Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it’s crucial to kickstart your mornings with a nutritious and satisfying meal. In Indian cuisine, there are numerous options that combine taste and health, providing you with the energy you need to tackle the day ahead. Whether you prefer traditional dishes or are looking for something new, here are some simple and healthy breakfast recipes that will tantalize your taste buds and keep you energized throughout the day.
1- Poha (Flattened Rice) Upma
Poha is a popular breakfast dish that is light, flavorful, and quick to prepare.
How to Prepare
- Heat some oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, curry leaves, chopped onions, green chilies, and turmeric powder.
- Sauté until the onions turn translucent.
- Then, add soaked and drained poha along with salt and sugar to taste.
- Mix well and cook for a few minutes. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve hot.
2- Oats Idli
For a healthy twist on a classic breakfast, try oats idli.
How to Prepare
- Grind rolled oats to a coarse powder and mix it with semolina, yogurt, grated carrots, chopped coriander leaves, finely chopped green chilies, and salt.
- Add some water to make a thick batter.
- Grease the idli molds and steam the batter for about 10-12 minutes.
- Serve these soft and spongy idlis with coconut chutney or sambar.
3- Vegetable Upma
Upma is a versatile dish that allows you to add various vegetables, making it both nutritious and delicious.
How to Prepare
- Heat oil in a pan and sauté mustard seeds, urad dal, curry leaves, chopped onions, green chilies, and ginger.
- Once the onions turn golden brown, add chopped vegetables like carrots, peas, bell peppers, and beans.
- Stir for a few minutes, then add roasted semolina, salt, and water.
- Cook until the upma thickens and garnish with fresh coriander leaves.
4- Moong Dal Cheela (Pancake)
Moong dal cheela is a protein-packed pancake that can be enjoyed with mint chutney or yogurt.
How to Prepare
- Soak split yellow moong dal for a few hours and grind it into a smooth batter.
- Add finely chopped onions, grated carrots, chopped coriander leaves, green chilies, cumin seeds, and salt to the batter.
- Mix well. Heat a non-stick pan, pour a ladleful of batter, and spread it into a circular shape. Cook on both sides until golden brown.
5- Vegetable Dalia (Cracked Wheat)
Dalia is a wholesome breakfast option that is high in fiber and low in calories.
How to Prepare
- Heat ghee in a pressure cooker and add cumin seeds, chopped onions, ginger, green chilies, and curry leaves.
- Sauté until the onions turn golden brown.
- Add mixed vegetables like carrots, peas, and beans, and cook for a few minutes.
- Then, add cracked wheat, water, and salt. Pressure cook for a few whistles, and serve piping hot.
6- Sprouts Chaat
Sprouts chaat is a refreshing and protein-rich breakfast option.
How to Prepare
- Mix together sprouted mung beans or any other sprouts of your choice with chopped onions, tomatoes, cucumber, coriander leaves, and a squeeze of lemon juice.
- Add chaat masala, roasted cumin powder, and black salt for flavor.
- Toss everything well and enjoy this tangy and nutritious chaat.
7- Ragi (Finger Millet) Dosa
Ragi dosa is a wholesome and gluten-free breakfast choice.
How to Prepare
- Soak ragi flour in water for a few hours to form a smooth batter.
- Add finely chopped onions, green chilies, grated carrots, and coriander leaves.
- Season with salt and allow the batter to rest for some time.
- Heat a non-stick pan, pour a ladleful of batter, and spread it thinly.
- Cook until golden brown on both sides.
- Serve with coconut chutney or sambar.
8- Vegetable Paratha
Vegetable parathas are a great way to incorporate veggies into your breakfast.
How to Prepare
- Prepare a dough using whole wheat flour, grated vegetables like carrots, spinach, and cabbage, along with spices such as cumin powder, turmeric, and red chili powder.
- Roll out small balls of dough, flatten them, and cook on a tawa or griddle with a little oil. Enjoy these nutritious and filling parathas with yogurt or pickle.
9- Masala Omelette
A masala omelette is a quick and protein-packed breakfast option.
How to Prepare
- Whisk eggs in a bowl and add finely chopped onions, tomatoes, green chilies, coriander leaves, and a pinch of turmeric powder.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Heat a pan with oil or butter and pour the egg mixture.
- Cook on medium heat until the omelette is set.
- Serve hot with whole wheat bread or roti.
10- Vermicelli Upma
Vermicelli upma is a lighter alternative to traditional upma.
How to Prepare
- In a pan, heat oil and add mustard seeds, urad dal, curry leaves, chopped onions, green chilies, and vegetables of your choice.
- Sauté until the onions turn translucent.
- Add roasted vermicelli, water, and salt.
- Cook until the vermicelli is tender.
- Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve hot.
11-Dhokla
Dhokla is a popular Gujarati dish made from a fermented batter.
How to Prepare
- Mix gram flour (besan) with yogurt, ginger-green chili paste, turmeric powder, and salt.
- Add water to make a smooth batter.
- Allow it to ferment for a few hours.
- Steam the batter in a greased dish until cooked.
- Once cooled, cut into pieces and temper with mustard seeds, curry leaves, and grated coconut.
- Serve with mint chutney.
12-Moong Dal Chilla (Lentil Pancakes)
Moong dal chilla is a protein-rich pancake made from split yellow moong dal.
How to Prepare
- Soak the dal for a few hours and blend it into a smooth batter.
- Add finely chopped onions, tomatoes, green chilies, coriander leaves, and spices like cumin powder and turmeric.
- Mix well and spread the batter on a hot griddle.
- Cook until both sides turn golden brown.
- Serve with yogurt or chutney.
13-Vegetable Uttapam
Uttapam is a savory pancake made with fermented rice and lentil batter.
