The mornings may be so busy with work deadlines, family schedules and personal obligations and before long, breakfast would good-bye slip to the bottom of the list. It is not the solution to skip it or take something unhealthy on the go. The good news? Indian food is the treasure trove of good, tasty breakfast meals that are fast to cook, and rich in taste and nutritional value. Whether it is protein-infused favourites that provide you with uninterrupted energy or fibre-rich classics that make you full and in your concentration, these meals have the right mix of food and flavour to sustain you through your day.
Also, no matter what you are in the mood, be it something light and savoury or something hearty and filling, these ten Indian breakfast recipes will cover you. They are all targeted at the hectic mornings, are easy to prepare, rich in the needed vitamins and minerals, and filled with energy-giving components that, in fact, make you feel good about what you are eating. Now we should immerse ourselves in these nutritious and easy to like alternatives that do not mean sacrificing taste or that morning time that we all value so much.
1. Poha
An Indian breakfast, poha is a breakfast favourite in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, which is the ideal breakfast that balances nutritiousness and convenience. It is composed of flattened rice and it has been part of the Indian households as a breakfast snack. Poha is light, easy to digest, abundant in iron and carbohydrates, which is why the feeling of quick energy is instant, and it does not make you feel heavy. Conventionally, it is seasoned with mustard seeds, curry leaves and peanuts to provide a beautiful crunch and a portion of good fats. Onions and potatoes are added to improve the taste and increase the amount of fibre, and a bit of turmeric will provide a golden colour. It is all topped off with a squeeze of lemon. Cooked within less than 15 minutes, poha is infinitely flexible according to what vegetables you happen to have on hand.
Recipe:
- 2 cups thick poha
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 1 potato (diced)
- 2 green chillies
- 1/4 cup peanuts
- Curry leaves
- 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 2 tbsp oil
- Salt
- Coriander
-
Lemon juice
How to prepare Poha:
Wash your poha first, then extract all the water. Now, heat oil in a pan, add peanuts, curry leaves, mustard seeds and chillies too. Add potatoes once the seeds pop. Cook the potatoes till they become soft and tender. Time to add poha, onions, and turmeric. Cover and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle some coriander, lemon juice before serving.
2. Bread besan toast
This ingenious way of making breakfast makes a simple piece of bread nutritious and nutrient dense dish. Plant protein and fibre content, other mineral compounds such as iron and magnesium are high in the nutritional value of besan or chickpea flour. There is practically nothing special about this dish except the fact that it is basically simple as the batter is made from gram flour that is practically experienced, the mixture is steamed with turmeric, cumin, and chilli, after which the crisp pan fries it leaving the bread moist inside. Also you may put in some chopped onions in it, tomatoes and coriander a little towards a better taste and the dish will still remain colourful. The preparation time does not exceed 15 minutes, which makes this recipe ideal when you do not have time to spend preparing something good yet healthy in the morning.
Recipe:
- 4 slices of bread
- 1/2 cup gram flour (besan)
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 chopped onion
- 1 chopped tomato
- 1 green chilli
- 1/2 tsp coriander powder
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
- 1 pinch cumin seeds
- Salt
- Sufficient oil for cooking
How to prepare Bread besan toast:
Take a bowl and combine gram flour, water, and spices until a smooth batter is obtained. Next add your chopped vegetables. Heat a pan with a some oil. Wet both sides of the piece of bread in the batter, ensure they are fully covered then fry over a medium heat till they become golden and crispy. Serve hot!
3. Idli with chutney
Idlis, the lifetime breakfast favourite in South India is soft, pillowy, and incredibly comfortable. They are gluten-free, calorie-dense, and easy on the stomach, made of fermented rice and lentil batter and are therefore perfect across all ages. Their light tang and airy feel is created by the fermentation and it produces gut-beneficial probiotics. They are also steamed, and therefore retain all the nutrients without any fat added to them hence making it one of the healthiest ways to kick off your day. It is a healthy meal which goes well with coconut chutney, which is high in healthy fats. The only trick? Let the batter ferment in a warm area for 8 to 12 hours.
Recipe:
- 2 cups idli rice
- 1 cup urad dal
- 1/2 tsp fenugreek seed
-
Salt
How to prepare Idli with chutney:
Soak rice and dal separately for 4–5 hours. Blend rice and dal separately. Combine both batters and add salt. Ferment for 8–12 hours. Pour into greased moulds. Cover and steam for 10–12 minutes.
