Are you struggling to find vegetarian recipes that your toddler will love? Look no further than these delicious and easy-to-make Indian vegetarian dishes! Packed with flavor and nutrition, they are sure to please even the pickiest of eaters.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Provides a variety of nutritious ingredients
- Offers great taste for toddlers
- Includes simple preparation techniques
Ingredient List
- 1 cup uncooked basmati rice
- 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tsp garam masala
- Salt to taste
For the chana masala:
- Olive oil or any neutral oil for cooking
- One medium-sized onion chopped finely
- Two cups of boiled chickpeas (or canned chickpeas are also fine)
- One large tomato pureed in a mixer grinder
- Half teaspoon turmeric powder
- One tablespoon red chili powder
- A pinch of asafetida/hing
- Two teaspoons coriander powder
- Salt to taste
For serving:
* Naan bread
* Chopped fresh cilantro
* Chopped green onions
How To Make This recipe
Cook the rice:
Rinse the rice under cold water. Add it into a pot with two cups of water. Boil over high heat then reduce heat down low so that it simmers gently. Put lid on pot slightly askew so steam escapes leaving room for some air flow above the surface while cooking for about fifteen minutes until fully cooked.
Make chickpea curry:
Heat up olive or other neutral oil in pan.
Fry chopped onions until golden brown.
Add one crushed garlic clove and fry for around two mins.
Add coriander powder, turmeric, asafetida to onion and stir.
Cook it all for four minutes before adding the tomato puree.
Add chili powder and salt per taste of preference.
Let curry cook on medium-high flame until oil separates and it appears well cooked.
Make chana masala:
Heat up olive or other neutral oil in pan
Fry chopped onions till golden brown
Put garlic paste, ginger paste sauté till fragrant then put in a tablespoon chopped coriander leaves stir for 20 seconds
Pour tomato puree let bubble gently for three minutes then add boiled chickpeas stirring occasionally
Add red chili powder, half teaspoon salt (per taste), garam masala
For garnish sprinkle fresh cilantro.
Cooking Time and Temperature Guidelines
- Rice: approximately 15-20 minutes at a simmer after boiling water with high heat.
- Chana Masala: approximately 30–40 min on medium-low heat.
My Pro-tips
- Use canned chickpeas if you don’t have time to boil them from scratch. This can save you some preparation time!
- Allow the rice to rest after cooking before fluffing up with a fork – this will help separate the grains more easily.
Seasoning Options
Add additional spices like cumin or cinnamon to enhance flavor according to your own preferences!
Recipe Tips
- Be sure not to overcook the rice! Overcooked rice can be mushy or sticky rather than fluffy and light.
- Experiment with different amounts of spice depending on your desired level of heat!
Recommended Tools To Make This Recipe
1) Large pot for cooking rice
2) Medium saucepan for making chana masala
3) Cutting board & knife
4) Measuring cups
This recipe provides a healthy and delicious meal option that toddlers will love with easy-to-follow instructions for making flavorful Indian vegetarian dishes at home.
FAQs
Here are three popular FAQs for “Toddler-Approved Indian Vegetarian Recipes: Delicious & Easy!” and their answers:
Q1. Are the recipes spicy? Will they be too hot for my picky toddler to eat?
A1. No, these recipes are not necessarily spicy. Most of them use mild spices or can easily be adjusted to suit your family’s taste preferences. You could also introduce heat in small amounts over time, allowing your child’s taste buds to adjust slowly.
Q2. My child is a picky eater – will they like these Indian vegetarian dishes?
A2. These recipes have been selected with young children in mind and are designed to appeal to even the fussiest of eaters! With a mix of familiar flavors and textures alongside new ingredients, you might find that your toddler discovers some new favorites.
Q3. Are the ingredients used in these Indian vegetarian recipes easy to find?
A3. Yes! Most of the ingredients can be found at your local grocery stores or online retailers such as Amazon or specialty Asian food markets – for example, lentils/dals (split chickpeas), turmeric, cumin seeds etc., which should all be readily available.
