25+ Indian Thali Ideas

Here are 25+ Indian thali ideas and recipes for the everyday meal menu. These thali meals are simple, nourishing, and full of flavours.

• What is ‘Thali’?
• What does a Thali consist of?
• Everyday Indian Thali Ideas

What is ‘Thali’?

‘ Thali’ is a Hindi word for – a big, round plate on which food is served. Small eating bowls known as ‘katori’ are placed within the thali, each containing a dish. This whole platter is served as a set meal for lunch or dinner. The quintessential thali meal is more like a cultural exploration and a complete meal in itself.

A thali meal is an age-old Indian tradition that is hard to find nowadays in modern families due to busy schedules.

Still, there are many restaurants and food joints that serve these set meal platters with traditional Indian dishes.

What does a Thali consist of?

An Indian thali comprises – main-course gravy, dal or curry, sabzi or stir fry, condiments like raita, chutney, pickle, salad, papadum, and side dishes like roti, naan, chapati, paratha, or rice.

Every region in India has its own version of the thali meal. Although the dishes in a thali vary significantly across different regions, the layout of the platter hardly differs.

I personally love curating a variety of thali meals for my family. Whether it is our everyday meal or some festive occasion , thali meals are an integral part of my menu.

How do I plan them? I follow these meal prep tips and weekly menu planning to cook these elaborate meals for my family.

Everyday Indian Thali Ideas

Here are 25+ Indian thali ideas for the everyday meal menu. My thali meal ideas are practical, wholesome, and perfect for a family.

Lauki (Ghiya) Kofta Curry , Chana Masala , Raita , Methi Lachha Paratha , Papad, Mango.

Dal Tadka , Bhindi Sabzi, Rajma Masala , Soya Chaap Tikka Masala , Mango Pickle , Chapati, Rice .

Arhar Dal Tadka , Paneer Butter Masala , Karela Sabzi, Boondi Raita , Chutney , Salad , Paratha.

Chana Curry , Dal Fry , Aloo Gutke , Tandoori Paratha, Rice, Salad , Achaar , Masala Chaas , Mango.

Masoor Dal , Punjabi Arbi Masala , Papad Ki Sabzi, Jeera Rice , Tandoor Chapati, Mango.

Sabut Masoor Dal, Egg Masala Curry , Seviyan Kheer , Papad, and Chapati.

Masoor Dal , Cabbage Sabzi, Ridge Gourd Curry, Paneer Tikka , Raita , Boondi Raita , Tandoori Paratha.

Tadka Dahi (Curd), Ridge Gourd Curry, Beans Aloo Sabzi, Chapati, Papad, Mango.

Sambar , Peanut Chutney, Curry Leaves Chutney, Coconut Chutney , Medu Vada , Id li

Dal Makhani , Bhindi Ki Sabzi, Boondi Raita , Salad, Papad, Chapati

Matar Paneer , Aloo Gutke , Kaddu Ki Sabzi , Boondi Raita , Papad, Paratha

Moringa Dal, Beetroot Poriyal , Masala Curd , Lachha Paratha

Drumstick Kolambu, Gobhi Sabzi, Banana Fry, Buttermilk, Rice, Pickle, Papapdum

Lotus Stem Curry , Moong Dal Tadka, Aloo Methi Sabzi, Raita , Gulab Jamun , Rice, Chapati

Brown Chana Curry , Arhar Dal Fry , Boondi Raita , Mango Pickle , Phulka

Lobia Curry , Ridge Gourd Sabzi, Carrot Raita, Rice, Roti

Paneer Curry , Boondi Kadhi , Potato Fry , Shrikhand , Paniyaram (Appe) , Rice

Masoor Dal Tadka , Karela Sabzi, Sweet Pulao , Salad , Papad, Kachumber Salad , Chapati

Bhindi Aloo Sabzi, Boondi Ki Kadhi , Chana Dal Lauki, Carrot Salad, Methi Paratha , Chapati, Rice

Vegetable Pulao , Boondi Raita , Tomato Chutney , Kachumber Salad , Papad

Dahi Lauki Ki Sabji with Paratha

Punjabi Soya Chaap Masala , Naan and sliced onion

Rajasthani Boondi Ki Kadhi , Basmati Rice, Paratha, Papad

Lauki Kofta Curry , Paratha, Papad

Arbi Ki Sabji , Boondi Raita , Paratha, Cucumber

Pahadi Badi Bhaat with ghee and kheera

Dahi Potato Curry with Paratha and sliced cucumbers

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Mango Chia Pudding is a tasty, and healthy breakfast. I am sharing two fun ways to make mango flavoured vegan chia pudding.

• What is Chia Pudding?
• Ingredients Required
• How To Make Chia Pudding
• Serving Suggestion
• Storage Suggestion
• More Mango Recipes
• Mango Chia Pudding Recipe

What is Chia Pudding?

