Chole & Jeera Rice + Cucumber-Carrot Salad + Kale Chips

Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist or a dietician,  I am doing what is best for my kid to create a balanced lunch.

KIDS LUNCH BOX #17 - Chole & Jeera Rice + Cucumber-Carrot Salad + Kale Chips

Some kids school lunch box ideas to try…

1. Spinach Corn Sandwich + Orange + Almonds & Pistachios
2. Carrot Rice + Cucumber + Fruittellas
3. Palak Chapati + Jeera Aloo + Orange
4. Potato Spinach Pancakes + Sprouted Moong & Corn Salad+ Grapes
5. Mayonnaise Veggie Pasta + Strawberries + Peanut Chikki

Here is what I packed for school lunch…

LUNCH - Chole & Jeera Rice -

Here is the Recipe Link for Chole Masala (Chickpea Masala)

Instant Pot Chana Masala (Chickpea Curry in Pressure Cooker)

Bhavana Patil

Chana Masala or Chole is one-pot healthy protein-rich vegan and gluten free recipe cooked in a spicy, flavorful onion-tomato gravy along with few spices.

4.5 from 2 votes

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Servings: 4

Calories : 281

Course: Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine: Indian, Punjabi

Prep Time : 10 minutes

Cook Time : 25 minutes

Total Time : 35 minutes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Measuring cup used 1 cup = 250ml

• 1 cup dry chickpeas (chole/garbanzo beans),soaked overnight
• 2 tablespoon oil
• 1 teaspoon cumin (jeera) seeds
• 1 bay leaf (tej patta)
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
• 1 green chilli ,finely chopped
• 2 large tomato (i made tomato puree about 1 cup)
• 1 teaspoon amchur powder (dry mango powder) or juice of half lemon
• 2 tablespoons cilantro (coriander leaves)
• 1 tablespoon dried kasuri methi (optional)
• 1.5 cups water
• salt to taste

Spices:

• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• 1 tablespoon chana or chole masala
• 1 teaspoon red chilli powder
• ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder

Instructions

 

Instant Pot Method

• Soak chole(Chickpeas) for at least 4+ hours or overnight.Drain water and keep aside.
• Press SAUTE mode on Instant Pot. Add oil in to the POT.Once oil is hot add cumin seeds ,bay leaf and let cumins splutter.
• Then add onions ,green chillies ,ginger garlic paste and saute until onions turn light brown for 3-4 minutes.
• Next add tomato puree and the spices like red chilli powder, turmeric powder, chole masala powder ,coriander powder and cook for 2 minutes.
• Lastly add soaked chickpeas ,salt and water.Stir well.
• Close the lid on the pot, and turn pressure valve to SEALING position.
• Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and set timer to 30 minutes.
• Once the pot beeps ,do a NATURAL PRESSURE RELEASE(NPR).
• Remove lid away from you, add amchur powder, kasuri methi and garnish with cilantro.Mix well.

  Dont worry if the curry is too liquid consistency.Just turn on SAUTE mode again and boil the curry for 5 minutes or until you get desired consistency.
• Chana or Chole Masala is ready, serve with hot with Bathura ,pooris, chapatis, roti & parathas.

INDIAN PRESSURE COOKER METHOD:

• Take a Pressure cooker ,add oil in to it.Once oil is hot add cumin seeds ,bay leaf and let cumins splutter.
• Then add onions ,green chillies ,ginger garlic paste and saute until onions turn light brown for 3-4 minutes.
• Next add tomato puree and the spices like red chilli powder, turmeric powder, chole masala powder ,coriander powder and cook for 2 minutes.
• Lastly add soaked chickpeas ,salt and water.Stir well.
• Close the lid ,place a whistle and cook for 4-5 whistle on medium low flame.
• Switch off the flame and let the pressure from the cooker release naturally
• Open lid and add amchur powder, kasuri methi and garnish with cilantro.Mix well.Dont worry if the curry is too liquid consistency.Just turn on turn on the gas again and boil the curry until you get desired consistency.
• Chana or Chole Masala is ready, serve with hot with Bathura ,pooris, jeera rice ,chapatis, roti & parathas.

Notes

1. If you want thicker gravy you can mash chickpeas a bit.
2. If you do not have amchur (dry mango powder) then replace with 1 tablespoon of lime juice.
3. You can use any Chole masala brand available in Indian grocery store or amazon.I always use Everest Chole Masala.
4. I have prepared this dish in my electric pressure cooker, Instant Pot DUO60 6 QT

 

Canned Chickpeas:"Pressure Cook/Manual" High for 8-10 minutes or 2 whistles for stovetop indian pressure cooker.Add water appropriately as it takes less water for cooking.

 

Canned tomatoes: Canned tomatoes can be used to replace fresh tomatoes. Use 1 cup canned tomatoes to replace fresh tomatoes.

