Children Lunch Box Idea 6 - Rajma Pulao

Making interesting items for lunch box is a challenging task for most of the moms. Here is a Protein rich healthy Pulao dish for kids lunch box. It is a mild spice Pulao which tastes great when accompanied with Onion Raita. 

Children Lunch Box Idea - 6

Click the Link Below for Step by Step Pictures of making the Dish with Clear Procedure 

Rajma / Kidney Beans Pulao Recipe
Onion Raita
Snacks : Papaya

Rajma / Kidney Beans Pulao Recipe

Rajma or kidney beans is a legume which is a good source of protein, fibre and vitamins-minerals. Rajma Pulao is one of the Protein rich healthier rice dish for children. Combining the red kidney beans along with rice and spices makes this pulao wholesome and nutritious. I like kidney beans which is done in any form, so I like this Rajma Pulao very much. Its a different Pulao recipe compared to other Pulao dishes. Let's see how to do.

Ingredients:

1. Basmati Rice - 1 Cup
2. Rajma / Kidney Beans - 1/4 cup
3. Onion - 1 large
4. Tomato - 1 medium size
5. Green Chilli - 1
6. Ginger Garlic paste - 1 tbsp
7. Coriander Powder - 2 tsp
8. Red Chilli Powder - 2 tsp
9. Garam Masala Powder - 1 tsp
10. Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp
11. Bay leaf - 1
12. star anise -1 
13. Cardamom - 1
14. Cinnamon stick - 1 small
15. Clove -1 
16. Coriander leaves
17. Cooking Oil - 2 tbsp
18. Salt as per taste

Cooking Method:

Soak Rajma for about 8 hours overnight. Cook the rajma for about 8 to 10 whistles. Cooking time vary on type of Kidney beans. (I missed to click the cooking of Rajma)

• In a pressure pan add oil, bay leaf, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, star anise. 
• Then add onions, green chilli and ginger garlic paste one by one. 
• After a while add tomatoes and saute till it becomes soft.
• Now add the red chilli, coriander and garam masala powder, Turmeric Powder along with cooked rajma. 
• Saute everything well for some time till all the masala powders are coated well with rajma.

Click the Image and zoom you will get clear stepwise pictures

• Now add the Basmati Rice and mix well with Rajma and Masala. 
• Add coriander leaves and salt mix well. 
• Add 2 cups of water, close the lid and wait for 2 whistles. 
• Open the lid and fluff it softly with fork and serve hot with Onion Raita.

The aroma of this Rajma Pulao pulls us to taste the Pulao Immediately. 

Children Lunch Box Idea 1 - Apple Fried Rice

It will be an attractive lunchbox dish for many kids.Also it has mild hot n sweet flavour, children loves this rice very much. Crispy n Spicy Potato Wedges are very good accompaniment for this sweet fried rice.

Children Lunch Box Idea - 1

Click the Link Below for Step by Step Pictures of making the Dish with Clear Procedure 

• Apple Fried Rice
• Crispy Potato Wedges
• Snacks : Pomegranate

Carrot Stir Fry and Carrot Rice Recipe

Carrot Stir Fry is an easy to make poriyal side dish for rice meal. Most of the people knowing this poriyal recipe eventhough I am posting it, as I like this Carrot rice very much and I like to inlcude this dish in my recipe menu.

Ingredients:

1. Carrots - 1/4 kg
2. Big Onions Chopped - 2 tbsp
3. Green Chilli - 2 nos
4. Grated Coconut - 1 tbsp
5. Fennel seeds / Sombu - 1tsp
6. Mustard seeds - 1/8 tsp
7. Channa Dal - 2 tsp
8. Urad Dal - 1 tsp
9. Curry leaves - 1sprig
10. Coriander leaves - 2 tbsp
11. Cooking Oil - 1tbsp
12. Salt as per taste
13. Cooked Rice - 2 cup (For making carrot rice)
14. Coconut Oil - 2 tsp (For making carrot rice)

Cooking Method:

• In a frying pan add oil followed by mustard seeds. Let it cracks. 
• Then add channa dal, urad dal, Fennel seeds and then Onions and curry leaves after some time. 
• Let all the Ingredients sauted well with nice flavour.
• Now add the Grated Carrots. saute it for some time. 
• Then add salt, sprinkle some water, close the lid and keep in medium flame.
• The carrots will get cooked quickly in about 3 to 5 mins. 
• After all the water has absorbed, add the grated coconut and coriander leaves, mix well and switch off the flame.

Click the Image and zoom you will get clear stepwise pictures

Carrot Rice Recipe:

For making Carrot rice just add the cooked Rice to this carrot stir fry recipe and mix well. Finally season with coconut Oil for a rich flavour. 

I like to have this Carrot rice along with Rasam Rice and Bat Vadam.

Sweet n Sour Lemon Rice Recipe

Every body had heard of simply Lemon Rice with sour taste. Here I have given the idea of making sweet n sour combination of lemon Rice which includes the flavour of raisins in the Lemon Rice. By adding raisins children will love eating the Lemon rice without any hesitation of sourness of the Lemon. This idea is my Mom's where she will make Lemon Rice for our Lunchbox which includes raisins and cashew nuts. Here I have added only raisins where Vyshu loves eating this rice only with Raisins Flavour.

