In today’s fast-paced lifestyle, we’ve got a lot on our plate. But ironically, almost nothing on our breakfast plate. Most of us either skip it completely or grab the quickest thing we can find. However, we need to understand that our body pulls an all-nighter to keep us alive, and the least we can do is feed it something nutritious in the morning.
This blog is all about quick, healthy, and totally doable recipes that won’t eat into your precious morning time. Let’s make your first meal of the day a lot more yum and wholesome, without waking you up at dawn.
This blog is all about quick, healthy, and totally doable recipes that won’t eat into your precious morning time. Let’s make your first meal of the day a lot more yum and wholesome, without waking you up at dawn.
1. Upma
Ingredients:
1 cup rava (semolina), 2.5 cups water, 1 tbsp oil or ghee, mustard seeds, urad dal, curry leaves, green chilli, chopped ginger, salt to taste. Optional: onions, carrots, peas, roasted cashews.
How to make:
Roast the rava lightly if it’s not pre-roasted. In a pan, heat oil, add mustard seeds, urad dal, curry leaves, green chilli, and ginger. Toss in onions and veggies if using. Add water and salt, bring to a boil, then slowly stir in the rava while mixing to avoid lumps. Cover, cook for a few minutes, and you’re done. Top with cashews or a little ghee!
2. Oats Chilla
Ingredients:
½ cup oats (grind them into a flour), ¼ cup besan (gram flour), ¼ cup curd (optional but adds softness), water (to make a smooth batter), 1 small onion (finely chopped), 1 green chilli, grated carrot, coriander, salt, turmeric, red chilli powder, cumin seeds.
How to make:
Grind your oats into a fine powder. Mix all ingredients in a bowl to form a smooth, pourable batter. Let it rest for 5–10 mins if you’ve got the time. Heat a non-stick pan, drizzle some oil, and pour a ladle of the batter like a pancake. Cook both sides till golden brown and slightly crispy. Serve hot with chutney or curd!
3. Poha
Ingredients:
1 cup thick poha (flattened rice), 1 small onion (chopped), 1 green chilli, curry leaves, mustard seeds, turmeric, salt, sugar (just a pinch), lemon juice, 2 tsp oil, and a handful of peanuts. Optional: chopped coriander and grated coconut for topping.
How to make:
First, rinse the poha in a strainer under running water, don’t soak it. Let it sit and fluff up. In a pan, heat oil, add mustard seeds, curry leaves, and peanuts and let them get a bit crunchy. Toss in the onions and green chilli, sauté till soft. Add turmeric, salt, and a tiny pinch of sugar. Now gently fold in the poha. Mix well, cook for 2–3 mins, and finish with a squeeze of lemon. Top with coriander or grated coconut if you like it.
4. Bread Upma
Ingredients:
4–5 slices of bread (cut into cubes), 1 small onion (chopped), 1 tomato (chopped), 1 green chilli, mustard seeds, curry leaves, turmeric, salt, 2 tsp oil, and a pinch of red chilli powder. Optional: peanuts, chopped capsicum, lemon juice, coriander.
How to make:
Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds, curry leaves, green chilli, and peanuts if using. Saute onions till soft, then toss in tomatoes and let them cook down. Add turmeric, red chilli powder, and salt. Now throw in the bread cubes and mix well till they soak up all that masala goodness. Cook for 2–3 minutes, turn off the heat, and squeeze some lemon juice on top. Finish with chopped coriander and you’re good to go!
5. Thepla
Ingredients:
1 cup whole wheat flour, ½ cup fresh methi leaves (washed & chopped), 2 tbsp curd, 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste, 1 green chilli (finely chopped), ¼ tsp turmeric, ½ tsp red chilli powder, ½ tsp cumin seeds, ½ tsp ajwain (carom seeds), 1 tbsp oil (plus more for cooking), salt to taste.
How to make:
Mix everything in a big bowl and knead into a soft, pliable dough, then add water only if needed, as the curd and methi release moisture. Let it rest for 10–15 minutes. Then roll out small discs like you would for rotis. Heat a tawa, cook the theplas on both sides with a little oil till golden spots appear. Serve hot with curd, pickle, or roll one up and eat it as-is.
6. Strawberry Milkshake
Ingredients:
1 cup strawberries (hulled and chopped), 1.5 cups chilled milk, 1–2 tbsp sugar or honey (adjust to taste), 2–3 ice cubes, and optionally, 1 scoop vanilla ice cream for that café-style vibe.
How to make:
Toss everything into a blender – strawberries, milk, sweetener, and ice cubes. Blend until smooth and frothy. If you’re feeling fancy, top it with some ice cream or a few chopped strawberries. Serve cold!
7. Coconut Oatmeal
Ingredients:
½ cup rolled oats, 1 cup coconut milk (or half coconut milk + half water), 1–2 tsp honey or maple syrup, a pinch of salt, ¼ tsp cinnamon (optional), and your fave toppings: toasted coconut flakes, banana slices, chopped nuts, or even mango if you’re feeling fancy.
How to make:
In a saucepan, combine oats, coconut milk, salt, and cinnamon. Bring it to a gentle boil, then simmer for 5–7 mins, stirring occasionally, till it thickens up. Sweeten it with honey or maple syrup. Pour into a bowl, load up with toppings, and your healthy breakfast is ready.
8. Fruit and Yoghurt Smoothie
Ingredients:
½ cup thick yoghurt (plain or Greek), 1 banana (for creaminess), ½ cup mixed fruits (like berries, mango, apple, or papaya), ¼ cup milk or water (to adjust consistency), 1 tsp honey or maple syrup (optional), and a few ice cubes.
How to make:
Chuck everything into a blender – yoghurt, fruits, banana, milk, sweetener, ice, and blitz till smooth. Pour it into a glass, top with chia seeds or a few fruit chunks if you like, and there, your nutritious fruit and yoghurt smoothie is ready to savour.
9. Mango Ginger Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 ripe mango (peeled and chopped), ½ inch fresh ginger (grated), 1 cup coconut milk (or regular milk if you prefer), 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup (optional, depending on how sweet your mango is), a few ice cubes, and a squeeze of lime (optional, but it adds a nice tang).
How to make:
Place the mango, grated ginger, coconut milk, honey (if desired), ice cubes, and lime juice (if using) into a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy and adjust the sweetness and ginger to your preference. Pour into a glass and serve immediately, garnished with additional lime or mint if desired.
10. Apple and Peanut Butter Toast
Ingredients:
2 slices whole grain or sourdough bread, 2 tbsp peanut butter (creamy or chunky, your choice), 1 apple (thinly sliced, any variety you like), 1 tsp honey (optional, for extra sweetness), ¼ tsp cinnamon (optional, for a warm kick), a handful of crushed nuts (almonds, walnuts, or granola, for crunch).
How to make:
Start by toasting the bread to your desired level of crispiness. Spread a generous layer of peanut butter on each slice of toast. Arrange the thin apple slices on top of the peanut butter and cover the toast. Drizzle a little honey over the apples if you want to sweeten the deal, and sprinkle a dash of cinnamon for the subtle flavour. Top it off with crushed nuts or granola for an extra crunch.
Enjoy Your Delightful Breakfast
And that’s a wrap on these quick and healthy breakfast ideas. These recipes are all about making your first meal of the day both tasty and nourishing. So, next time you’re rushing through the morning, remember that a wholesome breakfast can be as easy as it is delicious. Try them out, and kick off your day with a smile and a full belly.
