Breakfast is the most important meal. But children tend to be quite fussy in the morning. Why not try delicious and healthy Indian breakfast recipes for kids? There are plenty of choices such as dosa with coconut chutney, idli-sambar, or poha with vegetables and peanuts; children are sure to get excited about their breakfast. These recipes are not just tasty, but also offer multiple health benefits. Scroll through for a list of healthy and easy Indian breakfast recipes for children.
Healthy And Easy Indian Breakfast Recipes For Kids
India is a country of diverse cultures, each one with its own cuisine and style of food preparation. For ease of understanding, we have divided our recipes into different categories.
South Indian Breakfast Options That Your Child Will Love!
The south of India has five states, but the variety of breakfast dishes it produces will amaze you. Here are some of the many recipes we have picked for you.
1. Oats Idly
Place a bowl of gooey oatmeal in front of the kid and you will get an “eww” or “yuck” in return! When kids don’t like oatmeal, you give them oats idly, a healthy and tasty (slightly modified) vegetarian dish from the South. Being low in calories, it is an ideal choice for calorie conscious. Oats are rich in proteins, minerals, vitamins and fiber, which adds to its nutritive value without compromising on the deliciousness. You will need:
2 cups oats 1 tbsp mustard seeds ½ litre curd ½ tbsp chana dal 1 tbsp urad dal (black gram) ½ tbsp oil 1 cup grated carrots 2 tbsp finely chopped coriander Salt as per taste ½ tbsp turmeric powder
How to: Tip: To ensure the idlis are cooked, you can poke a knife or fork and if the batter doesn’t stick, then its ready.
2. Bread Upma
When you think of bread, you only think of sandwiches or toast. But when you think Indian, you think of bread upma! It’s a good way of using leftover bread and makes a good substitute for rava upma. You will need:
4 bread slices chopped in bite sizes 2 tbsp oil 1 tsp mustard seeds ½ tsp cumin seeds ½ cup chopped onions and tomatoes 1 tsp finely chopped ginger Few chopped curry leaves ¼tsp turmeric powder 1 tbsp chopped coriander Salt to taste
How to:
3. Tumbler Idly
Made from the same ingredients as idly, this is a dish made in Karnataka. These idlis are also called Kadabu and are not cooked in the regular idli steamer but in a special container hence shaped like a tumbler, making it much interesting. You will need:
Idli batter (store bought or homemade) Tumblers – you can choose big or small tumblers, depending on how big or small you want the idlis
How to:
4. Vegetable Masala Dosa
Dosas are delicious Indian-pancakes, only that they are not sweet. Like idlis, you eat the dosas with chutneys or potato curry. This masala dosa recipe tells you how you can bring the goodness of veggies to the breakfast table. You can add to the nutritive value of this recipe by substituting potato with paneer, carrots capsicums etc. You will need: For dosa batter:
2 cups idli rice 1 cup regular rice 1 cup urad dal (split black gram) Salt, as needed
For the filling:
2 Cups of chopped veggies – carrots, beans, cabbage, spring onions, spinach, beets 2 teaspoons pav bhaji masala Turmeric, a pinch Salt to taste ¼ cup milk or non-dairy milk 2 tablespoons oil
How to:
5. Uttapam
Uttapam is the Indian version of pancakes. A dish from the state of Karnataka, the uttapam tastes good when topped with finely chopped veggies. It is easy to make and healthy too. You will need:
Idli batter (made the previous day) 1 cup chopped onions, tomatoes, spinach, and cilantro ½ cup grated carrots 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
How to:
6. Semiya Upma
Semiya or vermicelli is used to make a dessert called ‘payasam’ and also a snack or tiffin called ‘semiya upma’. It’s a quick, tasty and easy breakfast recipe for kids. You will need:
1 cup roasted vermicelli (wheat) 1 cup chopped carrots ¼ cup fresh green peas 2 green chilies, chopped 1 tsp ginger, grated 1 onion, chopped 2 tsp mustard seeds, urad dal and chana dal (split Bengal gram) 2 tsp oil Handful of peanuts and cashews A few curry leaves Salt to taste 1 1/2 cups water Lemon juice 1 tsp coconut oil
How to:
7. Palak (Spinach) Poori
A plate of poori with sago or curry is not a mom’s favorite breakfast option, but it is something that your kid will not resist. Here is a healthy poori recipe you can serve your children once a week or twice. You will need:
2 cups wheat flour 500 grams spinach, washed 2-3 tsp clarified butter or ghee (you can use olive oil if you are a vegan) 1 tsp ginger paste 1 tsp green chili paste I/2 tsp cumin seeds Oil for frying Salt to taste Water
How to: You can also serve poori for lunch or dinner! Tip: To make soft and puffed poori, the dough should be slightly tight. Let it rest for 15-20 minutes to relax the gluten, making it easier for you to roll out perfect round pooris.