Chutney recipe:
- 1 cup Coconut
- 2 green chillies
- Ginger
- Roasted chana dal
- Salt
How to prepare Chutney:
Make this aromatic sauce by simply mixing the coconut, chillies, ginger, chana dal and salt till well combined. Now pour some tempered mustard seeds, urad dal, curry leaves, dried red chilli in little oil over your chutney as a garnish. That's the key to rich flavour!
4. Besan ka chilla
The Besan Ka Chilla is a marvellous and savoury pancake that not only is easy to prepare, it is also good to your health. The main ingredient in this dish is the chickpea flour or besan that is marvellous in terms of nutrition. It is also gluten-free, easy to digest, is high in proteins and fibre, which makes each bite healthy and good. And most of all it is excellent when you need to have a wholesome breakfast, or a quick snack that will make you good!
The batter only requires gram flour, water, spices and available vegetables to make it. The digestive qualities of the ajwain are enhanced by turmeric which adds colour, nutrition and anti-inflammatory properties to the dish. The pancake can be cooked to obtain both a thin crisp and a soft fluffy texture. The nutritive value of the dish is enhanced when grated carrots, spinach and peppers are added to the mixture. The recipe is high in nutrition enough for breakfast while the dish cooks up quickly for serving with chutney or yoghurt.
Recipe:
- 1 cup besan
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 1 tomato (chopped)
- 2 green chillies
- Coriander
- 1/4 tsp turmeric
- 1/4 tsp red chilli powder
- Ajwain
- Salt
- Water
- Oil
How to prepare Besan ka chilla:
Mix besan and spices. Add water to form a smooth batter. Stir in vegetables. Heat a pan and pour the batter. Spread it evenly. Cook both sides until golden.
5. Upma
One of the comfort foods that one can depend on is upma, which is a classic of South Indians. It is prepared using semolina and is full of slow release carbohydrates that will keep you full and energised. The first step of roasting semolina makes it nutty tasting and the second step of tempering mustard seeds, curry leaves and lentils add depth and aroma. The fibre and nutrition is increased with vegetables such as peas, carrots and beans, and it is topped with a nice crunch of cashews. A little ginger is good in digestion, and warming. The best part? It consists of a one-pot meal that can be prepared in about 20 minutes and it can be customised to your preference, a pinch of coconut, additional vegetables, or more spices.
Recipe:
- 1 cup rava
- 2.5 cups water
- 1 onion
- Mixed vegetables
- 2 green chillies
- Ginger
- Curry leaves
- Cashews
- Mustard seeds
- Chana dal
- Urad dal
- 2 tbsp oil
- Salt
- Coriander
How to prepare Upma:
Roast rava until aromatic. Heat oil. Add mustard seeds, cashew and dals. Add chillies, ginger, onions, vegetables and curry leaves. Pour in water and salt. Bring to a boil. Slowly stir in rava. Cook until water is absorbed.
6. Peanut butter toast
It is easy to make peanut butter toast: quick and surprisingly tasty when eaten in the morning, it's a distinct favourite for lots of people. The body absorbs complex carbohydrates and fibre found in whole wheat bread. Peanut butter provides protein, good fats and certain vitamins including vitamin E and magnesium. They are good for the heart, help to normalise blood sugar and will fill you up better than most other foods. Add sliced bananas to the top in order to get natural sweetness, drizzle a spoon of honey to get antioxidants and sprinkle a bit of cinnamon to get the heat. It is a simple breakfast which only requires about five minutes to prepare yet will leave you full and sustained hours.
Recipe:
- 2 pieces whole grain bread
- 2–3 tbsps peanut butter
- 1 banana (sliced)
- Honey
- Cinnamon
How to prepare Peanut butter toast:
Toast the bread until browned. Spread peanut butter generously. Place banana slices. Drizzle with honey. Sprinkle cinnamon uniformly.
7. Egg bhurji
Egg bhurji is a spiced-up form of scrambled eggs and is healthy and tasty. It is good in protein, vitamin B12, selenium, and choline - all of which are essential nutrients in the braining and metabolism. It is such a simple food combining onions, tomatoes, and spices that make it a warm breakfast favourite. Onions are good sources of fibre and antioxidants, tomatoes contain vitamin C and lycopene and ginger-garlic paste enhances immune. The spices, besides having a taste, also have anti-inflammatory effects. You can have it with roti or toast and you are good to go, preparing it takes less than 10 minutes.
Recipe:
- 4 eggs
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 2 tomatoes (chopped)
- 2 green chillies
- 1/2 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
- 1/4 tbsp turmeric
- 1/4 tbsp red chilli powder
- Cumin powder
- Coriander
- 2 tbsp oil
- Salt and pepper
How to prepare Egg bhurji:
Whip the eggs with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a pan. Saute onions, ginger garlic paste, chillies. Add tomatoes and cook for a while till soft. Add the spices. Add the beaten eggs. Gently scramble everything. Garnish with coriander before serving.
