We invited Get Ahead readers to share quick-fix office recipes with us -- easily-prepared foods that takes less than an hour to whip up before you head to work in the morning. We've been flooded with responses and as part of an ongoing series, present three lunch recipes that you can carry in your dabba.
Vasanta K contributed this recipe for Green Gram Khichdi:
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup green grams (whole, with skin)
- 1/2 cup rice (serves one)
- 1/2 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
- 1 tsp oil
- 1 tsp ghee
- 3 cups (600 ml) water
- Pepper
- Salt
- Lemon to serve
Method of preparation:
- Soak the green grams in water overnight and wash them thoroughly before cooking.
- Heat the oil ina pan and when sufficiently hot, add cumin seeds. Add the green grams and rice too, mixing well.
- Add two cups of the water, 1/4tsp salt and 1/4tsp pepper.
- Pressure-cook the rice and mixed-in ingredientstill the pressure cooker has whistled thrice. Now add the remaining water slowly, while mixing well with a ladle. Add extra salt and pepper according your taste. Cook till it is thick.
- Once the khichdi is thick, add the ghee and stir in well. Cook forone minute more and serve with lemon.
- Tip: After intial pressure-cooking, while mixing in the remaining water with a ladle,crush some of the green grams in the khichdi,they provideagreat taste. Also, if you want to make your khichdi healthier,you can add diced carrots, tomatoes and spinach toit before pressure-cooking.
Next up wehavea quick recipe for Red Dal Fry (Masoor Dal Ussal), sent in by RD Rangdal:
Ingredients:
- 50 gms red dal (serves one)
- 4-5 tbsp edible oil
- 5-10 cloves of garlic (crushed)
- 1 tbsp red chillie powder
- 1 teacup of water
- Salt to taste
Method of preparation:
- Pour the edibleoil intoa pan andlet itheat upfor 2-3 minutes.
- Next, add thecrushed garlic cloves and water, allowing the mixture to come to a boil.
- Once it is boiling-hot, add the red chillie powder and salt, mixing well.
- Finally add the red dal (masoor) and cover the pan till the it is cooked (it will take 4-5 minutes).
- Your Masoor Dal Ussal is ready -- carry it to the office along with chapattis.
If you feel like a light lunch, Dhanesh MS sent in this Bean Sprout Salad preparation:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup bean sprouts
- 1 cucumber
- 1 tomato
- 1 small onion
- 1lemon
- Salt and pepper to taste
Method of preparation:
- Boil the beans and drain them of all water.
- Dicethe cucumber, tomato and onion and mix well with the beans.
- Squeeze the juice of a lemon onto the beans, add salt and pepper to taste and mix well.
- Transfer your Bean Sprout Salad into your lunch box and hit the road!
Do you have any quick-fix preparations that you'd like to share with us and other readers? It has to be something appetising and easily whipped up (in under an hour). Simply mail in your tiffin recipe ideas to getahead@rediff.co.in and we'll publish them right here on rediff.com
Channel your inner chef and help people economise without compromising on their meals!