Real food, fast
Not every dinner can be a slow-cooked nihari. These recipes take 30 minutes or less in total, counting both preparation and cooking, based on the times in each recipe. They’re the dishes to reach for after work, when guests drop in unexpectedly, or when the children are hungry now.
How to cook faster
- Keep pastes ready. A jar of ginger-garlic paste in the fridge saves five minutes every time.
- Cook onions in batches. Fry a big batch of or soft onions and freeze them in portions.
- Use quick-cooking proteins. Eggs, boneless chicken, paneer, prawns and red lentils (masoor) all cook in minutes.
- Use the right pan. A wide karahi evaporates liquid faster than a deep pot.
- Make the most of leftovers. Day-old rice makes perfect lemon rice or fried rice.
Ideas by meal
- Breakfast: desi omelette, menemen, poha, upma.
- Lunch: masoor daal with rice, shakshuka, a chaat.
- Dinner: a quick chicken or paneer curry with roti.
For a whole week of fast meals, try our meal planner, or use What can I cook? to find something from what’s already in your kitchen.