Ingredients:

1. Cooked Rice - 1 Cup
2. Lemon extract- 2 tbsp
3. Green Chilli - 2
4. Ginger - 1/4 inch
5. Curry Leaves - 1 sprig
6. Raisins - 2 tbsp
7. Channa Dal - 2 tsp
8. Urad Dal - 1 tsp
9. Mustard - 1/8 tsp
10. Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
11. Cooking Oil - 2 tbsp
12. Salt as per taste

Cooking Method:

In a frying pan add 2 tsp of Oil add the raising fry them and keep in aside.

• In the same pan add Mustard after it gets cracked add Channa Dal, Urad dal and then green chilli, crushed ginger, Turmeric and curry leaves. 
• After a while add Lemon extract followed by salt. Let it boil for some seconds Keeping in low flame.
• Now add cooked rice. Mix the rice well with all the Ingredients.  
• Now season the lemon rice with fried raisins and mix well. Close the lid for some time and serve.

Click the Image and zoom you will get clear stepwise pictures

Sweet n Sour Lemon rice goes well with Mixed Green Chutney - A perfect Combination

Notes:

Here I have not included onions, if you wish you can add shallots or small onions for a different taste.
You can even add cashews along with the raisins. As cashew nuts gives a rich flavour. 

Soya Chunks Dal Rice Recipe

Soya dal rice is our families favourite dish. Whenever I don't have any veggies in our home, my choice is soya dal rice only. Its very easy and can be done quickly. Coconut chutney and mixed green chutney are best side dish for this soya dal rice.

Ingredients:

1. Cooking Rice - 1 Cup
2. Toor Dal - 1/4 cup 
3. Small Soya Chunks - 1 cup
4. Shallots - 10 numbers
5. Tomato - 1
6. Green Chilli - 2 to 3 nos
7. Garlic pods - 4 nos
8. Mustard - 1/8 tsp
9. Jeera/cumin - 2 tsp
10. Sambar powder - 2 tsp 
11. Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
12. Curry leaves - 1 sprig
13. Coriander leaves - 2 tbsp
14. Cooking Oil - 2 tbsp
15. Coconut Oil - 1 tbsp
16. Salt as per taste

Cooking Method:

Be ready with the Ingredients. Soak rice and dal together for half an hour.

• Take a pressure pan add oil followed by mustard seeds. Let it splutters. 
• Then add shallots, cumin, green chilli, garlic and curry leaves. 
• After a while add tomatoes and saute till it becomes soft. 
• Now add sambar powder and turmeric powder. 
• Saute it for some seconds. 
• Finally add soya chunks and saute till all the ingredients mix well along with soya. 
• Add 3 cups of water or according to your rice add enough water and salt. Close the lid of the pressure pan loosely. 
• Let the bubbles come. 
• Now add the soaked rice and dal mix well with the laddle and finally close the lid. 
• Wait for 3 whistles and simmer for 5 mins. After pressure leaves fluff the rice softly with spoon. Season with 1 tbsp of coconut oil and serve hot.

Click the Image and zoom you will get clear stepwise pictures

Notes:
Sambar powder can be replaced by red chilli powder and coriander powder.

Spicy Chapati Noodles Recipe

Chapati Noodles is my daughter's favourite and for me too. I have seen in some food blogs, this dish is made using left over chapati's. But I will prepare chapati's specially for making chapati Noodles. By doing this chapati's will be fresh and ultimately soft compared to left over chapati's. Vyshu love to take this dish in her lunch box along with some fruits. This dish is bit spicy, so we can pair it with any raita of your choice. Children likes this noodles which is also healthy since we have added vegetables which gives a good flavour to this dish.

Ingredients:

1. Chapati's - 2
2. Big Onion - 1 large
3. Tomato - 1 medium size
4. Carrot - 4 tbsp
5. Beans - 2 tbsp
6. Capsicum - 2 tbsp
7. Ginger Garlic paste - 1 tbsp
8. Soya sauce - 1 tsp
9. Tomato sauce - 2 tbsp
10. Chilli powder - 2 tsp
11. Garam Masala Powder - 1 tsp
12. Cooking Oil - 2 tbsp
13. Salt as per taste

Directions to make Chapati Noodles:

Be ready with the Ingredients

Click the Image and zoom you will get clear stepwise pictures

Make long stripes of Chapati's as shown in the below pics.

In a cooking pan add oil followed by onion, tomato and ginger garlic paste. Saute nicely till everything is soft. Add all the veggies. Saute for 2 to 3 mins till it is half cooked.

Click the Image and zoom you will get clear stepwise pictures

Now add soya sauce, Tomato sauce, Red chilli powder, Garam Masala, salt. saute it for some seconds. Then add cutted chapati's and saute till all the spice powders gets coated with the chapatis and mix nicely with the veggies.
Check for salt once again and serve hot.

you can have this dish with the accompaniment of any raita of your choice, it will be yummy. It will be lovable dish for children lunch box.

Notes:

• You can make this dish even with left over chapati's. 
• Adjust the spice powders according to your needs.
• You can add cabbage 2 tbsp along with carrots and beans.
• I have used soft variety beans, if you are not satisfied with beans you can even neglect it.
• You can even add egg after sauting the veggies and adding spice powders. It will be even more tastier dish.