Looking for tasty and wholesome lunchbox ideas for work? We have got you covered. Follow my tips, plan, and recipes to recreate these 25+ Indian lunchbox ideas.
Homemade Lunchbox
Packing a homemade lunchbox for my husband is a part of my morning routine. It is my way to express love and care for him.
The homemade packed lunch is the most comforting meal of a busy working day. It is one of the best ways to eat nutritionally balanced, wholesome, preservative-free food every day.
Reasons to LOVE Homemade Packed Lunch
- budget-friendly
- healthy friendly
- fresh and hygienic
- easily customizable
- free of preservatives
These lunchbox ideas are inspired by everyday Indian cuisine with the addition of exciting fusion ideas to keep it interesting and fun.
With a little meal-prep planning over the weekend, you can pack a variety of dishes for the office lunchbox. I know that packing a lunchbox every day can be tough. But a bit of menu planning and meal prep goes a long way.
You can also get my WEEKLY LUNCH BOX MENU PLAN S:
Week 1 Lunch Box Menu Plan
Week 2 Lunch Box Menu Plan
Week 3 Lunch Box Menu Plan
Week 4 Lunch Box Menu Plan
A brief explanation about the content of each lunchbox is mentioned next to the image. You can either click on the links given to fetch the recipe for that particular dish or directly search for those recipe ideas on our website.
And once you check out these easy and tasty lunchbox ideas, I am sure you’ll be more motivated to try them out.
Lunchbox 1: Rajma Chawal , Spicy Mango Dip , Cheese Crackers, Veggies
Lunchbox 2: Paneer Bhurji, Palak Paratha, Lobia Salad
Lunchbox 3: Lemon Rice , Pahadi Aloo Gutke , Paratha, Beetroot Poriyal, Buttermilk
Lunchbox 4: Red Sauce Spaghetti , Christmas Cake , Strawberry, Veggies
Lunchbox 5: Veg Manchurian Gravy , Chili Garlic Noodles , Chicken Veggie Stir Fry
Lunchbox 6: Vegetable Pulao , Paneer Tikka , Grapes Raita
Lunchbox 7: Chicken Pulao , Crackers, Overnight Oats , Fruits & Veggies
Lunchbox 8: Palak Paneer Bhurji, Paratha, Macaroni Salad , and Peanut Chikki
Lunchbox 9: Punjabi Sookhi Urad Dal , Paratha, Grilled Masala Paneer, Cucumber
Lunchbox 10: Baby Corn Chilli Sauce, Fried Rice , Mango Dip , Cheese Crackers
Lunchbox 11: Chana Masala , Paratha, Moong Dal Sprout Salad
Lunchbox 12: Mushroom Peas Pulao , Dip & Nachos, Boondi Raita , Veggies
Lunchbox 13: Pumpkin Sabzi , Paratha, Lentil Salad & Dressing , Energy Bar
Lunchbox 14: Pav Bhaji Masala, Matar Poha , Mango Shrikhand
Lunchbox 15: Mix Vegetable Sabzi, Paratha, Medu Vada , Coconut Chutney
Lunchbox 16: Stir Fry Pasta With Veggies , Teatime Cold Sandwich, Guava
Lunchbox 17: Potato Peas Curry, Paratha, Green Salad & Dressing
Lunchbox 18: Matar Ghugni , Dal Paratha , Roasted Foxnut , Masala Buttermilk
Lunchbox 19: Crispy Bhindi Fry , Paratha, Raita , Cucumber, Fryums, Overnight Oats
Lunchbox 20: Bharwan Baingan, Paratha, Hummus , Crackers, Beetroot Chaas
Lunchbox 21: Falafel Pita Sandwich , Salad in a Jar
Lunchbox 22: Aloo Methi Sabzi, Boondi Raita , Paratha
Lunchbox 23: Tandoori Cauliflower , Cheese Suji Cutlet , Tomato Salsa , Fruits
Lunchbox 24: Red Sauce Spaghetti , Bagel Sandwich, Instant Rava Uttapam
Lunchbox 25: Chicken Pulao , Vegetable Stir Fry , Cucumber Sticks
Lunchbox 26: Stir Fry Pasta , Grilled Veggies, Hummus , Pita Chips
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Chana Dal Khichdi is a very popular Punjabi style khichdi made with basmati rice, and chana dal (Bengal Gram). This dal khichdi is gluten-free, easy to make, and very similar to a pulao.
What is ‘Chana Dal’?
Chana Dal is known as Bengal Gram. It is a yellow color lentil from the chickpea family. In India, it is well known as chana dal, cholar dal, or chole ki dal .
Bengal Gram is a plant-based source of protein that is rich in fiber, minerals, and iron . It is easy to store, and cook.
Many people confuse it with white kabuli chana (chole/chickpeas). Both are different in color, taste, and texture.
Kabuli Chana cannot be used as a substitute for Bengal Gram and vice versa .
Chana Dal
In Punjabi Cuisine, chana dal khichdi is one of the most popular comfort food recipes. In many households, this dal khichdi is commonly prepared for lunch on a regular basis.
In my husband’s Sikh family, it is a must-cook dish on special festive and celebratory occasions such as Sankranti, as a sign of a good omen.
Khichdi vs Pulao
Is this a khichdi or pulao? Chana Dal Khichdi has a texture and cooking process more like a pulao. Unlike, traditional dal khichdi it is more fluffy like a pulao.
