Indian Meal Planning For Beginners With Free Printable Template

Indian meal planning for beginners guide walks you through every single step without any stress. 

As a beginner, you may know what recipe you want to make, but you may don’t know how to do it all? Right?

An effective Indian meal planning system has three main vital steps.

1. Select easy recipes
2. Grocery shopping for ingredients
3. Prep your meal

Firstly I would remind you of the best meal strategy that does Indian meal planning and saves you more money.

Before profoundly going into the meal plan key step, let’s talk about meal planning.

What is Indian meal planning?

Meal planning is simply a plan which is ready with all your recipe ingredients for instant cooking.

This may keep you away from everyday grocery shopping and saves you money and food waste.

As I mentioned above, always follow those three steps…

Start on weekends

I know weekends are a time for our chilling out and relaxation. But if you are ready to spend some time for meal planning and meal prep during weekends, your weekdays will be less stressful and manageable.

Shop your groceries on Saturday morning (less rush timing in the shop) and then prep your meal.

Things you should know about meal planning

1. A very tough task

Meal planning is not a tough job. When you get started, you may think it like a chore. Once you practice it, you see how effortless to make each meal during the week.

2. Homely food every day

We are big fans of takeaways If we don’t have time to make them instantly or tired. But meal planning makes us cook food effortlessly if we are tired.

3. Money-Saving

If you can master meal planning and meal prep, you can easily save a lot of money.

Do you need meal planning?

Before getting started, you should assess yourself and assess yourself and ask yourself these questions:-

• Are you interested in Indian meal planning?
• Do you want to prevent food waste?
• Do you want to eat a variety of foods?
•  Want to eat better?
• Want to be ready with meals for your family?
• Enjoy stress-free weekends?

If you are a beginner, start with one meal that is easy for you.

Step 1:– Choose your recipes (select easy recipes)

Choose your recipes carefully for Indian meal planning. I think this is the most crucial step to follow. It would be best if you considered all of your family members during this step.

Start planning and thinking about your meal plan two days in advance. Only then will you be getting time for making a shopping list, grocery shopping, and finally, meal prep.

 Rules for picking the right recipe

1. Cook recipes you know

Take a list of recipes you know. Don’t try any new recipes.

2. Pick everyday ingredient recipes.

Start shopping from your kitchen. Look at what you already have in your pantry, refrigerator. This is a fantastic money-saving tip for meal planning.

3. Pick recipes that can be eaten as leftovers.

Recipes which can be eaten as leftovers are so good. This is my favorite part, and I like to turn out my pieces during dinner meals.

You may like this: How we have homely food without cooking everyday?

Step 2:– Make a wise grocery list.

Double-check your pantry and refrigerator before making a grocery list because you don’t want to spend money on the things you already have.

Don’t get overwhelmed!

Once you get the idea gradually, you can become an expert.

Consider keeping the pantry items on the list so that you can restock your pantry. You never know when that extra pantry will come in handy. Don’t forget the reusable bag before you go to the grocery store.

Free printable checklist:

• Indian grocery shopping list
• North Indian pantry list
• South Indian pantry list

Step 3:– Prep the meal (meal prep on Sunday)

Photo by Ello on Unsplash

Now you did your grocery shopping. And it’s time for meal prep. I always recommend you to set an hour on Sunday for chopping.

You can do some batch cooking like cook your dal for dal fry or sambar. Be ready with your time-consuming meals, such as non-veg meals or other time-consuming food items.

 What you should plan depends on the recipe for the week and be ready with it.

Things to do while Indian meal prep

Here are some of my meal prep tips that I prefer:

1. Chopped vegetables

Photo by Jenna Ebert on Unsplash

Chopped vegetables make my life so easy. Thoroughly wash your veggies and cut them according to your recipe plan. You can either put them in the refrigerator or freezer.

Chopped veggies are safe for three days in the refrigerator. It’s better to keep them in the freezer if it takes more than three days. Most veggies freeze well, and there is no taste change when you cook them.

You may like this: The ultimate guide to store fruits and vegetables

2. Marinated chicken, fish, or meat

If you are a non-vegetarian, this will help you make 20 min recipes or 10 min recipes.

All you need to do is to wash it thoroughly and marinate it with salt, little lemon juice, turmeric if you need.

Again my favorite step; all it needs to make is a base ( curry or gravy), then this prepped non-veg item goes into it. Or you can go for bulk cooking, then freeze it.

3. Peeled garlic

You can buy store-bought peeled garlic. But I wouldn’t recommend you buy it. I have noted that it is not fresh and costs a high price.

You can peel garlic during weekends or let them do it for you if you have anybody to help.

4. Ginger garlic paste

I’m not a fan of store-bought ginger garlic paste. You can make a batch of homemade ginger garlic paste and store it in the refrigerator for two weeks.

If you want to store for long, you can make a batch that will last you for two months. You can do it quickly by bringing ginger and garlic together and freeze them in an ice-cube tray.

 Once it gets frozen, remove the paste and store it in a freezer container or a Ziploc bag.

Once you have done with it, you can put them in the curry. The ice cube will melt and combine with the base gravy.

5. Prep curry sauce

Make curry sauce according to your recipe. You can store them in a freezer for more self- life.

6. Remove chilli stalk

Wash your green chilies, remove it’s the stalk, pat dry it using a clean cloth, and then put it in a container to store it in the refrigerator. You can use it for three weeks. Put a cotton cloth or tissue in it to absorb the extra moisture.

The second two steps may feel challenging and overwhelming if you are new to meal planning and prepping.

7. Chapati / roti dough

Roti dough can stay in the refrigerator for1-2 days. I’m not a fan of storing dough, but if your schedule is too busy, you can go for it.

You can even half cook the flattened chapati and freeze. You can consume it for one month.

How to make your meal prep easier?

• Meal prep is for making your life easier, not to make your life tougher
• Take a break after grocery shopping and during the meal prep process
• Maximize the use of appliances like a pressure cooker, chopper, food processor, etc.

Get enough storage containers

Photo by Ello on Unsplash

Your meal prep items will be store in the refrigerator and freezer. So you must have suitable quality containers. Get freezer, microwave oven safe containers.

Cooking – Slow and steady learning

As a beginner, you may feel overwhelmed. Every time you go through the process of meal planning, you learn what to do. Practice it; you can master it!

Equipment you may need

Tools

• A good knife
• A chopping board
• Vegetable peeler
• vegetable chopper
• masher

Devices

• Stovetop pressure cooker for time-saving.
• Blender- for making the perfect batter, chutney, etc.

Indian weekly meal plan printable template: Click here

Extra Tips

• If you’re cooking for the whole family, always review the plan with them and include them in the process.
• When you get stuck on meal ideas, ask yourself why? What? Sounds suitable for your family.
• If you find planning a whole week of meals is too overwhelming, start with just planning dinners.

 Know that your plan will change every week. It might not always play out exactly the way you planned it. That doesn’t mean you should stop or that you failed! Keep practicing

These are some of the tips and tricks for Indian meal planning for beginners.

There is no perfect meal plan or anything perfect, right? Every week you do this, you can learn, and you can make it better in the future. Just keep doing it…

Which is your favourite meal planning tip? Let me know, or do you have any extra information to add in there? 

I will see you soon in another blog post!

with

❤️

Nasreen

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