8. Ragi (Finger Millet) Vegetable Dosa
One of the best ways to get veggies into your child’s body, without them realizing it is to mix them in the batter or dough. Here is such a recipe to make healthy dosas for breakfast. You will need:
¾ cup ragi (finger millet) flour ¼ cup wheat flour or whole wheat flour Sooji (semolina) 2-3 tbsp Vegetables grated or chopped: carrots, spinach, onion, and tomato Green chilies, finely chopped Cilantro leaves 1 spoon curd Water, as needed ½ tsp cumin seeds 3 tbsp oil Salt to taste
How to:
9. Rawa Dosa
Rawa dosa is an instant Indian breakfast recipe, which means it is not fermented and you can whip up the batter with just a handful of ingredients and make the dosa in less than an hour! This is another irresistible option for your kid since it’s tasty, crispy and crunchy. You will need:
½ cup rawa (sooji or fine semolina) ¼ cup maida (flour) ½ cup rice flour 2 green chilies, finely chopped 1 tbsp grated ginger Chopped cilantro leaves 1 cup chopped onions and tomatoes 1/2 tsp black pepper powder ½ tsp cumin seeds Water Salt to taste Oil for roasting the dosa
How to:
10. Medu vada
Another deep-fried breakfast option, medu vada is a salty doughnut-like food that needs a lot of preparation. Vada can be an occasional breakfast dish you can make for your kids. Perhaps during holidays or festivals. You will need:
2 cups urad dal (husked black gram) 1 tsp black pepper, crushed 1 onion, finely chopped 2 green chilies, finely chopped 1 tsp finely chopped or grated ginger Chopped curry leaves, a handful Salt to taste Oil for frying ½ cup chopped coconut (optional) Chopped cilantro leaves (optional) Water
How to:
11. Appam or Rice and Coconut Pancake
Appam is a sweet-ish pancake from the Indian state of Kerala. It is prepared with coconut and rice and is a healthy and simple Indian breakfast dish for kids. You will need:
1 cup rice 2 cups grated coconut 3 tablespoons sugar ½ teaspoon yeast Salt to taste
How to:
12. Ven Pongal
An easy and healthy rice dish, ven pongal can also be served for lunch! The recipe is also ideal for younger kids just starting on solid food. Pongal is a very popular south indian dish either as a sweet or savory dish. It is offered to the gods or dieties. Here we are sharing the savory version of pongal. You will need:
1 cup rice ½ cup moong dal (yellow) (split green gram) 1 tsp black pepper 1-2 green chilies 1 tsp ginger, grated or finely chopped 1 tsp cumin seeds 4 cups water Cashew nuts, handful 200 grams clarified butter of ghee (or vegetable oil) Salt to taste
How to: If preparing for the little ones, avoid using green chilies.
Healthy North Indian Breakfast Options
So far, we’ve learned about the delicacies from the South. Now let’s move on up to explore the recipes from Northern India.