How to Prepare
- To make vegetable uttapam, pour a ladleful of dosa batter on a hot griddle and spread it in a circular shape.
- Top it with finely chopped onions, tomatoes, green chilies, bell peppers, and coriander leaves.
- Drizzle some oil and cook until the bottom turns crispy.
- Flip and cook the other side.
- Serve with coconut chutney or sambar.
14- Rava Upma (Semolina Porridge)
Rava Upma is a quick and versatile breakfast option.
How to Prepare
- Heat oil in a pan and sauté mustard seeds, urad dal, curry leaves, chopped onions, green chilies, and ginger.
- Add roasted semolina (rava) and water. Cook until the upma thickens.
- You can also add vegetables like peas, carrots, and beans for added nutrition.
- Garnish with grated coconut and coriander leaves.
15- Masala Poha (Flattened Rice)
Masala poha is a flavorful and light breakfast dish.
How to Prepare
- Rinse flattened rice (poha) under water and drain.
- Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, curry leaves, chopped onions, green chilies, and turmeric powder.
- Sauté until the onions turn translucent.
- Add the poha, along with salt, sugar, lemon juice, and roasted peanuts.
- Mix well and cook for a few minutes.
- Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.
16- Moong Dal Cheela with Paneer Filling
Moong dal cheela stuffed with paneer (cottage cheese) makes for a protein-rich and satisfying breakfast.
How to Prepare
- Prepare a batter by grinding soaked and drained moong dal with ginger, green chilies, and spices.
- Spread the batter on a hot griddle and cook until golden brown.
- Place a mixture of crumbled paneer, chopped onions, tomatoes, and spices on one half of the cheela.
- Fold it and cook for a few more minutes.
- Serve hot with chutney.
17- Corn Poha
Corn poha is a flavorful and easy-to-make breakfast option.
How to Prepare
- Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, curry leaves, chopped onions, green chilies, and turmeric powder.
- Sauté until the onions turn translucent.
- Add soaked and drained poha along with boiled corn kernels.
- Season with salt, sugar, and lemon juice.
- Mix well and cook for a few minutes.
- Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.
18- Vegetable Rava (Semolina) Upma with Coconut
Enhance the flavors of traditional rava upma by adding grated coconut.
How to Prepare
- Heat oil in a pan and sauté mustard seeds, urad dal, curry leaves, chopped onions, green chilies, and ginger.
- Add roasted semolina and water.
- Cook until the upma thickens.
- Stir in grated coconut and mixed vegetables like carrots, peas, and beans.
- Cook for a few more minutes, garnish with coriander leaves, and serve hot.
19- Masala Oats
For a healthy twist on oats, prepare masala oats.
How to Prepare
- Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, urad dal, curry leaves, chopped onions, green chilies, and ginger.
- Sauté until the onions turn golden brown.
- Add chopped vegetables like carrots, bell peppers, and beans.
- Stir-fry for a few minutes, then add oats, water, and salt.
- Cook until the oats are tender.
- Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.
20- Vermicelli Kheer
Vermicelli Kheer is a delicious and sweet breakfast option.
How to Prepare
- Roast vermicelli in ghee until golden brown.
- In a separate pan, bring milk to a boil.
- Add the roasted vermicelli, sugar, cardamom powder, and a pinch of saffron.
- Cook on low heat until the vermicelli is cooked and the kheer thickens.
- Garnish with chopped nuts and serve warm or chilled.
21- Moong Dal Idli
Moong dal idli is a nutritious and protein-packed variation of traditional idlis.
How to Prepare
- Soak moong dal and rice separately for a few hours.
- Grind them together into a smooth batter, adding ginger, green chilies, and salt.
- Ferment the batter overnight.
- Steam the batter in idli molds until cooked.
- Serve with coconut chutney or tomato chutney.
22- Pesarattu (Green Gram Dosa)
Pesarattu is a popular Andhra breakfast dish made with green gram (moong dal).
How to Prepare
- Soak green gram along with rice and a few fenugreek seeds for a few hours.
- Grind them into a smooth batter, adding ginger, green chilies, and salt.
- Spread the batter on a hot griddle and cook until golden brown.
- Serve with ginger chutney or coconut chutney.
23- Quinoa Dosa
Quinoa dosa is a healthy and gluten-free alternative to regular dosa.
How to Prepare
- Soak quinoa, urad dal (split black gram), and fenugreek seeds together for a few hours.
- Grind them into a smooth batter, adding salt.
- Ferment the batter overnight.
- Cook dosas on a hot griddle and serve with chutney or sambar.
24- Bajra (Pearl Millet) Khichdi
Bajra khichdi is a nutritious and comforting breakfast option.
How to Prepare
- Heat ghee in a pressure cooker and add cumin seeds, cloves, cinnamon, and chopped onions.
- Sauté until the onions turn golden brown.
- Add soaked bajra, moong dal, vegetables of your choice, water, and salt.
- Pressure cook until the bajra and dal are cooked.
- Serve hot with yogurt or pickle.
25- Whole Wheat Pancakes with Fresh Fruit
Make whole wheat pancakes by combining whole wheat flour, mashed bananas, milk, and a pinch of salt.
How to Prepare
- Mix until you get a smooth batter.
- Heat a non-stick pan and pour a ladleful of batter.
- Cook until both sides turn golden brown.
- Serve the pancakes with a variety of fresh fruits like berries, bananas, and sliced apples. Drizzle some honey or maple syrup for added sweetness.
Conclusion
Starting your day with a healthy breakfast is essential for overall well-being. These simple Indian breakfast recipes provide a balance of taste and nutrition, keeping you fueled and satisfied until your next meal. Experiment with flavors and ingredients to suit your preferences and dietary needs. Remember, a nutritious breakfast is the first step towards a productive and healthy day. So, rise and shine with these delightful breakfast options!
