Annie's Simple Recipes

Peppery Courgette and Paneer Stir-Fry

This quick peppery courgette and paneer stir-fry is a light yet satisfying dish that brings together fresh vegetables and soft paneer with gentle spices. It is cooked quickly on the hob, keeping the flavours clean and the textures fresh. This recipe works especially well for busy evenings when you want something homemade without spending too long in the kitchen. It pairs easily with roti, paratha, or plain rice and is mild enough for the whole family. Recipe Information Prep time: 15 minutesCooking time: 15 minutesTotal time: 30 minutesServes: 3 to 4Difficulty level: Easy Ingredients Main ingredients 250 g paneer, cut … Read more

Tags:

courgette paneer stir fry / easy paneer dinner recipe / quick Indian paneer dish

Soft Pumpkin and Fenugreek Stir-Fry (Kaddu Methi Sabzi)

Side Dishes

This pumpkin and fenugreek stir-fry is a gentle, homestyle vegetable dish with balanced flavours. The natural sweetness of pumpkin pairs beautifully with the slight bitterness of fresh fenugreek leaves, creating a comforting everyday sabzi. It is commonly cooked as a side dish for lunch or dinner and works especially well with simple dal and roti. This recipe uses minimal spices and clear steps, making it ideal for home cooks who prefer light, nourishing meals. Recipe Information Prep time: 15 minutesCooking time: 20 minutesTotal time: 35 minutesServes: 3 to 4Difficulty level: Easy Ingredients Vegetables 400 g pumpkin, peeled and cut into … Read more

Quick Tomato Onion Raita (Cooling Yoghurt Side)

Raitas and Dips

Tomato onion raita is a simple yoghurt-based side dish that adds freshness and balance to everyday Indian meals. The cool, creamy yoghurt combined with lightly chopped vegetables helps calm spicy food and brings everything together on the plate. This is an easy, no-cook recipe that takes only minutes to prepare. It is ideal for beginners and works well as an everyday accompaniment for rice, roti, or pulao dishes. Recipe Information Prep time: 10 minutesCooking time: NoneTotal time: 10 minutesServes: 4Difficulty level: Easy Ingredients Main ingredients 1½ cups plain natural yoghurt (full-fat or low-fat) 1 medium tomato, finely chopped ½ small … Read more

Soft Besan Sheela (Gram Flour Savoury Pancakes)

Breakfast Recipes

Besan sheela is a simple Indian savoury pancake made from gram flour and mild spices. It is soft inside, lightly crisp at the edges, and very satisfying without being heavy. This is a popular home-style dish often cooked for breakfast or a light meal. This recipe is especially suitable for beginners because it needs no fermentation, uses one bowl, and cooks quickly on a frying pan. It is also naturally gluten-free and easy to adapt to different tastes. Recipe Information Prep time: 10 minutesCooking time: 15 minutesTotal time: 25 minutesServes: 4Difficulty level: Easy Ingredients For the batter 1½ cups gram … Read more

Simple Lauki Chana Dal (Bottle Gourd with Split Chickpeas)

Vegetable Curries

Lauki chana dal is a gentle, nourishing curry made with tender bottle gourd and split chickpeas cooked together with mild spices. It is a homestyle dish that is light on the stomach yet satisfying, often cooked for everyday meals. This recipe is especially good for home cooks because it uses simple ingredients, clear steps, and does not require any special techniques. The dal adds body while the lauki keeps the dish soft and balanced. Recipe Information Prep time: 15 minutesCooking time: 30 minutesTotal time: 45 minutesServes: 4Difficulty level: Easy Ingredients Main ingredients 1 medium bottle gourd (lauki), peeled and cut … Read more

Jeera Rice with Ghee (Fragrant Cumin Rice)

Rice and Pulao Recipes

Jeera rice is a simple and comforting Indian rice dish where whole cumin seeds are gently toasted in ghee before being cooked with basmati rice. It is lightly flavoured, aromatic, and designed to complement richer curries rather than overpower them. This is an everyday home-style recipe that works well for both lunch and dinner. It uses very few ingredients, comes together easily, and is ideal for beginners who want perfectly cooked, fluffy rice with reliable results. Recipe Information Prep time: 10 minutesCooking time: 15 minutesTotal time: 25 minutesServes: 4Difficulty level: Easy Ingredients For the rice 1½ cups basmati rice 3 … Read more

Crispy Vegetable Bread Pakora (Pan-Fried)

Snacks and Starters

Vegetable bread pakora is a comforting Indian snack where soft bread is filled with a lightly spiced vegetable mixture, dipped in a chickpea flour batter, and cooked until golden. It is crisp on the outside and warm and savoury inside. This version is pan-fried rather than deep-fried, making it more manageable for home cooks while still giving that familiar street-style flavour. It works well for rainy days, evening tea, or as a filling snack for the whole family. Recipe Information Prep time: 20 minutesCooking time: 15 minutesTotal time: 35 minutesServes: 4Difficulty level: Easy Ingredients For the filling 2 medium potatoes, … Read more

Mumbai-Style Bhel Puri (Crunchy Puffed Rice Chaat)

Street Food

Bhel puri is a light, tangy Indian street snack made with puffed rice, crunchy bits, fresh veg, and sweet-sour chutneys. It is all about contrast: crisp, juicy, spicy, and a little sweet in every mouthful. It is ideal for quick entertaining, an afternoon snack, or a fun starter because there is no cooking beyond boiling a potato (and even that can be done ahead). Recipe Information Prep time: 15 minutesCooking time: 5 minutes (optional, for crisping puffed rice)Total time: 20 minutesServes: 4Difficulty level: Easy Ingredients For the bhel base 90g puffed rice (about 4 heaped cups) 40g sev (fine, crunchy … Read more

Tags:

Mumbai-Style Bhel Puri