Easy Recipes for When You’re Short on Time

Quick and Easy Recipes for Busy Days

Some nights you come into the kitchen with a tired mind and a hungry stomach. It might seem like you can’t make a full meal. But you know what? You don’t have to give up taste or health. These quick and easy recipes are not only easy to make, but they also taste good and make you feel better. You can find something here for breakfast, lunch, or dinner that will save you time and effort.

When You Only Have 10 Minutes

There are days when even cooking rice seems like a chore. Spiced Veggie Toast is your best friend on days like this.

What you need

Four slices of bread and two medium boiled potatoes
1 small onion, chopped finely
1 green chilli, finely chopped
1 tablespoon of butter or ghee, 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt

Preparation

Mash the potatoes that have been boiled. Add some chopped onion, green chilli, salt, and turmeric. Mix it up well. Put this mixture on one side of each slice of bread. Put a little butter on a pan and toast the bread until both sides are golden brown. Serve hot with a spoonful of ketchup or curd.

Want more ideas like this? For more quick meals, look at the quick recipes on Hebbars Kitchen.

One-Pot Wonders That Always Work

A meal that only needs one pot saves time and means you have fewer dishes to wash. Tomato rice recipe is tasty, filling, and quick to cook.

Ingredients

1 cup of rice and 2 cups of water
Onion: 1 medium, sliced; tomatoes: 2 medium, chopped; mustard seeds: ½ tsp; curry leaves: 5 to 6
1 tablespoon of oil, 1 teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of turmeric
½ tsp of garam masala

Preparation

Heat the oil in a deep pan or pressure cooker. Put in the mustard seeds and let them pop. Add curry leaves and onions and cook until soft. Add the chopped tomatoes, turmeric, and garam masala. Mix for 2 minutes. Put in some water and rice. Add salt to taste. Put the lid on and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the pressure cooker whistles once. Allow to sit for five minutes before serving.

Quick Breakfast That Tastes Like a Treat

You want something warm in the morning, but you don’t want to spend a lot of time on it. Make Besan Cheela, a savoury pancake that only takes a few minutes.

Ingredients

1 cup of gramme flour (besan)
¾ cup of water
1 small onion, finely chopped
Tomato, one small one, cut up
1 green chilli, chopped
1/2 teaspoon of cumin
½ teaspoon of salt and oil for cooking

Preparation

Mix besan, water, cumin, salt, chopped vegetables, and green chilli in a bowl to make a smooth batter. Put a ladle of batter in a hot pan and spread it out gently. Pour some oil around the edges. For 2–3 minutes on each side, cook over medium heat. Serve hot with curd or mint chutney.

You can find different chutney recipes and quick ideas at Swasthi’s Recipes.

The Dinner Bowl in 15 Minutes

What is a quick dinner idea that feels filling? Make a bowl of Masala Poha.

Ingredients

1 cup of flattened rice (poha) and 1/2 cup of water (for soaking)
1 small onion, chopped
1 green chilli pepper, sliced
2 tablespoons of peanuts
1/2 teaspoon of mustard seeds, 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric, and 3/4 teaspoon of salt
1 tablespoon of oil and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice

Preparation

Rinse the poha in water and let it sit for 5 minutes to soften. Heat oil in a pan and add peanuts and mustard seeds. After roasting, add green chilli and onions. Sauté until the onions are soft. Put in the salt and turmeric. Add the poha, mix it well, and let it cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add lemon juice at the end and serve hot.

Related: 5 Recipes Based on Potato: Because Honestly, What Can’t They Do?

Want Something Sweet and Quick?

Want dessert? You can make Instant Suji Halwa recipe in less than 15 minutes.

Ingredients

1½ cups of water
½ cup of semolina (suji)
⅓ cup of sugar
Two tablespoons of ghee
¼ teaspoon of cardamom powder
1 tablespoon of cashews

Preparation

In a pan, heat ghee and roast the cashews until they are golden. Take them out. Roast the suji in the same ghee over low heat until it smells nutty and turns light golden. Be careful when you add water. To avoid lumps, stir quickly. Put in cardamom and sugar. Stir until it gets thicker. Put roasted cashews on top and serve hot.

Check out Veg Recipes of India for more sweet recipes.

Why Are These Recipes So Helpful?

You don’t need a full fridge, hard-to-find ingredients, or fancy tools. These simple recipes use common kitchen staples and are great for when you’re short on time. These meals are comforting, tasty, and satisfying without any stress, even on the busiest days. They fit right into busy schedules, whether you’re cooking for one person or a small family. You can even get some of the ingredients ready ahead of time, like boiling potatoes, soaking poha, or chopping vegetables, and then keep them in the fridge for when you need them.

FAQs

Q1: Is it okay to add more vegetables to these recipes?

Yes, you can add carrots, capsicum, or peas to make them healthier and more filling.

Q2: What can I use instead of poha?

You can use cooked rice or broken wheat instead of the other ingredients in these recipes.

Q3: What can I do to make these recipes hotter?

You can make it spicier by adding more green chillies or a pinch of red chilli powder.

Q4: Can you put these in lunchboxes?

Of course. Tomato rice and besan cheela are two recipes that taste great and stay fresh for a long time.

Q5: Can I make these at home with my kids?

Yes, these recipes are safe and easy to follow. Kids can even help mix and stir if an adult is there to watch them.

Q6: What kind of oil is best for cooking these meals?

You can use ghee, mustard oil, or vegetable oil, depending on what you like and what you have on hand.

Q7: Do I need any special tools to make these recipes?

No, a regular frying pan, ladle, and pressure cooker (if you want) are all you need for most of them.

Warning: This article is only meant to give you information. The results of a recipe may be different depending on the ingredients and how they are prepared. Always use your own judgement and make changes based on your dietary needs and tastes.