Cooking a full blown meal after a busy work day is no easy feat. On most work days all I long to do is just kick back and relax. And yet there’s that niggling thought that I should make the most of dinner. It’s often the only meal that we all come together for as a family and it’s definitely the most relaxed; no urgent online classes to attend or work meetings to rush to.
The pressure especially builds up on Friday evenings when the family craves something special. Yet, I also want to whip up something healthy so that I don’t give in to the sneaky notifications flashing on my mobile (I’m looking at you Swiggy!).
And that’s where single skillet meals often come to my rescue! These easy and quick dinner recipes are easy to prep, come together in one pan (making clean up a breeze!), and they taste really good.
Here are some of my favourite easy and quick dinner recipes
1. Bisi Bele Bhath
Looking for the goodness of daal, rice and a whole host of vegetables in one warm and comforting meal? Bisi Bele Bhath is what you need! An all time family favourite, this is a savior on a rushed weeknight and gets your veggies, proteins and carbs together in one delicious option. There are many different ways to make this recipe, but my personal favourite is this recipe from Tarla Dalal. I usually prep the masala over the weekend or use a ready made masala, and cook the dish in a pressure pan which further simplifies the process and cuts down on prep time as well. Serve it piping hot with dollops of ghee, some comforting lauki raita and fried papadums on the side, and you’ve got the perfect meal to unwind with over dinner.
2. Channa Daal Lauki
Another simple and quick option that gives you your daily dose of proteins and vegetables in one easy to whip up meal. This North Indian style vegetable curry that brings together the goodness of veggies with lentils, packs quite a delicious punch with its depth of flavours and textures. It’s just the right mix of tangy and spicy, and goes perfectly with both rice and phulkas or parathas. My go-to recipe is this one from Dassana’s Veg Recipes.
3. One Pan Pasta
Yes, it’s true! You can totally make pasta in a single skillet dish with minimal effort and fuss, and it’s every bit as comforting and delicious as pasta always is. To be honest, I was a bit disbelieving till I tried this easy pasta recipe and it’s now our family favourite for Friday evenings. I make a quick tomato and garlic passata that can easily be prepped and frozen in advance and this recipe literally comes together in 20 minutes. I also love how it lets me use a versatile combination of vegetables in a single dish. From fresh spinach, bell peppers, zucchini to mushrooms, everything tastes good in this awesome pasta recipe! Serve with a crisp and buttery lettuce salad on the side or a crusty loaf of your favourite baguette.
4. Daal Paratha
Those days when you don’t quite know what to do with all the odds and ends floating around in your refrigerator? That bit of daal, those bobs of veggies, that tiny bowl of chutney that has been sitting around forever? It’s Daal Paratha to the rescue! Just bung everything together with the required amount of flour and knead it into a paratha dough. You can also repurpose leftovers by kneading the paratha dough with daal, and use a veggie filling, and you have a wholesome meal ready.
5. Nutritious Vegetable Pulao
I absolutely adore this vegetable pulao recipe from Archana’s Kitchen that takes less that 30 minutes to prep. The addition of coconut milk gives it a unique twist and it is packed with the goodness of veggies- I like to add in cauliflower, beans, peas and carrots. Oh and did I mention that this one is a pressure cooker recipe too? Just fill it, shut it, pressure cook it and you have a wholesome meal ready in no time!
Are there any quick and easy dinner recipes that you’d recommend for manic weekday cooking? Do share in the comments!