Meal Prep for the Week: Easy Indian Breakfast Recipes

A carefully planned breakfast can aid in saving a few hours in the kitchen every week.

 Most people think meal prepping means flavorless oatmeal or bland eggs but Indian breakfast recipes contradict that with vibrant flavors and quick prep. 

Stick with me, and I’ll show you how to cook a week’s worth of delicious Indian breakfasts to make your mornings stress-free. Are you ready to rethink meal prep?

With this guide, I’ll help turn your dreams into reality by showing you how to meal prep Indian breakfast recipes.

Getting Started: Planning Your Meal Prep

In meal prepping, there are always a few essential principles which should be taken into consideration. For example, take a few breakfast options that you believe will work best for your family and try to limit your choices to 3-4. In addition, consider recipes that can be made ahead of time or require minimal morning prep. For this guide, we’ve included four Indian breakfasts that are simple to prepare: Vegetable Upma, Masala Dosa, Aloo Paratha, and Besan Chilla. These meals are also rich in flavor and nutrients, making them great for meal prep.

Like before, don’t forget to write down what you need for the recipes. Lentils, semolina, rice, spices, potatoes, and onions need to be purchased. And of course if you wish to make your dish healthier, feel free to throw in some fresh carrots, peas, and spinach. Once all the ingredients are collected, try setting two to three hours of your afternoon on Sunday towards meal prepping. Clear your kitchen counter, get your children involved, turn on some music, and then get to work.

Essential Appliances for Effortless Prep

To make your meal prep as smooth as possible, we’re using three appliances that every Indian kitchen should have:

1. Mixer Grinder: This is your go-to for grinding dosa batter, making spice pastes, or blending chutneys. It saves time and ensures a smooth consistency.
2. Food Processor: Excellent for chopping all types of vegetables, kneading dough, or grating any ingredient within seconds. It’s a multicooker that reduces rigorous preparatory work.
3. Induction Cooker: Ideal for preparing batters, roasting semolina, or even simmering curries, this piece of equipment is fast, very efficient, and safe as well. It does not waste your time as it heats up quickly. The above mentioned appliances will make your preparation easier and faster so you can spend the extra time on your weekend. Now, let's move onto the recipes!

These appliances will streamline your prep, leaving you with more time to enjoy your weekend. Now, let’s get to the recipes!

Recipe 1: Vegetable Upma

Credits: Canva

Upma is the ultimate comfort food light, savory, and oh-so-satisfying. It’s also incredibly easy to prep in bulk. Here’s how to make enough for five servings.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups semolina (rava)
• 1 cup mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, beans), finely chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 green chilies, slit
• 1-inch ginger, grated
• 4 cups water
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon urad dal
• Curry leaves, salt, and lemon juice to taste

Prep Steps:

1. Employ your Food Processor to almost instantly chop the vegetables and onion. Put them aside.
2. On your Induction Cooker, dry roast the semolina till it becomes golden and aromatic. This will take about five minutes. Now, move the semolina to a plate.
3. In the same pan, start heating up the oil, add the mustard seeds and allow them to splutter. Saute urad dal, curry leaves, green chilies, ginger for a minute.
4. Now, add salt, water, and dry roast the semolina upside down for five minutes as well. Cook until the water has boiled fully. Add the onion and vegetables, and keep mixing to avoid lumps, but make sure no onions or vegetables are left unsalted for incorporation. Lemon juice is also added at this stage.
5. Once the water is fully boiled, mix in generously with no hesitation. Add the upma, then separate, and air tight containers.
6. To Serve: Heat in the microwave or put in the induction cooker with a bit of water to keep moist with ground coconut chutney. good nutrition meal paired.

Recipe 2: Masala Dosa

Credits: Canva

Crispy dosas with a spicy potato filling are a South Indian classic. Prepping the batter and filling ahead of time makes this dish a breeze for weekday mornings.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups rice
• 1 cup urad dal
• 1/2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
• 4 medium potatoes, boiled
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 green chilies, chopped
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• Curry leaves, salt, and oil as needed

Prep Steps:

1. Soak rice, urad dal, and fenugreek seeds overnight. In the morning, drain and blend in the Mixer Grinder with water to make a smooth batter. Add salt and let it ferment for 8 hours.
2. For the filling, use the Food Processor to slice onions and chop chilies. Mash the boiled potatoes coarsely.
3. Heat oil on the Induction Cooker, add mustard seeds, and let them pop. Add curry leaves, green chilies, and onions. Sauté until golden.
4. Add turmeric and mashed potatoes, mixing well. Add salt and let cool. Store the filling in an airtight container.
5. Store the fermented batter in a large container in the fridge.