 

Spices: If you don’t find chole masala, Then dry roast below spices and blend together and store in an airtight container.

• 1 tablespoon Dry Pomegranate Seeds (Anardana) (optional)
• 3 tablespoon Coriander powder
• 1 tablespoon Cumin seeds (Jeera)
• 6 Green Cardamom 
• 2 teaspoon Black pepper 
• 10 teaspoon Cloves 
• 3-4 pieces Cinnamon 
• 1 teaspoon Red chilli powder 
• 1 teaspoon Black salt (kala namak) .

OR, replace them with 1.5 tablespoons Curry Powder. This will change the flavour, but it’ll be close.

Note:Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 281kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 7.7gFat: 16gSodium: 240mgPotassium: 379mgFiber: 7.6gSugar: 6.9gVitamin A: 800IUVitamin C: 42.1mgCalcium: 58mgIron: 2.2mg

Keyword chana masala, chickpeas curry, chole masala, instant pot, pressure cooker recipes

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Here is the Recipe Link for Jeera Rice (Cumin Rice) .I have used pressure cooker (Instant Pot) to make jeera rice.When i pack jeera rice for my kids box i just hand pick whole spices like cinnamon ,cardamom so that it doesnt come into mouth while eating.

Restaurant Style Jeera Rice (Indian Cumin Rice)

bhavana

Instant Pot Jeera Rice|Cumin Rice is an easy one pot flavorful rice dish made with perfectly cooked Basmati Rice flavored with jeera and whole spices.

5 from 3 votes

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Servings: 2

Course: entree, lunch, Main Course

Cuisine: Indian, North Indian

Prep Time : 5 minutes

Cook Time : 10 minutes

Total Time : 15 minutes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• measuring cup used 1 cup = 250 ml
• 1 cup Long grain Basmati Rice
• 2 tbsp Ghee or Oil
• 2 slit Green chilli
• Salt as per taste
• 1 tablespoon Fresh coriander
• 1.5 cups water

Whole Spices

• Cumin/Jeera Seeds
• 1 inch Cinnamon
• 2-3 cloves
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 Green Cardamom

Instructions

 

INSTANT POT Method

• Press saute mode on Instant Pot. Add ghee or oil and once it's hot add Bay leaf,Cinnamon sticks, Cardamom, Cloves,Cumin/Jeera seeds.Fry for 30 secs(till aromatic).
• Then add green chillies. Saute for another 30 secs.
• Add Basmati Rice,water,salt and give a stir .
• Press CANCEL button on Instant Pot
• Close the lid on the pot, and turn valve from VENTING to SEALING position.
• Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and set timer to 5 minutes
• Do a Quick Pressure Release(QR) Manually.(Wait until silver button on lid drops).BE CAREFUL OF THE HOT STEAM
• Remove lid away from you,garnish with fresh cilantro/coriander leaves.
• Jeera Rice is ready.

Indian Pressure Cooker Method

• Heat ghee in a pressure cooker on medium heat and once it's hot add Bay leaf,Cinnamon sticks, Cardamom, Cloves,Cumin/Jeera.Saute for 30 seconds(till aromatic)
• Then add green chillies. Saute for another 30 secs.
• Add Basmati Rice,water ,salt and stir well.
• Close the lid of the cooker ,Pressure cook it for 2 whistles on medium heat
• When it is cooled,fluff the rice.garnish with fresh cilantro/coriander leaves.
• Jeera Rice is ready

Notes

I have prepared this dish in my electric pressure cooker, Instant Pot DUO60 6 QT

1. Tastes better with Ghee.Vegans can ignore Ghee(clarified butter) and use oil instead.
2. If you want softer jeera rice, increase the water.Add 2 cups of water for 1 cup of rice
3. For Indian pressure cooker recipe add Add 2 cups of water for 1 cup of basmati rice.
4. You can also add sliced onions while Sauting, adds more flavour into Jeera Rice.

Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

Keyword cumin rice, gluten-free, instant pot, jeera rice, under 30 minutes, vegan, vegetarian

Tried this recipe?Share your photo and tag @indianveggiedelight or #indianveggiedelight

SNACK - Cucumber-Carrot Salad - I just mixed together grated carrot with some finely chopped cucumber and sprinkled some salt , pepper and lime juice.

SNACK - Kale Chips - I got these from Costco and are healthy variety of chips.

Prep Work For The Previous Evening

1. Soak Chickpeas|Chole|Channa previous night.

Notes

• Packed in a stainless steel tiffin box called Lunchbots which is Eco-Friendly, Dishwasher Safe, BPA-Free and is easily available on Amazon .Do not use plastic lunch boxes to your kids, they are toxic.
• You can increase or decrease quantity based on your child's appetite.

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