India is globally recognized for its diverse range of food items. Mānasollāsa is India’s ancient book that has treasured some brilliant and nutritious recipes. We are still following most of the recipes till today. The beauty of Indian recipes is that you don’t need plenty of time and processed ingredients. You can save time while eating healthy. In this blog, I have shared some easy breakfast recipes – Indian.
So no more rushing to the office with just a piece of buttered bread in your hand. These easy breakfast recipes are for you.
10 Fun and Easy Breakfast Recipes – Indian
1. Cheela
Famous in North India, this amazing breakfast recipe will make you fall in love with healthy eating. No rocket science at all!
Ingredients:
- Besan
- Jowar aata
- Bajra aata (optional)
- Rice aata (optional)
- Ajwain
- Green chillies
- Coriander
- Onions
- Tomatoes
- Carrots (optional)
- Salt
- Oil
Process:
All the aatas mentioned above are super healthy. Even if you don’t have all these aatas, you can simply add wheat aata, besan, and jowar aata. Mix it all. Add salt as per taste. If you are making cheela for 2, use 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Add 1 teaspoon ajwain. Now add all the veggies mentioned above. You can add your favorite veggies as well. It’s a flexible dish! Finally, add water till you get a consistency of a batter. Let it rest for 10 minutes. (Meanwhile, you can get ready for your office, iron your clothes, or just watch a few reels.)
Now turn on the gas and put a pan on it. You can also use a tawa. Once your pan is hot, pour 1 tablespoon of oil and spread it nicely. You can also use ghee if you are a hardcore Desi person. Once your oil is hot, pour and spread the batter like Anna does with the dosa batter. Try to make a nice and thin layer. Add a few drops of oil on all the sides. Keep a lid on the pan and let the cheela cook on a medium-low flame. Then flip it and let it cook nicely. There, your Cheela is ready! You can eat it with groundnut chutney, ketchup, or just eat it like a roll.
Why is it healthy?
- Has jowar aata – gluten-free.
- Has besan – high fiber and protein content.
- Has bajra aata – supports the immune system.
- Veggies – you get all the goodness of onions, tomatoes, carrots, etc. You can also add beetroot, leafy vegetables, etc.
Time to Make Cheela:
- Mixing all the flours – 5 minutes
- Chopping all the veggies (use a vegetable chopper) – 5 minutes
- Mix everything and let it rest – 10 minutes
- Time to cook 1 cheela – 2–3 minutes
2. Upma
I love upma! It is soft, soothing, and a perfect breakfast as it can have all the veggies you like. The best part is you can dry roast rava in bulk. So let’s learn one of the most common, easy breakfast recipes – Indian upma.
Ingredients for 2:
- Rava – 1 small bowl
- Onion
- Tomato
- Corn kernels (easily available in any shop)
- Curry leaves
- Green chillies
- Urad dal – 1 teaspoon
- Coriander leaves
- Groundnuts
- Cashew nuts
- Oil
- Water
- Salt
Process:
Take a kadhai and let it heat nicely. Once it is hot, add 1 bowl of rava. Start stirring the rava immediately. Keep stirring so that you don’t burn it. Stir till you get a slight golden color. Another way to check if the rava is roasted or not is to take a small quantity between 2 fingers and press it; if it sticks to your fingers, it is ready.
Take out the roasted rava in a plate. Keep it aside. Now add 1 tablespoon of oil to that kadhai. Once the oil is hot, add urad dal and hing. Keep stirring well. Once the urad dal changes color, add curry leaves, green chillies, groundnuts, and cashew nuts. Stir for 30 seconds and add chopped onion and tomato. Add corn kernels. Once everything is cooked properly, add 3 bowls of water. The ratio is important – 1 bowl of rava and 3 bowls of water. Bring the water to a boil and add salt to taste (about ½ teaspoon for 2 people). Gradually add the roasted rava while stirring continuously. Do not pour it all at once. Add in small portions and keep stirring without pause. If you add everything in one go or stop stirring, you will get a lumpy upma with uncooked rava inside. Finally, garnish with some coriander leaves. Your yummy upma is ready. You can also add 1 teaspoon of ghee for a rich taste.
