Do you love Indian food but don’t have the time or energy to cook elaborate dishes? Do you want to enjoy the rich flavors and spices of Indian cuisine without spending a fortune on takeout or delivery? In this article, you will learn 5 minute indian recipes for dinner. These recipes are perfect for busy weeknights, lazy weekends, or whenever you crave a delicious and satisfying meal. All you need are some common ingredients and equipment you probably already have in your kitchen, such as rice, lentils, curry paste, ghee, pressure cooker, etc.
5 Minute Indian Recipes For Dinner:
Recipe 1: Paneer Bhurji
Paneer Bhurji is a delicious dish of scrambled cottage cheese cooked with onions, tomatoes, and spices. It is a popular North Indian dish that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Paneer Bhurji is easy to make and requires only a few ingredients. Here is how you can make it at home in just 10 minutes.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons of oil or ghee
½ teaspoon of cumin seeds
½ cup of finely chopped onions
1 teaspoon of ginger-garlic paste
2 green chilies, finely chopped or slit
1 cup of tightly packed, finely chopped tomatoes
¼ teaspoon of turmeric powder
½ teaspoon of red chili powder
½ teaspoon of coriander powder
½ teaspoon of garam masala powder
250 grams of paneer, crumbled
Salt to taste
3 tablespoons of chopped coriander leaves
Steps
Heat oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds until it crackle.
Add onions and sauté until golden brown, stirring occasionally.
Add ginger-garlic paste and green chilies and sauté for a minute, stirring constantly.
Add tomatoes and cook until soft and mushy, mashing them with a spatula.
Add turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, and garam masala powder and mix well.
Add paneer and salt and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with roti, paratha, or bread.
Enjoy your Paneer Bhurji!
5 Minute Indian Recipes for Dinner: Recipe 2: Dal Tadka
Dal Tadka is made with split pigeon peas (toor dal) cooked with onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, and spices. It is then tempered with ghee, cumin seeds, garlic, red chilies, and asafoetida for a smoky and aromatic flavor. Dal Tadka is a popular dish in North Indian restaurants and dhabas (roadside eateries).
Ingredients
1 cup toor dal (split pigeon peas or 200 grams)
3 cups water for pressure cooking
1 cup hot water for adjusting consistency
2 tablespoons oil
½ teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon garlic (finely chopped)
1 teaspoon ginger (finely chopped)
1 medium onion (chopped)
1 green chili (chopped or slit lengthwise, optional)
2 medium tomatoes (finely chopped)
¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
½ teaspoon red chili powder
½ teaspoon garam masala
Salt to taste
2 tablespoons cilantro (chopped)
1 teaspoon kasuri methi (crushed, dried fenugreek leaves, optional)
For tempering:
2 teaspoons ghee (or oil for a vegan dish)
¾ teaspoon cumin seeds
2 large garlic cloves (finely chopped)
2 dried red chilies
A generous pinch of asafoetida (hing, optional)
¼ teaspoon red chili powder (optional)
Steps
Rinse the toor dal well and add it to a pressure cooker with water and salt. Pressure cook for 15 minutes or until the dal is soft and mushy. You can also cook the dal on the stovetop or in an instant pot.
Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add cumin seeds and let them crackle. Then add garlic and ginger and sauté for a few seconds until fragrant.
Add onion and green chili and sauté until the onion turns golden brown, stirring occasionally.
Add tomatoes and cook until soft and pulpy, mashing them with a spatula.
Add turmeric powder, red chili powder, garam masala, and salt and mix well. Cook for a few minutes.
Add the cooked dal and hot water to the pan and bring it to a boil.
Simmer the dal for about 10 minutes on low-medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Add cilantro and kasuri methi and mix well. Turn off the heat.
For tempering, heat ghee in a small pan over high heat. Add cumin seeds and let them crackle. Then add garlic and red chilies and fry until the garlic turns golden brown.
Add asafoetida and red chili powder, and turn off the heat immediately.
Pour the tempering over the dal and cover the pan with a lid for a few minutes so that the flavors infuse well.
Serve your Dal Tadka hot with rice, roti, naan, or paratha.
Recipe 3: Aloo Gobi
The third recipe on our list of 5 minute Indian recipes for dinner is Aloo Gobi. Aloo Gobi is a simple and tasty dish of potatoes and cauliflower cooked with turmeric and cumin. It is a popular vegetarian dish in North India that can be served as a main course or a side dish. Aloo Gobi is easy to make and requires only a few ingredients.