To Serve: Heat a non-stick pan on the Induction Cooker, pour a ladle of batter, and spread into a thin circle. Drizzle oil and cook until crispy. Add a spoonful of potato filling, fold, and serve with chutney or sambar.

Recipe 3: Aloo Paratha

Credits: Canva

Nothing beats the warm, comforting taste of aloo paratha. Prep the dough and filling in advance for a quick breakfast.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 4 medium potatoes, boiled
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon red chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 2 tablespoons chopped coriander
• Salt, water, and oil as needed

Prep Steps:

1. In the Food Processor, knead the flour with water and a pinch of salt to make a soft dough. Cover and set aside.
2. Mash the boiled potatoes. In a pan on the Induction Cooker, heat a teaspoon of oil, add cumin seeds, and let them splutter.
3. Add mashed potatoes, red chili powder, garam masala, salt, and coriander. Mix well and let cool. Store in an airtight container.
4. Divide the dough into 8 equal balls and store in a container.

To Serve: Roll a dough ball into a small circle, place a spoonful of potato filling in the center, and seal the edges. Roll into a flat paratha. Cook on a hot pan on the Induction Cooker with oil until golden on both sides. Serve with yogurt or pickle.

Recipe 4: Besan Chilla

Credits: Canva

Besan chilla is a quick, protein-packed pancake that’s perfect for busy mornings. Prep the batter and veggies ahead for convenience.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups besan (gram flour)
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1 green chili, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon ajwain (carom seeds)
• Salt, water, and oil as needed

Prep Steps:

1. Use the Food Processor to chop the onion, tomato, and green chili.
2. In a bowl, mix besan, turmeric, ajwain, and salt. Add water to make a smooth batter. Stir in the chopped veggies.
3. Store the batter in an airtight container in the fridge.

To Serve: Heat a non-stick pan on the Induction Cooker, pour a ladle of batter, and spread into a thin circle. Drizzle oil and cook until golden on both sides. Serve with chutney or ketchup.

Storage and Reheating Tips

To keep your prepped meals fresh, store them in airtight containers in the fridge. Upma and paratha filling last up to 5 days, while dosa batter and chilla batter stay fresh for 3-4 days. If you want to prep for the entire week, consider freezing portions of upma or paratha filling. When reheating, use the Induction Cooker for even heating, or pop containers in the microwave for a quick fix. Always add a splash of water to upma or batter-based dishes to restore moisture.

Why Meal Prep Indian Breakfasts?

Credits: Glen India

Breakfasts in India are something to look forward to as engaging with delightful recipes like spicy sambar and idli, along with Indian breads such as pav. These are nutritious elements which can all be premade individually, and result in a healthy wholesome helping. Preparing these in advance aids individuals who want to maintain their well-being physically and mentally with minimal time on a week days.

Besides these recipes having a longer shelf-life, they also tend to taste better as time passes, in addition to the lack of perishable ingredients enhancing these dishes qualitatively maintaining the core principles. With minimal effort placed on the weekend, it can severely help allot time for mornings throughout the week. Understanding the idea of having a delightful meal freshly made while cut and prep work can be put aside reinforces the appeal of these dishes.

The world of Indian breakfast is no less than pure indulgence, ranging from South Indian Idlis to North Indian stuffed parathas. Meeting every individual’s tastes and preferences showcases the diversity in culture across India.

Conclusion

It is life changing when someone uses Indian cuisine for meal prepping for the week. Not only does Indian food contain amazing spices, but with a little forethought, meal prep tools, and planning, you can make your week effortless. 

These recipes for Vegetable Upma, Masala Dosa, Aloo Paratha, and Besan Chilla prove that being healthy and home-cooked doesn't mean you need to spend lots of time in the kitchen - even your busiest days can be managed. Start prepping with the fresh ingredients, and witness the wonders an organized kitchen can bring. Glen India kitchen appliances will help bring effortless and stylish meal prep to your workload!