Kid’s Lunch Box Ideas| Thin Red Beaten Rice/Poha With Veggies | Step Wise | Vegan

 

Hi!

I had taken an opinion poll on Facebook fan page, on what all of you would like to read next on the blog and I got an overwhelming response and most of them asked for a healthy kid’s lunch box recipe, it goes to show that the prime concern for all mothers is how to feed healthy food to their children.

As a mother of a teenager, I thrive to feed veggies to my son in every possible way. I find his lunch box most crucial as it’s the meal he has at school in the afternoon. I have to keep coming up with ideas which sound interesting to him and he can proudly share with his friends. As I’ve mentioned earlier that his friends look out for his lunch box and a boring lunch box is not what he would like to show to his friends. I can’t give him junk food or a deep fried items regularly too, which he would most happily eat to increase my discomfort.

 

Recently I came across the thin version of red beaten rice (poha) and I was inclined to buy that. I have used the thick version earlier to make cutlet, dosa,  avalakki bisi bele bhaath, so I had a fair idea of it’s texture and absorption capacity. The red version is more healthier as it’s rich in iron. The thick version absorbs a lot of water and the thinner too absorbs a lot of water but cooks faster.

I decided to make a regular poha with loads of veggies in it, also kept in mind that the spice and salt level to be kept a little high as the beaten rice soaks a lot of water and can taste very bland otherwise. The lemon juice gives a light tartness to the preparation and coriander stems add more flavour.

The final verdict was loved by the kid and his friends and hence I thought of sharing this power packed lunch box with all of you..

Thin Red Beaten Rice/Poha With Veggies

Preparation Time :15mins | Soaking Time: 20mins | Cooking Time: 15mins | Serves:3-4 | Difficulty Level: Easy | Category: Breakfast

 

Ingredients

3-4tbsp oil

1tsp mustard seeds

1/2-1tsp fennel seeds

2handfuls of thin red beaten rice/red poha, washed thoroughly and soaked for 20mins

1/4tsp turmeric powder

3-4green chillies (as per your taste)

1small potato cubed

1tbsp coriander stems chopped

1/2small carrot, cubed

1onion, chopped finely

handful of peas

3-4 French beans, thread and cut into small pieces

juice of half a lemon (optional)

chopped coriander for garnish

 

 

Method

Method heat oil and splutter the mustard seeds.

Add the fennel seeds.Tip in the green chillies and let them fry in oil for a few seconds to release the spice.

Add the onions and sauté. Also add the beans, potatoes, carrot and mix well. Cook them covered till the veggies are cooked thoroughly.

Mean while add salt to taste to the soaked beaten rice and mix thoroughly. One can also add 1/4tsp sugar just for taste.

 

Once the veggies are done mix the beaten rice thoroughly so that all the spices get mixed properly. Sprinkle about 1/4cup water and cook the beaten rice on high flame till one can observe steam getting formed. Cover with a lid and reduce the flame. Cook for 10mins covered.

Remove from the flame and mix some lemon juice (optional). Serve hot sprinkled with spicy sev and chopped coriander.

If packing for lunch box, mix coriander and provide the sev separately.