5 Easy One-Pot Indian Meals For Dinner Ready In 20 Minutes

After a long, tiring day, there is one thing people don't want to come home to: cooking a meal, which takes one to two hours, and the routine of cleaning a sink full of dishes. One solution to all your problems after a hectic day is one-pot meals that can be prepared in under 20 minutes and serve a delicious and satisfying dinner. Rooted in convenience and flavours, along with nutrients, meals prepared in a cooker or pot offer quicker eats without compromising on flavours.

One-Pot Meals To Prepare Under 20 Minutes For Dinner

From comforting khichdi to masala upma, here are some dishes you can simply prepare at home in one pot and enjoy your fresh dinner on lazy nights. 

1. Vegetable Masala Khichdi

Ingredients:

• ½ cup rice
• ½ cup moong dal
• 1 cup chopped mixed vegetables (carrot, peas, beans)
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1 tsp ginger
• ½ tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tbsp ghee
• Salt
• 3 cups water

Method to prepare Vegetable Masala Khichdi:

1. Take a cooker and heat ghee; crackle cumin seeds.
2. Add ginger, tomatoes, and let it cook for 2 minutes.
3. Now add vegetables, rice, dal, salt, and chilli, along with turmeric.
4. Pour water and let it cook for 3 whistles.
5. Garnish with coriander and a dollop of ghee and enjoy hot.

2. One-Pot Paneer Biryani

Ingredients:

• 1 cup basmati rice (soaked)
• 200 g paneer cubes
• Onion, sliced
• Mixed vegetables
• Ginger-garlic paste
• Whole spices (bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves)
• Garam masala
• Salt
• Ghee or oil

Method to prepare Paneer Biryani:

1. Take a cooker and sauté whole spices, onion, and ginger-garlic paste.
2. Add vegetables along with paneer and toss well.
3. Stir in rice, garam masala, and salt.
4. Add water and let it cook until soft.
5. Garnish with caramelised onion (optional), coriander, and mint.

3. Tomato Rice

Ingredients:

• Cooked rice
• Tomatoes
• Onion
• Mustard seeds
• Curry leaves
• Green chilli
• Turmeric
• Red chilli powder
• Peanuts (optional)

Method to prepare Tomato Rice:

1. Prepare a tomato masala by adding mustard seeds, curry leaves, and onion along with tomatoes.
2. Saute well, add spices and cook until soft.
3. Add cooked rice and toss gently.
4. Garnish with coriander and serve.

4. Tawa Vegetable Pulao

Ingredients: 

1. Cooked rice
2. Mixed vegetables
3. Onion
4. Tomato
5. Pav bhaji masala
6. Butter
7. Ginger-garlic paste

Method to prepare Tawa Vegetable Pulao:

1. Saute onion and ginger-garlic paste in ghee.
2. Add vegetables and tomatoes.
3. Stir pav bhaji masala along with salt.
4. Fold in cooked rice and coat evenly.
5. Serve with cucumber raita.

5. Coconut Vegetable Stew

Ingredients:

• Mixed vegetables
• Thin coconut milk
• Thick coconut milk
• Ginger
• Curry leaves
• Black pepper
• Coconut oil

Method to prepare Coconut Vegetable Stew:

1. Cook vegetables in thin coconut milk.
2. Add ginger, curry leaves, and pepper.
3. Finish with thick coconut milk and simmer without boiling.
4. Serve warm with rice.