Ingredients
2 medium potatoes cut into pieces
1 large cauliflower, cut into small florets
2 tablespoons of oil
1 teaspoon of cumin seeds
1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder
1/4 teaspoon of salt, or to taste
2 tablespoons of chopped cilantro for garnish
Steps
Heat oil in a large pan. Add cumin seeds and fry for a few seconds until they sputter.
Add potatoes and turmeric powder and toss to coat well. Cover the skillet with a lid and cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are almost tender.
Add cauliflower and salt and mix well. Cover the skillet again and cook for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cauliflower is cooked but still crisp.
Sprinkle cilantro over the dish and serve hot with roti, paratha, or rice.
Enjoy your Aloo Gobi!
Recipe 4: Tomato Rice
Tomato Rice is a dish with tomatoes, garlic, and curry leaves. It is a popular South Indian dish made in a pressure cooker, a regular pot, or an instant pot. Tomato Rice is flavorful, aromatic, and easy to make. You can serve it with yogurt, pickle, or salad.
Ingredients
1 ½ cups of basmati rice (or any long-grain rice)
2 tablespoons of oil (or ghee)
1 teaspoon of cumin seeds
1 bay leaf (or curry leaves)
2 cloves of garlic (finely chopped)
1 inch of ginger (grated or minced)
1 green chili (slit or chopped, optional)
1 medium onion (finely chopped)
2 cups of tomato puree (or 4 medium tomatoes, blended)
¼ teaspoon of turmeric powder
½ teaspoon of red chili powder (or paprika)
½ teaspoon of garam masala (or curry powder)
Salt to taste
2 tablespoons of cilantro (chopped for garnish)
Steps
Wash the rice well and soak it in water for about 20 minutes. Then, drain the water.
Heat oil or ghee in a pressure cooker or a pot over medium-high heat. Add cumin seeds and bay leaf and fry for a few seconds until they sputter.
Add garlic, ginger, and green chili and sauté for a minute until fragrant.
Add onion and cook until golden.
Add tomato puree and cook until the oil separates from the tomato mixture, stirring occasionally.
Add turmeric powder, red chili powder, garam masala, and salt and mix well.
Add the rice and water to the tomato mixture and stir well. The amount of water depends on the cooking method you are using. For the pressure cooker, use 3 cups of water; for the regular pot, use 4 cups of water; for the instant pot, use 2 cups of water.
Bring the mixture to a boil. Cover the cooker or pot with a lid and cook until the rice is done. For a pressure cooker, cook for 2 whistles on a high flame and then lower the flame and cook for another 2 whistles; for a regular pot, cook for about 15 to 20 minutes or until the water is absorbed; for instant pot, cook on manual mode for 6 minutes and then release the pressure naturally.
Fluff the rice with a fork and garnish with cilantro. Serve your Tomato Rice hot with yogurt, pickle, or salad.
Recipe 5: Cheese Paratha
The last recipe on our list of 5 minute indian recipes for dinner is Cheese Paratha. Cheese Paratha is a delicious and filling dish of flatbread stuffed with cheese and spices. It is a popular breakfast or snack item in India, especially among kids. Cheese Paratha is easy to make and can be served with yogurt, pickle, or chutney.
Ingredients
2 cups of whole wheat flour
Salt to taste
Water as required for kneading
Oil or ghee for frying
1 cup of grated cheese (you can use any cheese of your choice, such as mozzarella, cheddar, or paneer)
2 teaspoons of red chili flakes (or to taste)
2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning (or any dried herbs of your choice)
Wheat flour for dusting
Steps
In a bowl, mix the whole wheat flour and salt. Gradually add water and knead into a dough. Rest the dough for 15 minutes.
In a small bowl, mix the cheese, red chili flakes, and Italian seasoning. This is your cheese stuffing.
Divide the dough into equal-sized balls. Take one ball and roll it into a circle about 4 inches in diameter. Place about 2 tablespoons of cheese stuffing in the center of the circle. Bring the edges together and seal them well. Flatten the stuffed ball slightly and dust it with some wheat flour.
Roll the stuffed ball into a circle of about 6 inches in diameter. Be careful not to tear the paratha or let the cheese stuffing ooze out.
Heat a griddle or tawa over medium-high heat. Place the paratha on the grill and cook for a few seconds until bubbles appear on the surface. Cook until both sides are crisp.
Repeat the same process with the remaining dough and cheese stuffing.
Serve your Cheese Paratha hot with yogurt, pickle, or chutney.
Conclusion
In this article, you have learned 5 minute indian recipes for dinner. These recipes are delicious, nutritious, and satisfying. They are vegetarian-friendly, gluten-free, and can be easily adapted to your preferences and dietary needs. You can serve them with roti, paratha, naan, bread, or any other accompaniment you choose. We hope you enjoy these recipes and have a delicious dinner.