As it is a combination of dal and rice, hence, it is called khichdi. Otherwise, I find it more like a pulao. In the Punjabi language, it is also called chole ki dal ke chawal, or chole ki dal ka pulao, or chana dal pulao.
Ingredient Required
Rice: Short to medium grain rice works best for this khichdi recipe.
Chana Dal: Make sure to soak the Bengal Gram for 20 minutes before making the khichdi.
Ginger and Garlic: I use chopped ginger and garlic. You can add a teaspoon of the ginger garlic paste as well.
Cooking Oil: You can use either flavorless vegetable oil or ghee.
Spices: Cumin Seeds, Red Chili Powder, Turmeric, Asafoetida
Other Ingredients: Onion, Salt, Water
How To Make
The chana dal khichdi is cooked in two steps. Both the cooking steps can be easily done on a pressure cooker or an instant pot.
Step 1) The first step is to cook the Bengal gram or chana dal without rice in the pressure cooker.
- Wash and soak rice in water for 20 minutes. Similarly clean, wash and soak Bengal gram (chana dal) in water for 20 minutes in a separate bowl.
- Heat ghee in a pressure cooker. Add cumin seeds, asafoetida, and onion. Fry till the onion turns golden brown. (image 2)
- Add ginger-garlic and fry for another 10 – 20 seconds to remove the raw smell.
- Drain water from the soaked Bengal gram. Add it to the pressure cooker along with the salt to taste and spices. Fry for 1 minute.
- Add 1 ¼ cup of water. Stir to mix. Pressure cook the dal for 2 – 3 whistles over medium heat. Turn off the heat. Let the steam release naturally.
Step 2) The second step is to cook rice with the flavored chana dal to make khichdi.
- Open the lid , add the soaked rice without water and stir to combine (image 6) . Taste for seasoning.
- Reduce the heat to low and let the rice cook uncovered over slow heat. At this stage, you can also pressure cook it for 1 whistle. (image 8)
- After cooking the chana dal khichdi , fluff it using a fork, cover, and let sit for 5 minutes before serving. This ensures each grain of rice and lentil is non-sticky and fluffy.
Serving Suggestion
Like other Indian khichdi’s this dal khichdi also tastes best with:
spicy pickle
ghee or butter
fresh curd or raita
sliced onion or kachumber salad
green chutney or tomato chutney
My Tried & True Tips
Do not add too much water to cook the dal. The ratio of 1: ¼ (dal to water) works perfectly.
For me, in a stovetop pressure cooker, it takes 2 – 3 whistles over medium heat to cook the dal perfectly for khichdi. In an instant pot,
To make a vegan khichdi, you can use coconut oil or vegetable oil.
After cooking the chana dal khichdi , fluff it using a fork, cover, and let sit for 5 minutes before serving. This ensures each grain of rice and lentil is non-sticky and fluffy.
More Indian Pulao Recipes
Chana Pulao
Chicken Pulao
Mushroom Pulao
Vegetable Pulao
Tawa Paneer Pulao
If you try this recipe and love it, please leave a comment and a rating. This helps us grow and reach other food lovers like you.
Ingredients
- ▢ 1 Cup white rice (short to medium grain)
- ▢ ½ Cup chana dal (Bengal Gram)
- ▢ 4 tablespoon ghee or vegetable oil
- ▢ 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon asafoetida (hing)
- ▢ ½ Cup finely chopped onion
- ▢ 1 tablespoon ginger, chopped
- ▢ 1 tablespoon garlic, chopped
- ▢ 1 ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ▢ 1 teaspoon red chili powder
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ▢ 1 ¼ Cup water
Instructions
- To make Chana Dal Pulao, first, wash and soak rice in water for 20 minutes. Similarly clean, wash and soak bengal gram in a separate bowl for 20 minutes
- Next heat ghee in a pressure cooker over medium flame. Add cumin seeds, ginger, garlic, and asafoetida. Fry for 10 – 20 seconds.
- Add the chopped onion, and fry till the onion turns golden brown.
- Now drain water from the soaked Bengal gram dal. Add it to the pressure cooker along with the salt and spices. Fry for 1 minute.
- Add 1 ¼ cups of water. Stir to mix. Pressure cook the dal for 3 whistles over medium heat. In Instant Pot, cook dal for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat. Release the steam manually.
- Open the lid, add the soaked rice without water and stir to combine. Taste for seasoning. Once again close the lid of the pressure cooker. Cook the khichdi for 1 whistle over low heat. In Instant Pot, it takes 3 minutes. This time let the steam release naturally from the cooker.
- After cooking the chana dal khichdi, fluff it using a fork, cover, and let sit for 5 minutes before serving. This ensures each grain of rice and lentil is non-sticky and fluffy.
- Serve Chana Dal khichdi with fresh curd and pickle.
Recipe Notes:
- Do not add too much water to cook the dal. The ratio of 1: ¼ (dal to water) works perfectly.
- Soaking chana dal reduces the cooking time.
- The chana dal should not be mushy or overcooked.
- The short to medium-grain rice works best for this khichdi recipe.
- To make it vegan you can use coconut oil or vegetable oil .
- You can cook it in an instant pot as well. It takes exactly 20 minutes in an instant pot.
Nutrition
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