13. Sago Khichdi
A yummy, protein-rich breakfast or snack option that you can make in just 15 minutes, Sago or sabudana (tapioca pearls) khichdi is a popular Maharashtrian dish. Here is how to make it. You will need:
1 cup sago (medium sized) 2 small potatoes, peeled and diced ½ cup roasted peanuts Curry leaves, handful 2-3 green chilies ½ tsp mustard seeds ½ tsp urad dal ½ tsp cumin seeds Salt to taste 2 tbsp oil
How to:
14. Stuffed Paratha
Getting your child to eat the veggies with roti (Indian bread) can be a challenging task! So in comes the paratha. Stuffed paratha is an Indian veg breakfast recipe, which is bread and vegetables rolled into one! You can stuff the paratha with potatoes, cauliflower, leafy vegetables, beetroot, and carrots. You will need: For the dough
2 cups wheat flour Water as required Salt 1 teaspoon oil
For the stuffing:
Vegetables of your choice (boiled) Paneer (cottage cheese) ¼ tsp garam masala 1-2 green chilies Salt as required Oil for roasting
How to:
15. Poha
Poha or beaten/ flattened rice needs no cooking, and can be used to make a quick breakfast recipe for kids and adults. You can enrich the simple dish by adding a lot of veggies and nuts. Keep reading to know how! You will need:
1.5 cups flattened rice or poha 1 onion, finely chopped 1 potato, diced 1 carrot, finely chopped 1 green chili, chopped 8-10 curry leaves Peanuts, a handful ½ tsp chana dal (Bengal gram) ½ tsp urad dal ½ tsp mustard seeds ½ tsp cumin seeds ¼ tsp turmeric powder Salt to taste 2 tbsp oil 1 tbsp lemon juice
How to:
16. Chapati Rolls
You will need:
Chapati Finely chopped onions, tomatoes, capsicum, beans, carrots Mashed paneer Salt to taste 3 tsp salt 1 ½ tsp coriander powder ½ tsp garam masala
How to:
17. Moong Dal Cheela
A cheela is the north-Indian version of the ‘dosa’. Here is a recipe of moong dal (green gram) cheela with the goodness of paneer in it. The cheela can be made with either split or husked moong or whole moong. It is light and rich in nutrients. You will need:
200 grams green moong dal (green gram) 50 grams fresh green peas, chopped 1 onion, finely chopped Cilantro leaves, chopped ¼ tsp baking soda A piece of ginger, peeled and grated 2 green chilies, chopped 2 garlic pods ¼ tsp turmeric Salt to taste Water
For the filling:
4 tbsp grated paneer 1 green chilly, finely chopped ½ tsp chaat masala 1 lemon, juiced Salt to taste
How to:
18. Thepla
Thepla is a traditional Gujarati dish made of wheat flour and fenugreek leaves. The best part: you can just eat it with curd or pickle, no need to make a curry! You will need:
1 cup wheat flour 1 cup fenugreek or methi leaves ¼ cup of bajra flour ¼ cup besan (Bengal gram flour) ¼ cup jowar flour ½ tsp red chili powder 1-2 green chilies, crushed 1-inch ginger washed and grated ½ tsp turmeric powder ½ tsp cumin powder ½ tsp coriander seeds powder Salt to taste Water Oil for roasting
How to:
19. Beetroot Sesame Paratha
Your kid hates beets? Well, here is a way to sneak the vegetable into his meals – with the beetroot sesame paratha! You will need:
¼th cup boiled and mashed beetroot 1 tablespoon sesame seeds ½ cup whole wheat flour 2 tsp oil plus 2 tsp for cooking ½ tsp coriander powder ¼th tsp turmeric powder Salt to taste
How to:
Simple Breakfast Recipes For All
When you sleep in that extra five minutes and wake up 30 minutes late, the entire day can go bad! When you are crunched for time but do not want to compromise on nutrition, these breakfast recipes can come to your rescue.
20. Masala Omelet
An omelet may not be an Indian dish, but you can Indianize it by adding a little ‘masala’. Read on to know how you can make Mumbai’s popular street food in your kitchen! You will need:
3 eggs 1 small onion, finely chopped 1 tomato, finely chopped 1 green chilly, chopped Coriander leaves, a handful ½ tsp turmeric powder 1 tbsp butter 1 tbsp oil 2 tbsp milk Salt to taste
How to:
21. Broken Wheat, Oats, and Apple Porridge
Oatmeal by itself is not very appealing. So make a sweet porridge out of it by adding broken wheat (dalia) and fruit. We chose apples, but you can add banana, berries, and raisins as well if your kid likes them. This recipe is a combo of two power-packed cereals, prepared as a delicious meal. Kids will love its creamy and fruity flavor. You will need:
¼ cup broken wheat or dalia 3 tbsp oats ½ cup water 1 cup milk ½ tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp butter Brown sugar to taste ½ cup apples, peeled and diced
How to:
22. Sali Par Edu
Sali Par Edu is a dish enjoyed by the Parsi community in India. It is delicious and easy to make too. You will need:
3 eggs 2 teaspoons olive oil 4 tablespoons Sali or deep fried grated potatoes Salt and ground pepper to taste
How to:
23. Sweet Corn Salad/Chaat
One of the best ways to start your day is with a salad. If you have a teen who is conscious about what she eats, this salad can be a great idea. You will need:
1 cup sweet corn kernels ½ cup cottage cheese or tofu, diced 1 tomato, chopped 1 tsp olive oil 1 tablespoon chopped coriander 1 tsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice Garlic powder to taste Salt and sugar to taste Chili flakes Olive oil for sautéing paneer
How to: Admit it! Just reading these recipes is making your mouth water! So why delay? Try these easy and tasty indian breakfast recipes. We know that your kids will love them! Some of these recipes can also be altered to suit your tastes. What is your child’s favorite Indian breakfast? Share the recipes with us here!
