Vegetable Rice | Variety Rice recipe | Kids Lunch Box Recipe

When choosing lunch box dishes for kids, it is important to select those which stay tasty even when not hot and are also wholesome. Adding plenty of veggies and cooking a one-pot meal does help with a nutrional boost during the busy hours of our little ones. As the kids study in a multi-racial environment, I tend to avoid packing dishes with strong Masala flavours.This mixed vegetable rice is mildly flavoured and definitely a kids-friendly healthy meal. My kids love the crunchiness of veggies blended with ginger-coriander flavour and mild tanginess from lemon juice. 

Preparation time - 10mins

Cooking time - 10mins

Serves - 4

Ingredients:

Basmati rice - 1 cup

Ghee or Oil - 2 tbsp

Jeera / Cumin seeds - 1tsp

Cloves - 3

Cardamom pods  - 2

Bay leaf - 1 

Ginger - 3/4" piece

Green chilli - 3-4

Coriander leaves - 1/2cup, tightly packed

Onion - 1, sliced lengthwise

Potato - 2, julienned

Carrot - 1, julienned

Beans - 10, julienned

Cauliflower - few florets

Fresh lemon juice -1 tbsp (Optional)

Salt - As needed

Method:-

1.  Cook Basmati rice according to package instructions and keep it aside.

2.  In a mixer, blend ginger, chilli and coriander leaves with 2-3tblsp water into a fine paste and set aside.

         

3.  Heat oil in a pan, add jeera, cloves, cardomom and bay leaf. Once evenly browned, add onion and sauté for 3-4mins until it turns pink and aromatic. 

         

4.  Add the veggies and sauté on a high flame for another 2-3mins. 

5.  Now add the ginger-coriander paste and let it cook on medium-high for another 4-5mins until the veggies are just cooked enough. Do not overcook as the veggies become soggy and lose their crunchiness. Also, DO NOT close with a lid while cooking. The veggies lose their bright colour in the process.

         

6.  Add cooked rice and gently mix so that the flavours are incorporated well. Squeeze in the lemon juice and garnish with coriander leaves. 

         

Serve this healthy Mixed Vegetable Rice alongside Raitas or gravy of your choice. I packed my kid's lunch box with Rajma Masala and a simple Boondhi Raita.

Sending this to Blogging Marathon's Kid's Delight series hosted at Jayanthi's space.