8. Thepla
Another delicacy of Gujarat, thepla is the ideal combination of taste, health, and convenience. Those soft spiced flatbreads are prepared with whole wheat flour and fenugreek leaves and contain high amounts of fibre, iron, and vitamins. Fenugreek aids in digestion and brings the blood sugar levels under control, whereas yoghurt in the dough makes the theplas tender and also provides probiotics. They also take up very little time to prepare meals, they can be made in bulk, and you will have breakfast to last you days. The spice mixture of turmeric, cumin and coriander is a beautiful flavour augment. And eat it hot out with yoghurt or a slice of pickle.
Recipe:
- 2 cups wheat flour
- 1 cup methi leaves (chopped)
- 1/4 cup yoghurt
- 1 tbsp oil
- Ginger-green chilli paste
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
- Coriander powder
- Cumin powder
- Asafoetida
- Sesame seeds
- Sugar
- Salt
How to prepare Thepla:
Combine all ingredients. Knead into a soft dough with water. Rest for 15 minutes. Roll into thin circles. Cook on a hot tawa with a little oil until golden.
9. Kala chana
One of the most underestimated and at the same time effective breakfast ingredients is black chickpeas. Their dense consistency and nutritious taste turns them into a good and filling breakfast. The process starts with preparation on the eve whereby chickpeas should be soaked in order to soften them and reduce cooking time. You can pressure cook in the morning until tender and have the best foundation to a good breakfast. Kala chana is also an excellent source of plant protein, fibre, iron and complex carbohydrates that give long term energy and prevents the mid-morning crashes. It is also rich in folate, magnesium and potassium. Eat it fresh as a salad with onions, tomatoes and chaat masala or warm them with chapati to get something more satisfying. Cooked kala chana can be stored in the fridge until three days.
Recipe:
- 1 cup kala chana (soaked overnight)
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 1 tomato (chopped)
- Cucumber (diced)
- 1 green chilli
- Ginger (grated)
- Coriander
- Chaat masala
- Cumin powder
- Black salt
- Salt
- Lemon juice
-
Pepper
How to prepare Kala chana:
Drain soaked kala chana. Pressure cook in water and salt till done. Drain and let cool slightly. Mix with vegetables. Add spices and lemon juice. Combine well. Serve after 5 minutes.
10. Smoothie bowl
The fact that smoothie bowls exist testifies to the fact that breakfast can be healthy and beautiful. They are sturdier than an ordinary smoothie and they only require a few minutes to prepare and do not need cooking. The bottom which is usually frozen bananas and berries gives it a creamy ice-cream kind of texture. Bananas provide a natural sweetness, berries provide antioxidants and yoghurt provides protein, probiotics. Toppings are the place to be creative, fresh fruits, granola, nuts, seeds; or a sprinkle of coconut flakes to add additional texture and taste. Chia seeds contain a lot of omega-3 and fibre. A smoothie bowl is bright, colourful and nourishing and would make you feel indulgent and generate energy that would last you hours.
Base:
- 2 frozen bananas
- 1/2 cup berries
- 1/2 cup yoghurt
- Honey
-
Chia seeds
Toppings:
- Fresh fruit
- Granola
- Nuts
- Seeds
-
Coconut flakes
How to prepare Smoothie bowl:
Blend all of the ingredients of base until thick and smooth. Add to a bowl and top however you wish, and serve immediately.
Conclusion
In the morning, things can be stressful but does it mean that your breakfast has to be neglected? These Indian breakfast ideas will show that it is possible to eat healthy, fast, and delicious. It can be a bowl of steaming poha, crispy dosa, or even a warm bowl of upma; each of them is a combination of nutritious meals and a lot of tasting to make it through the day. What is even better about them is that they are flexible; most of them can be made the previous night, modified to your mood, diet and adapted to whatever is in the fridge. It is breakfast with heart and sense. Then the next day, rather than foregoing the meal or picking something processed, spend a few more minutes and have something home made and healthy. You will not only feel the difference, you will even be eager to mornings.
FAQs
What is the healthiest Indian breakfast?
Idli with sambar and some fresh fruit, light, filling, and perfectly balanced for a healthy start.
Which is the lowest calorie breakfast?
A bowl of veggie-loaded poha or upma made with minimal oil, easy on the calories, big on flavour.
Which Indian food is good for breakfast?
Dosa, thepla, or even a quick chilla, all comforting, nutritious, and guaranteed to make mornings better.