This guide is to help you create simple healthy dinner recipes for Indian kids that are vegan, kid-approved, and suitable for the whole family. Getting a nutritious and delicious dinner on the table that your kids will actually eat can feel like a daily challenge. From healthy dinner recipes for little ones to kid-friendly Indian dinner ideas for older kids, we’ve got people of all ages covered. These healthy Indian dishes are designed to be light, soft and delicious for children aged 3-5 years. Say goodbye to dinner time battles and say hello to happy, well-fed kids with this list of top kid-friendly vegetarian dishes loved by Indian families!
1. Creamy Vegetable Dal Khichdi
Perfect for: Healthy Dinner Recipes for Indian Kids, Healthy Indian Recipes for 2 Year Old Baby! The ultimate comfort food! This one-pot meal of rice and lentils is light, easy to digest, and packed with hidden grated vegetables.
Material:
½ cup rice
¼ cup moong dal (yellow lentils)
1 tbsp ghee
¼ tsp turmeric
2 tbsp grated carrot/ ridge gourd
salt to taste
3 cups water
Instruction:
Wash rice and lentils together.
Heat ghee in a pressure cooker. – Add grated vegetables and fry for 1 minute.
Add rice, lentils, turmeric, salt and water.
Pressure cook for 4 whistles until very soft and mushy. Serve with an extra dollop of ghee.
2. Paneer Palak Paneer Paratha
Perfect for: Healthy Dinner Recipes for Kids, Indian Vegetables, Hidden Greens! A great way to include spinach in your child’s diet. The cheese makes it irresistible, while the whole wheat paratha provides lasting energy.
Material:
1 cup whole wheat flour
½ cup boiled and mashed spinach
2 tbsp grated cheese
1 tbsp grated cheese (optional)
salt to taste
ghee for cooking
Instruction:
Mix wheat flour, spinach puree and salt and knead a soft dough.
Mix grated cheese and cottage cheese.
Fill the paneer-cottage cheese mixture in the dough and roll the parantha.
Apply ghee on the pan and cook until golden spots appear on both sides.
3. Light Vegetable Casserole with Peas and Corn
Perfect for: Kid-friendly Indian dinner ideas, Simple healthy dinner recipes for Indian kids! A colorful and aromatic rice dish that is much more exciting than plain rice. The natural sweetness of peas and corn makes it a favorite of children.
Material:
1 cup basmati rice
2 tbsp sweet corn
2 tbsp green peas
1 tbsp ghee
1 small bay leaf
salt to taste
Instruction:
Wash the rice and soak it for 15 minutes.
Heat ghee, add bay leaves, then add drained rice.
Fry for a minute, then add peas, corn, salt and 2 cups of water.
Cook until the rice swells and absorbs the water.
4. Potato and Pea Stuffed Paratha (Aloo Paratha)
Perfect for: dinner ideas for kids, Indian dishes, family favorites! A classic North Indian dish that is always a hit. It is filling, soft and can be mixed with curd for a complete meal.
Material:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 large boiled potato, mashed
2 tbsp boiled peas
Salt and a pinch of cumin powder
ghee for cooking
Instruction:
Knead a soft dough with wheat flour and water.
To make stuffing, mix mashed potatoes, peas, salt and cumin powder.
Fill the ball with dough, roll it lightly and apply ghee on the pan and cook till it turns golden.
5. Silky Tomato Soup (Desi Style)
Perfect for: Healthy dinner recipes for 2 year olds, light dinners! A smooth, creamy and slightly sweet Indian-style tomato soup. This is a warm and comforting meal, perfect for a light dinner or when a child is unwell.
Material:
3 large tomatoes, chopped
1 small carrot, chopped
1 tablespoon butter
salt and a pinch of sugar
Instruction:
Cook tomatoes and carrots with 1 cup water for 2 whistles.
Let it cool, then blend until completely smooth.
Strain the soup back into a pot to remove seeds and skin.
Add butter, salt and sugar. Heat and serve.
