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

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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)

Tried this recipe?Don’t forget to give a ★ rating below

Instant Pot Chana Masala (Chole Masala Recipe 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.
4.75 from 4 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings: 4
Calories : 281
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian, Punjabi
Diet: Gluten-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Method: Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker, Stovetop
Prep Time : 10 minutes
Cook Time : 25 minutes
Total Time : 35 minutes

Equipment

Ingredients
  

Measuring cup used 1 cup = 250ml

Spices:

Instructions
 

Instant Pot Method

  • Soak Chole (chickpeas) for at least 4+ hours or overnight. Then, drain water and keep it aside.
    step to soak chickpeas in water collage
  • Press SAUTE on Instant Pot. Add oil to the POT. Once the oil is hot, add cumin seeds, bay leaf, and let cumins splutter.
  • Then add onions, green chilies, ginger-garlic paste, and saute until onions turn light brown for 3-4 minutes.
    step to saute onions and ginger garlic collage
  • Next, add tomato puree and the spices like red chili powder, turmeric powder, chole masala powder, coriander powder, and cook for 2 minutes.
    step to cook tomato puree with dry spices for chole masala recipe collage
  • Lastly, add soaked chickpeas, salt, and water. Stir well.
    step to add chickpeas and water in instant pot for chana masala recipe collage
  • Close the Instant Pot with pressure valve to sealing. Cook on High Pressure for 30 minutes.
  • Once the pot beeps, do a NATURAL PRESSURE RELEASE (NPR).
  • Remove lid away from you, add amchur powder (dry mango powder), Kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves) and garnish with cilantro. Mix well.
    Note: Don't worry if the curry is a too liquid consistency. Turn on SAUTE mode again and boil the curry for 5 minutes or until you get the desired consistency.
    chana masala recipe in the instant pot
  • Chole Masala is ready, serve hot with bathura, pooris, chapatis, roti & parathas.

Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method:

  • Take a Pressure cooker, add oil to it. Once the oil is hot add cumin seeds, bay leaf, and let cumins splutter.
  • Then add onions, green chilies, ginger-garlic paste, and saute until onions turn light brown for 3-4 minutes.
  • Next add tomato puree and the spices like red chili 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 the lid and add amchur powder, Kasuri methi, and garnish with cilantro. Mix well.
    Don't 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 masala is ready, serve with hot with bathura, pooris, jeera rice, chapatis, roti & parathas.

Video

Notes

Tips & Variations

  • If you want thicker gravy you can mash chickpeas a bit.
  • If you do not have amchur (dry mango powder) then replace it with 1 tablespoon of lime juice for this chole masala recipe.
  • You can use any Chole masala brand available in the Indian grocery stores or amazon. I always use Everest Chole Masala.
  • Some people also add baking soda (I generally don't do this) while pressure cooking to fasten the cooking and get softer chickpeas.
  • I have prepared this dish in my electric pressure cooker, Instant Pot DUO60 6 QT
 
Canned Chickpeas: "Pressure Cook/Manual" High for 5 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 the below spices and blend them 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 chili powder 
  • 1 teaspoon Black salt (kala namak) .
OR, replace them with 1.5 tablespoons Curry Powder. This will change the flavor, 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 recipe, instant pot chana masala, pressure cooker chana masala
Tried this recipe?Share your photo and tag @indianveggiedelight or #indianveggiedelight

Here is the Recipe Link for Jeera Rice (Cumin Rice). I have used a pressure cooker (Instant Pot) to make jeera rice. When I pack jeera rice for my kids box I just handpick whole spices like cinnamon, and cardamom so that it doesn't come into my mouth while eating.

Tried this recipe?Don’t forget to give a ★ rating below
Restaurant style Instant Pot Jeera/cumin rice served in a bowl with cilantro on the side

Instant Pot Jeera Rice (Indian Cumin Rice)

Bhavana Patil
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
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings: 2
Calories : 424
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian, North Indian
Diet: Gluten-Free, Vegetarian
Method: Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker, Stovetop
Prep Time : 5 minutes
Cook Time : 10 minutes
Total Time : 15 minutes

Equipment

Ingredients
  

Measuring cup used [1 cup = 250 ml]

    Whole Spices

    Other Ingredients

    • 1-2 tablespoons oil or ghee
    • 1 cup basmati rice rinsed
    • 2 green chilies split lengthwise
    • 1.5 cups water
    • salt to taste
    • 2 tablespoons coriander (cilantro)

    Instructions
     

    Instant Pot Method

    • Press Saute on Instant Pot. Add ghee or oil and once it's hot add cumin/jeera seeds, bay leaf, cinnamon sticks, cardamom, and cloves. Saute for 30 secs (till aromatic).
    • Then add green chilies. Saute for another 30 secs.
      step to saute whole spices, cumin and chilies collage
    • Add Basmati Rice, water, salt, and give a stir.
      step to add rice, water and pressure cook collage
    • Close the Instant Pot with pressure valve to Sealing. Cook on High Pressure for 5 minutes.
      perfectly cooked jeera rice in an instant pot pressure cooker garnished with cilantro
    • Once the pot beeps, Do a Quick Pressure Release (QR) Manually.
      Restaurant style Instant Pot Jeera/cumin rice served in a bowl with cilantro on the side
    • Lastly, remove the 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 chilies. 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 rice is cooled, fluff the rice with a fork. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves.
    • Jeera Rice is ready

    Stovetop Pot Method:

    • To make jeera rice recipe or pulao on a stovetop pot, follow the steps as above until adding water and then cook covered on a low heat until the water is absorbed and then turn off the heat. Allow it to rest for some time and then open the lid and fluff the rice.

    Notes

    I have prepared this dish in my electric pressure cooker, Instant Pot DUO60 6 QT
    1. Use good quality basmati rice for making the fragrant Jeera Rice. However, you can use any premium quality rice.
    2. To make non-sticky, fluffy peas pulao adjust water correctly, as it depends on the quality and type of rice used. I have used basmati rice in this recipe.
    3. Use ghee (clarified butter) to get the best flavors in the Jeera Rice. But Vegans can use either coconut oil or any cooking oil.
     
    Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 424kcalCarbohydrates: 79gProtein: 7gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 166mgPotassium: 153mgFiber: 4gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 45IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 55mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword cumin rice, instant pot, jeera rice
    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 a healthy variety of chips.

    Prep Work For The Previous Evening

    1. Soak Chickpeas/CholeChanna 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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