Week 2 of Explore the Flavors i will be doing Lunch box recipes. Last week i did a series of Breakfast recipes, now this week it is going to be lunch box menu. Deciding what to give for lunch is a big confusion in many houses, including mine sometimes. Recently i have started meal planning, so i won't be repeating my dishes for the week atleast. Meal planning has many advantages, firstly you avoid confusion, no staring at the ceiling, during the week thinking what to make?, you shop ahead, no overbuying, no running out of stock, less wastage and most importantly i give my kids a chance to decide what they want to eat. It is a win-win situation for all.
I pack rice dishes once a week for my hubby's lunch dabba. This ginger-garlic rice is his favorite. Since,I pack his lunch in Vaya tiffen box, it keeps food hot for more than 6 hours, curries will be piping hot, rice will be warm. The addition of ginger and garlic with freshly pounded pepper when had warm, gives a toasty feeling. My goto recipe whenever i run out of vegies and have only onions. Do try and let me know how you liked it!
If you would like to see the Breakfast Recipes, i did for Explore the Flavors, here is the list
- Aval Idly
- Buckwheat groats upma
- Chia Savory Breakfast Pudding
- Dal Puttu
- Eggplant Toasts
- Feta Cheese Wraps
Ingredients
1.5 cups of cooked rice, i use sona masuri, leftover rice can also be used
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon ginger julieness
¼ teaspoon freshly pounded black pepper powder
Tempering
1-2 tablespoon oil
¼ teaspoon mustard seeds
2 nos red chilies, broken into two
4-5 curry leaves, torn into pieces
1tsp cumin seeds
Method
- If you are cooking rice fresh for this, cook according to your method. I usually prefer stove-top method, i drain starch once the rice cooks. I find it easy to get fluffy cooked rice this way.
- Leftover rice can also be used for making this rice. If the rice is refrigerated, remove the rice from the fridge, steam it on the stove-top or in the microwave. If using microwave, take the rice in a microwave safe bowl, rinse it well with water, drain the water fully. Now microwave cook it at high for 8-10 minutes, the rice will turn fluffy. Once ready, keep it aside until use.
- Heat a pan with oil, splutter mustard seeds, add chilies and curry leaves, now add chopped onions to it and saute until translucent. To this add chopped garlic and ginger and saute until the garlic turns golden brown. Add cumin finally and take it off the heat.
- Now add the cooked rice to this and mix well. Adjust salt. Serve warm. I usually pack this rice for my hubby's lunch box and my elder one's lunch when he has stay back at school.
Srivalli
Oh such a lovely theme and so useful Priya, I used to make the weekly menu regularly and share on the site as well..though these days I don't find time to sit down to right it..However, my friends tease me how much menu planning I normally do..coming to this dish, wow I never realized something like this can be packed. What do you normally serve along with this rice?
Priya_Srinivasan
valli, i serve this with langar dal, it can also be served with potatoes.
Unknown
Ha ha staring at the ceiling is what I do most often 😀 You are such full of life person priya . I just love reading your intro's they crack me up :D..Coming to the actual topic ,This is such an amazing rice recipe, packed with flavors am just drooling over n over again.. he he this just contrary to the theme am doing today 😀 I love ginger garlic in anything but sweet 😛 I have heard a lot about vaya tiffin box must buy it soon..
Priya Suresh
Wow, this ginger and garlic rice looks absolutely fabulous and extremely flavourful. With simple ingredients, am sure this rice will definitely please some hungry tummies here.
Sandhiya
Such an interesting and flavorful rice recipe, Priya!!! It's definitely comes handy on the day we're out of veggies as you said. Great share will give it a try on sometime.
Gayathri Kumar
This is such a flavourful rice recipe. It also sounds so easy to make and what a perfect lunch box recipe. Looks awesome Priya. Between, I never plan my dishes, I guess I am too lazy for meal planning..
Harini R
Meal planning is a no-no at my place. I agree it gets way too chaotic to manage sometimes but in chaos we thrive :). My plan is always the night before and it is such a dreaded question for everyone.
This rice is such a flavorful one and a life saver for sure. Looking forward to more lunch box ideas this week.
Pavani
Wow Priya, that is such a flavorful and delicious rice dish. So simple to make and it sounds just perfect to pack for lunch. I would love to try it out some time soon.
Srividhya
Love ur meal plan ideas and seen few on IG as well. I plan 70% but 30% impulse cooking only. 😉 This sounds like a great lunch box recipe and can't wait to try it.
Sharmila kingsly
Totally loved this lunchbox theme ,very helpful . simple gibger and garlic are making wonders in this recipe!!
Padmajha
My meal planning happens only the night before! Planning the packed lunches is such a big issue! This rice must have been a very flavorful one! I make garlic rice and with ginger I can imagine how yum it would taste!
vaishali sabnani
I always used to plan but now I have a cook who comes in to cook the routine food .. and the menu is decided after he comes in . No dabbas , no kids , whatever is in the Frig is cooked .
I love these rice that you have made , I do toss rice with garlic but have never used ginger , would love to try this version , sounds interesting .
Nicole
Yum, this sounds and looks so flavourful! I don't think I would need anything to go with it, I'd be happy with just a large bowl of this rice 🙂
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
Hubby and I are both retired. When we were working, lunch ideas were always an issue too. It was one of those meals that if you had time to eat you were lucky. I would for sure be making time for this. I think I will make this for dinner!!
Sandhya Ramakrishnan
This sounds so simple to make and I love the flavors here. I am not sure if my husband would take this rice to work though because of the garlic, but I will make a large bowl for myself with leftover rice and enjoy it.
Veena Azmanov
YUM! This looks so delicious! Is good food and this looks like one of the BEST! I love love love how easy this is!!! Thank you for this great idea!
Sweet Silly Sara
This looks like a great side or lunch! I love the combo of ginger and garlic!
Carmy
This looks amazing! I need to remember this for the next time I make rice! It'll definitely pack a punch.
Unknown
Absolutely lovely! Ginger and garlic is such a delicious combination and the red chile is the perfect touch. Great recipe!
kali
What a Delicious recipe. so tasty and healthy a great lunchbox idea. Definitely pinning this one. my kids wil love it
Unknown
We have rice all the time in my house, but it tends to get a little boring after a while. I love how you took something simple and kicked it up a notch!
cookingwithsapana
I have never used ginger in rice but only garlic. Loved the idea and I too pack rice dishes in lunch boxes as they are a breeze to cook.
Mayuri Patel
That's one flavorful rice dish. I usually re fry left over rice with onion and garlic and chili but have not tried with ginger and pepper. I should consider myself lucky that I don't have to pack lunch boxes. But I do get hubby complaining that I don't make different kind of rice dishes.
Chef Mireille
what a flavorful rice - this would surely compliment any meal!
preeti garg
Wow.. looks so finger licking recipe... so perfect and tasty.
Suma Gandlur
My daughter is the only one who carries lunch in my home and hers is one standard dish that she loves and carries. Therefore no meal planning is required in my home. However it's a lovely theme and useful for many. The rice is so flavorful and simple one to make in the morning rush hour.