Hey there, students!

Lectures, assignments and if you are lucky, a part time job- leaves little time and energy for cooking especially on needy days. But fear not! It just does not take a long time in the kitchen to be able to prepare hot, healthy and tasty foods. Here are a few more recipes which will not take lots of time to prepare and would be perfect for students, well with some Indian spices added to it

1. Masala Poha:There’s no better way to have a quick breakfast delight

Ingredients:

1 cup poha(flattened rice)
1 onion finely chopped
1 green chili chopped
½ cup peas any type fresh peas or frozen peas but fresh peas are preferable.
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1 tbsp oil
Salt to taste
Squeeze lemon juice on the cooked meal also sprinkle fresh coriander on top.

Instructions:

Wash poha under cold running water and drain it well. Set aside.
Fry well the oil in a pan and crackle the mustard seeds.
After that add the chopped onions and green chili. Cook until onions become tender and turn translucent.
Put and mix turmeric powder with the peas and cook for about 2 minutes.
Finally add poha into it and mix the khichdi well. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
This should then be garnished with some lemon juice and fresh coriander.
Why You’ll Love It: The preparation of this dish is relatively easy while it is also light and healthy. It is ideal to have it during breakfast or can also be taken as a merienda.

2. Quick Vegetable Upma:It’s A Savory Savory Treat

Ingredients:

1 cup semolina (suji)
1 cup mixed vegetables ( carrots, beans, peas)
1 onion chopped
1 green chili chopped
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
2tbsp oil
Salt to taste
Fresh coriander for garnish

Instructions:

Toss the semolina in a pan until golden brown just as you do to pop corns. Set aside.
Pour some oil in the same pan; fry the mustard seeds and cumin seeds.
When they start spluttering add chopped onions & green chilli. Stir until onions have blistered.
Finally add mixed vegetables of your choice, turmeric powder and necessary quantity of salt. And continue cooking until the vegetables turn tender.
Add the roasted semolina and 1. 5 cups of water. You should stir the particular mixture continuously in order to prevent formation of lumps.
Let the mixture cook until it becomes thick. Garnish with fresh coriander.
Why You’ll Love It: Upma can be modified depending on the kind of vegetable you prefer to add on it. It is an easy to prepare dish, which is quite bulky and can be served for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

3. Packetized ‘Instant’ Maggi with a Twist

Ingredients:

One maggi noodles packet
1 cup of chopped vegetables such as capsicum, carrot and beans.
1/2 tsp ginger-garlic paste
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp garam masala
2 cups water
Fresh coriander for garnish

Instructions:

In another pan heat a little oil, add ginger garlic paste and fry in a medium flame for 2 minutes.
Sauté vegetables and then stir in chopped vegetables and let it fry for 2-3 minutes.
Add 2 cups of water and let it boil.
Lastly, add the Maggi noodles and the tastemaker sachet which comes along with it.
Add turmeric powder and mix well and then add garam masala powder. Stir until the noodles are cooked.
Garnish with fresh coriander.
Why You’ll Love It: Maggi is a favourite among students but it can be made healthier and tastier by adding vegetables and spices.

4. Paneer Bhurji Wrap

Ingredients:

100 grams paneer, crumbled
1 onion, finely chopped
1 tomato, finely chopped
1 green chili, chopped
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp garam masala
1 tbsp oil
Salt to taste
2 whole wheat chapatis/ wraps

Instructions:

Pour some oil in a pan and sauté onions and green chili and fry till onions turns golden brown.
Take tomatoes, turmeric powder and garam masala. Soft classified as: Saute until tomatoes have broken down.
Add paneer crumbled and mix well and cook for 5 minutes more.
This paneer bhurji can be served wrapped in chapatis or you can have it like that.
Why You’ll Love It: Paneer Bhurji is easy to prepare and it also contains a good measure of protein in it. Chapatis make it very easy to handle especially when taking it as a ‘naked’ meal on the go.

5. Quick Curd Rice

Ingredients:

1cup cooked rice
½ cup plain curd may be freshly prepared or store brought, unsweetened yogurt.
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon black lentils or or skinned split black gram
1 green chili, chopped
1 sprig curry leaves
1 tbsp oil
Salt to taste
Fresh coriander for garnish

Instructions:

Roughly, blend the cooked rice with plain curd and pinch of salt.
‘Splash some oil in a pan and frying onions, whole mustard seeds, whole urad dal, green chili and curry leaves’.
After the mustard seeds crackle add the tempering over the curd rice.
Garnish with fresh coriander.
Why You’ll Love It: It is good when one needs to be comforted after a long day at work which is why curd rice is ideal for lunch. It is very easy and takes barely any time to prepare but nonetheless, it leaves such a warm feeling in the stomach.

6. Chana Chaat:A Protein-Packed Snack

Ingredients:

Once you have boiled chickpeas or what is referred to in Indian household as chana, you will require an amount equivalent to 1 cup.
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 tomato, finely chopped
1 cucumber, diced
1 green chili, chopped
2 tbsp tamarind chutney
1 tbsp coriander chutney (optional)
1/2 tsp chaat masala
1/4 tsp cumin powder
Salt to taste
Fresh coriander for garnish
Lemon wedges for serving

Instructions:

Put the boiled chickpeas in a large bowl and add the chopped onion, tomato, cucumber, and green chili on to it.
Stir in the tamarind chutney, the coriander chutney if being used, chaat masala, cumin powder and salt. Mix well.
Serve hot accompanied with fresh coriander and lemon wedges as garnish.
Why You’ll Love It: Chana Chaat has been found to be tasteful at the same time being packed with nutrients such as protein and fiber. It is perfect for eating in between meals as a healthy snack or even can be considered as a rather light meal.

7. Spicy Vegetable Sandwich

Ingredients:

4 pcs of whole wheat bread
1 cup of mixed vegetables (carrots, bell peppers and cucumber) cut into thin julienne.
About 1 medium boiled potato well mashed
2 tbsp mayonnaise (You may substitute Greek yogurt for a healthy twist)
1 tbsp green chitney This depends on your preference or you may skip it altogheter.
1/2 tsp chaat masala
1/4 tsp black pepper
Salt to taste
1 tbsp butter or margarine, to toast the bread
Damaged or partly spoiled green coriander leaves for garnishing the dish (optional).

Instructions:

In another bowl, combine the mashed potato with mayonnaise, or Greek yogurt, green chutney, chaat masala, black pepper and salt.
Top it on two pieces of bread making sure it covers the entire surface of the bread.
Put on top the mixed vegetables in a layer manner.
Place remaining slices of bread on the top in order to have sandwiches.
Melt the butter in a pan on a medium heat using others taking less than 5 minutes. Grill all the sandwiches for about 2 to five minutes on each side or until they are golden brown which can be achieved by placing a spatula on the sandwiches and gently pressing it down.
Why You’ll Love It: This Spicy Vegetable Sandwich is one of the easiest foods to prepare; it is very healthy and it is also delicious. It can also be served as a lunch meal or as a heavy between meals snack. You can also add your preference of veggies of or even include cheese in a little extra.

Eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring or time consuming to prepare even with a busy student schedule. These are recipes that are easy, quick and tasty so you don’t spend much time in the kitchen while you could be studying or having fun.

Please try out theserecipes and tell us which out of them become your best options. Here’s to ‘no stress’ tasty meals while you are still in your student years

Happy cooking and studying!