This is an uncertain and scary time. However, during such an unprecedented period, it is important to engage yourself in tasks that feel wholesome. One such activity is cooking. The act of preparing and serving a meal, even if it is a basic one, can bring great comfort to you and the people around you.
During this quarantine, if you have a decent stock of supplies and are looking for simple recipes to cook, we have a solution for you - one-pot meals.
One-pot meals mean less jhanjhat and less bartan. If you are living alone, then honestly, this is a win-win. So here are 7 delicious recipes to cook during the lockdown 2.0 with little effort.
Vegetable Tehri
This flavourful Awadhi recipe can be prepared in minutes and will satisfy your taste buds like any luxuriously-cooked meal.
In a pressure cooker, heat some oil and add cumin seeds, bay leaf and one black cardamom. Then, add onions and chilli. Fry until they turn golden in colour. Add ginger-garlic paste and saute the mixture for a minute.
Lower the flame, and add coriander powder, garam masala, cumin, turmeric and salt. Add chopped vegetables like potatoes, tomato, cauliflower, green peas, and fry for 2-3 minutes. Add rice and mix. Pour water, mix it well and then close the lid of the cooker. Cook till the pressure cooker releases the first whistle.
Sambar Sadam
With the tanginess of tamarind and spiciness of tadka, this sambar rice recipe will be a real comfort meal during quarantine.
In a pressure cooker, heat oil in a small pan. Add asafoetida or hing, curry leaves, mustard seeds and dried red chilli broken into few pieces. Cook for a minute on slow heat and then add salt, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, sambar powder and ghee. Add chopped onions, potato and bottle gourd.
Add toor dal, rice and water to the mixture. Cook for 3-4 whistles (about 15-17 minutes) and allow the pressure to release naturally. Open the pressure cooker and add tamarind pulp. Using a ladle, slightly mash the sambhar rice. Mix it gently and serve hot with yogurt on the side.
Kala Chana Pulao
This lip-smacking plate of chana rice is the solution to all your lazy weekdays and hungry taste buds.
Boil 1 cup of chickpeas, soaked overnight, in 2 cups of water and save broth for later. Now, heat ghee in a pressure cooker over medium-low heat, and then add cumin seeds, a cinnamon stick and chopped onions. Add turmeric powder and red chilli. Cook it for 2-3 minutes. Now, add 1 cup of rice and stir it properly in the mixture. Now, add the boiled black chickpeas, 1 cup of broth and 1 cup of water. Season it with some salt.
Cover the lid of the pressure cooker and cook for one whistle or 10 minutes. Slowly release the pressure after turning off the flame. Serve it in a bowl and top with finely chopped coriander leaves.
Curd Rice
This fuss-free recipe is simply perfect. It is not only an incredible recipe for summer months but is also healthy and delectable in taste.
Heat some oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter. Now, add chopped green chillies along with urad and chana dal. Once the dal starts to turn a little brown, add in whole red chillies and curry leaves. Finally, pour this tadka on top of your curd and rice mix, give it a nice stir and serve.
Matar Paneer Pulao
This flavourful dish is for the days when you want to eat something wholesome.
Start by chopping one whole onion, one tomato, coriander leaves, mint leaves and 100gm paneer. In a pot, pour some oil and add cumin seeds, black pepper pods, cloves, cardamom and mace. Let all the whole spices cook up in the oil.
Add onions and 1 tablespoon of ginger and garlic paste in the oil. Cook them well. Next, add tomatoes and cook the ingredients well on high flame. Add the coriander leaves and mint leaves to the mixture followed by seasoning. Add salt, turmeric, coriander and red chilli powder and mix it well. Add boiled peas, paneer and two tablespoons of curd to the mixture. Then, add rice and water. Cook for about 10-15 minutes. Serve hot.
Turmeric Pasta
For the days when you are feeling lazy and want to have something tasty and healthy but with less effort, this is the dish.
Start by boiling pasta in a bowl, reserve the cooking water for later. Now melt some butter in a pan, and then sauté chopped garlic and onions in it. Sprinkle some salt, pepper and turmeric. Now, add cream and cheese slices to the mixture to create a creamy sauce. Stir well. Add boiled pasta (any type) and reserved pasta cooking water to the pan and give it a good mix. For the final touch, add chopped parsley.
Note: Boil the pasta in a bowl, which you can use later to eat the dish in.
Tomato And Pasta Soup
Here's a quick and comforting pasta dish to make when you have little time on your hands.
Heat oil in a pan and add chopped onions to it. Cook for 3-4 minutes and then add chopped tomatoes. Cover and cook the mixture for 7-8 minutes on low flame. After that, mash the tomatoes with the back of the soup ladle. Add tomato paste and cook for two more minutes.
Now, add finely chopped capsicum and mushrooms, and cook for 4-5 minutes on medium heat. Add pasta and seasonings like red chilli flakes, black pepper, chopped basil and salt to taste.
Cook for 10-12 minutes till pasta is cooked and the soup is thickened.
NOTE: If you are using one cup of rice in the above recipes, then add two cups of water. Increase the cups of water according to the cups of rice you use.
Are you ready to cook these fuss-free recipes and treat yourself with some incredible food?
Also Read : 17 Most Versatile Ingredients to Stockpile in Your Pantry (Part 1)
Source: www.indiatoday.in
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