is a mid-day at work and your energy bar has hit the red line. And it is one of those days where the work gets a lot more demanding than you expected it to be.
Every ounce of your energy is draining, and you need a refill, fuelling with instant energy. What could be a better choice than the Channa masala with roti or rice?
The best of it is that it can be prepared in large batches and can be stored for eventual use over the week.
Easily chewable, rich in protein, and comes with a bit spicy, and tangy taste. On Monday, you roll it over with roti, on Wednesday close it with a wrap, and likewise, it can be easily customised according to your preference.
Wrap Up
Eating healthily shouldn’t be a chore whether you’re juggling coursework or deadlines at your desk. These handmade Indian lunches are excellent for busy schedules without sacrificing taste or heritage.
We know—sometimes a 10-minute supper is hard. On those days, don’t compromise.
Indian Tiffen Service, Toronto, and other tiffin providers nationwide are offering fresh, nutritious, and lovingly cooked Indian food delivery alternatives including rajma chawal and lemon rice.
Menus change, spice levels can be adjusted, and little sweets are served to finish the meal.
You can bookmark this list, organize your week, or call that tiffin service. Even when life is busy, a warm, pleasant Indian meal is worth it.