Why is it healthy?
- Cashew nuts – provide heart-healthy unsaturated fats, plant-based protein, and essential minerals.
- Veggies – you get all the goodness of onions, tomatoes, corn, etc.
- Less oil – you can make upma using minimum oil and yet it tastes so good! Definitely these are healthy and easy breakfast recipes for my foodies.
Time to Make Upma:
- Dry roasting rava – 5 minutes
- Chopping all the veggies (use a vegetable chopper) – 5 minutes
- Time to cook – 5–7 minutes
3. Ghavan (Dosa’s cousin ;D )
Ghavan is nothing but an instant dosa. All you need is rice flour, salt, and water. It tastes amazing and is good for health as well. It’s light and takes less time to prepare. Let’s learn how to make ghavan.
Ghavan Ingredients for 2:
- 1 bowl of rice flour (chaawal aata)
- 3 bowls of water
- Salt
- Oil
Chutney Ingredients for 2:
- 1 tablespoon of chana dal
- 1 tablespoon of roasted groundnuts
- 2 tablespoons of grated coconut
- Ginger garlic paste (homemade)
- Green chillies
- Red chillies
- Curry leaves
- Coriander leaves
- Water
Ghavan Process:
Mix the rice flour and water. Make sure there are no lumps. Add salt as per taste and let it rest for 5 minutes. Now, take a pan and apply a little oil. Then, pour your watery batter evenly over the pan. Make sure you cover all edges of the pan. Then put oil on all sides. Let it cook for a while. Once you start seeing the border of the ghavan lift, turn it over and cook on both sides. Your instant ghavan is ready.
Chutney Process:
Grind everything except curry leaves and red chillies. Grind till you get chutney consistency. Add water whenever needed. If you like spicy food, you can add more green chillies. Once you get a perfect consistency, start preparing tadka. Take a small pan, add oil/ghee, add mustard seeds, jeera, and hing. Once the seeds start popping, add red chillies and curry leaves. Turn off the gas once the leaves are cooked (10–12 seconds). Add this tadka to the chutney.
Why is it healthy?
- Rice flour is light, gluten-free, and easy to digest. It provides energy without being too heavy on the stomach.
- Unlike dosa, ghavan doesn’t require fermentation, making it quick and stomach-friendly for people sensitive to fermented foods.
- Usually cooked with minimal oil in a flat pan, which makes it low in fat compared to deep-fried snacks.
- Since it’s light and cooling, it’s easy on digestion in hot weather.
- It can be paired with jaggery, chutney, or vegetables, making it versatile and balanced.
Time to Make Ghavan and Chutney:
- To mix rice flour and water – 5 minutes
- To let it set – 5 minutes
- Time to make 1 ghavan – 3–4 minutes
- Time to make chutney – 10 minutes
4. Thalipeeth
A traditional Marathi breakfast – thalipeeth. It is one of the best easy breakfast recipes in India. It has all the goodness of jowar, bajra, chana dal, urad dal, etc. You can eat it for breakfast and for brunch too. You can make different types of thalipeeth like rajgira thalipeeth, upvas thalipeeth, etc.
Ingredients for 2:
- Jowar – 1 bowl
- Bajra – 1 bowl
- Chana dal (besan) – ½ bowl
- Rice flour – ¼ bowl
- Veggies of your choice like onions, radish, carrot, cucumber, etc.
- Coriander
- Red chilli powder
- Salt
- Ajwain
- Water
- Oil
Process:
Wonder why is it in the list of easy breakfast recipes Indian? Because it is super fun to make. Just dump in all the flours, mix it well, add salt, add ajwain, add chilli powder, and mix it well again. Now add some oil and mix it well again. Ya, there is a lot of mixing mixing…
Now start making a dough with water. Remember to add water gradually to get the perfect dough. Once your dough is ready, apply oil everywhere on it and let it rest for 10 minutes. You too can rest for 10 minutes 😉
Now, start making small rounds off from that dough. By the time, put a pan/tava on the gas and let it heat on low flame. Once all round balls are ready, take down the pan. This is a tricky part. Be extremely careful. Pour 2 teaspoons of oil on the tava/pan. Take 1 ball of the dough. Press it gently against the pan in the center. Make sure you press it on the oily part. Then start tapping with your hand. You know how they tap it while making bhakris. Cover all edges. Flatten it gently with wet/greasy fingers into a round disc. Make a small hole in the center (helps even roasting).