Chia Pudding is a sweet dish made by soaking chia seeds in a liquid like water, milk, or fruit puree for a few hours or overnight. The chia seeds absorb the liquid and become gelatinous, creating a soft chewable, jelly-like texture. The seeds naturally thicken, giving the dish a pudding-like consistency and fantastic flavour.

For those unfamiliar, chia seeds are the tiny, round edible seeds of a flowering plant called Salvia Hispanica . It belongs to the mint family.

Over the years, thanks to social media, chia pudding has become a viral trend among healthy food lovers. Today there are hundreds of chia pudding flavours and recipes.

Here are some health benefits of chia seeds :

• helps in weight loss
• naturally gluten-free
• highly rich in antioxidants
• reduces blood sugar levels
• a vegan, plant-based ingredient
• keeps you hydrated and energized
• contains minerals, fibre, and OMEGA 3 Fatty Acids

I am sharing a mango-flavoured chia pudding recipe with a deliciously sweet aroma and taste of ripe mangoes. It is a

• vegan
• gluten-free
• meal-prep-friendly

You can eat it as a GRAB & GO breakfast or a healthy snack between meals. Mango Chia Pudding is also an excellent dessert to satisfy all those sugar cravings.

Ingredients Required

• Chia Seeds: Use good quality chia seeds that are not rancid or not very old. You can use black or white chia seeds to make overnight pudding.
• Milk: I use vegan almond milk to make chia pudding. You can also use regular dairy, cashew, coconut or soy milk.
• Mango: Use sweet, ripe, aromatic mango pulp. I use Alphonso variety. The canned puree also works for this pudding recipe.
• Sweetener: Honey, Maple Syrup, Agave Nectar, or Stevia works well. You might even skip it completely to control the sweetness.
• Additional Ingredients: Saffron, Cardamom Powder, Almonds, Grated Coconut, Chopped Mango or Fresh Berries

How To Make Chia Pudding

Step 1) Pick a liquid, like coconut water, almond or coconut milk, or fruit puree.

Step 2) Soak chia seeds in the milk or liquid of your choice. Add sweeteners like honey or maple syrup, or stevia. Whisk nicely to combine.

Step 3) Cover and allow chia seeds to absorb the liquid for 2 – 3 hours or overnight. During the process, keep the container in the refrigerator.

Step 4) Blend sweet and ripe mango with saffron strands, cardamom, and almond milk to a smooth puree.

Step 5) Once chia seeds are soft, expanded and absorbed the liquid, add mango puree to them and whisk gently to combine.

Mango Chia Pudding is ready. Add toppings like diced mango, sliced almonds, and grated coconut.

Serving Suggestion

You can serve chia pudding for breakfast, as snacks, or as a healthy dessert. There are two ways to serve this mango pudding.

1. Combine soaked chia seeds and mango puree. Transfer to serving glasses and the topping of choice.

2. Add a layer of soaked chia seeds at the bottom of the serving glass, and top it with a layer of mango puree. Repeat the layers till the top of the glass. Add diced fruits, sliced nuts, and grated coconut on top.

Either way, the taste of the mango chia pudding is delicious.

Storage Suggestion

Store the mango chia pudding in the refrigerator for 2 – 3 days. After that, it starts tasting bad; there might be a change in fungus or bacteria development. Hence, I recommend making it in small batches for everyday consumption.

Do not leave the pudding at room temperature, especially during the hot and humid summer days.

More Mango Recipes

• Mango Lassi
• Mango Salsa
• Mango Ice Cream
• Mango Milkshake
• Mango Smoothie
• Spicy Mango Dip
• Mango Shrikhand

Get all my Mango Recipes here

Ingredients

• ▢ ¼ Cup chia seeds
• ▢ 2 Cup almond milk
• ▢ 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
• ▢ 2 Cup mango pulp
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon green cardamom powder
• ▢ ⅛ teaspoon saffron strands (kesar)

Ingredients For Topping

• ▢ 2 tablespoon diced mango pulp
• ▢ 1 tablespoon sliced almonds
• ▢ 1 tablespoon grated coconut

Instructions

• Combine chia seeds, 1 ½ cups of almond milk, and honey. Whisk nicely to combine.
• Cover and allow chia seeds to absorb the liquid for 2 – 3 hours or overnight. During the process, keep the container in the refrigerator.
• Blend mango pulp with saffron strands, cardamom powder, and remaining almond milk to a smooth puree.
• Once chia seeds are soft, expanded and absorbed the liquid, add mango puree to them and whisk gently to combine.
• Mango Chia Pudding is ready. Add toppings like diced mango, sliced almonds, and grated coconut.

Recipe Notes:

• For soaking chia seeds, use regular dairy, cashew, coconut or soy milk. Or you can use coconut water.
• Adding sweetener to mango chia pudding is optional. You can use honey, maple syrup, agave nectar, or stevia.
• Ensure the jar or container in which chia seeds are soaked has room for expansion. Chia Seeds expand a lot after absorbing the soaking liquid.

Nutrition

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