Then put the pan back on the gas stove and let it cook for a couple of minutes on medium flame. Flip it and let it cook for a minute more. You can add more oil drops after flipping (if you don’t mind a little oily food).
You can eat this beautiful Maharashtrian healthy dish with curd or pickle or even a dry chutney. Ketchup lovers out there… most welcome to eat it with ketchup as well.
Why is it healthy?
- All the flours are light, gluten-free, and easy to digest. Excellent source of proteins and carbs without being too heavy on the stomach.
- Since it’s full of all the good ingredients, it keeps your tummy full for a long time. Good to have if your day looks busy. Even if you don’t get your lunch on time, a thalipeeth can keep you going.
- You can add your favorite veggies, making it even healthier and tastier. I like it with a mix of onion and radish.
Time to Make a Thalipeeth:
- To make a dough – 7 minutes
- To let it set – 5–10 minutes
- Time to make 1 thalipeeth – 5–6 minutes
5. Rava Appe
Tiny, round, and fluffy, rava appe are like little bite-sized happiness. They are super quick to make and look so tempting that even kids can’t say no.
Ingredients for 2:
- 1 cup rava (semolina)
- ½ cup curd
- 1 onion (finely chopped)
- 2 green chillies (chopped)
- Curry leaves
- Salt as per taste
- Oil for greasing
Process:
Mix rava, curd, onion, chillies, curry leaves, and salt in a bowl. Add water to make a batter of medium thickness (not too watery). Rest it for 10–15 minutes. Heat the appe pan (looks like a paniyaram pan with small cavities). Grease each cavity with oil, pour the batter, and cover with a lid. Cook on low-medium flame till golden brown on the edges. Flip each appe and let the other side cook. Serve them hot with coconut chutney or ketchup.
Why is it healthy?
- Made with rava, which is light on the stomach.
- Needs very little oil, making it guilt-free.
- Onions and curry leaves add antioxidants and minerals.
Time to Make Rava Appe:
- Batter prep – 10 minutes
- Cooking – 8 to 10 minutes
6. Idli Chutney
You really thought my list of easy breakfast recipes won’t have Idli on it? The soft and spongy idli has ruled Indian breakfast plates for centuries. Paired with coconut chutney, it’s comfort food at its best.
Ingredients for 2:
- 1 cup idli batter (ready-made or homemade)
- Oil for greasing
- For chutney: grated coconut, roasted chana dal, green chillies, ginger, salt
- For tadka: curry leaves, mustard seeds, hing
Process:
Grease the idli moulds with oil, pour in the batter, and steam them for 10–12 minutes. While idlis cook, prepare the chutney: blend coconut, chana dal, chillies, ginger, and salt with a little water. For tadka, heat oil, add mustard seeds, hing, and curry leaves, and pour it over the chutney. Hot idlis with chutney, nothing can beat that!
Why is it healthy?
- Steamed — no frying, so it’s light and low-calorie.
- Rice and urad dal combo gives good carbs and protein.
- Chutney adds healthy fats and minerals.
Time to Make Idli Chutney:
- Steaming idlis – 12 minutes
- Chutney – 7 to 8 minutes
7. Poha
Poha is a lifesaver on busy mornings. It’s light, filling, and has that perfect balance of carbs and crunch. Plus, it cooks in less than 15 minutes! Poha is not just one of the easy breakfast recipes… It’s close to our heart. Marathi and MP people can agree with me on this!
Ingredients for 2:
- 2 cups poha (flattened rice)
- 1 onion
- 1 potato (optional)
- 1 green chilli
- Curry leaves
- Mustard seeds
- Groundnuts
- Turmeric powder
- Salt, sugar, lemon juice
- Coriander for garnish
Process:
Wash poha lightly and let it drain. Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds, curry leaves, groundnuts, and chilli. Add onion and potato, sauté till cooked. Sprinkle turmeric and salt. Add the washed poha and mix gently. Don’t forget a pinch of sugar — it balances the flavors. Finish with lemon juice and coriander. Serve hot!
Why is it healthy?
- Poha is light, easy to digest, and iron-rich.
- Groundnuts add crunch and protein.
- Lemon juice helps absorb iron better.
Time to Make Poha:
- Prep – 5 minutes
- Cooking – 7 to 8 minutes
8. Sevaiya Upma
If you love noodles but want something healthier for breakfast, sevaiya upma is your answer. Soft, silky vermicelli with crunchy veggies makes this dish a winner. If you are a bachelor who is not yet a pro in cooking, these easy breakfast recipes like Sevaiya Upma can be a savior for you.
Ingredients for 2:
- 2 cups roasted sevaiya (vermicelli)
- 1 onion
- 1 tomato
- Green chillies
- Curry leaves
- Groundnuts (optional)
- Salt
- Oil
- Water
Process:
Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds, curry leaves, green chillies, and groundnuts. Toss in chopped onions and tomatoes. Add 3 cups water and salt, let it boil. Gradually add roasted sevaiya while stirring continuously. Cover and let it cook till soft. Garnish with coriander. That’s it, your sevaiya upma is ready!
Why is it healthy?
- Vermicelli gives quick energy, perfect for mornings.
- Loaded with veggies.
- Can be made with whole wheat sevaiya for extra fiber.
Time to Make Sevaiya Upma:
- Prep – 5 minutes
- Cooking – 7–10 minutes
9. Aloo Paratha
Aloo paratha is not just breakfast, it’s an emotion, especially for North Indians. Crispy outside, soft potato filling inside, and a dollop of butter on top… heavenly! Definitely on my list of ‘easy breakfast recipes’.
Ingredients for 2:
- 2 cups wheat flour
- 2 boiled potatoes
- 1 onion (optional)
- Green chillies
- Coriander
- Salt, red chilli powder, garam masala
- Ghee or oil
Process:
Make dough with wheat flour and water. Mash potatoes, add onion, chillies, coriander, and spices. Roll out small dough balls, stuff them with potato mix, and roll flat. Roast on a hot tava with ghee/oil until golden brown on both sides. Serve with curd, butter, or pickle.
Why is it healthy?
- Whole wheat flour gives fiber.
- Potatoes give energy and keep you full for hours.
- Perfect for a long working day.
Time to Make Aloo Paratha:
- Dough + stuffing – 10 minutes
- Cooking – 5 minutes each
10. Uttapam
Think of uttapam as a pizza made Desi-style. Thick, soft, and loaded with veggies, it’s one of the tastiest breakfasts you can make.
Ingredients for 2:
- 2 cups dosa batter
- Onion, tomato, capsicum (finely chopped)
- Green chillies
- Coriander
- Oil
Process:
Heat a tawa and grease with oil. Pour dosa batter but keep it thick. Sprinkle chopped onion, tomato, capsicum, and chillies on top. Add a few drops of oil around the edges. Cover and cook till the base is golden. Flip for a minute to cook the top. Your veggie uttapam is ready, eat it with sambhar or chutney. There are plenty of easy breakfast recipes from South India. I can write a separate blog about it.
Why is it healthy?
- Fermented batter is great for digestion.
- Veggies give vitamins and fiber.
- Needs very little oil compared to parathas.
Time to Make Uttapam:
- Prep + chopping – 5 minutes
- Cooking – 5 minutes
Conclusion
Hope you liked these easy breakfast recipes. These are diverse, wholesome, and can be made in minutes. Whether you like light meals like poha and ghavan or hearty ones like aloo paratha and thalipeeth, there’s something here for everyone. These easy breakfast recipes – Indian, will help you eat healthy, save time, and start your day with energy.
