The best healthy recipes for dinner are tasty, nourishing, and can be pulled off – without breaking a sweat! Assembling meals for your family may feel overwhelming during this unique time. And besides work and kids, you may also be struggling with emotional eating – under the duress of COVID.
If you’re looking to get “back-to-routine,” you’ll love this collection of healthy dinner ideas. They’re fantastic as those “regular everyday kind” recipes, but their deliciousness also lends itself beautifully to more grand occasions. These healthy recipes are a good mix of one-pot/sheet pan meals that freeze and reheat well, easy to make, and feature some of our favourite family-friendly desi dishes – brimming with ethnic South Asian flavours.
Isn’t dinner time the best? Honestly, I’ve been trying hard to gather the herd around the table because I think it’s the perfect vehicle to connect. Given a choice, I know the cheeky monkeys would be happy to be left on their own accord. Although not always possible, I must say they enjoy joining in on my healthy cooking adventures.
Health Seekers, it’s time to skip those “on-repeat” boring meals and serve up these 33 healthy recipes to shake up your dinner routine. Whether you’re looking for colourful salads, foolproof fish or plant-powered 30 minute creations (bonus: I’ve also added some easy healthy recipes done and dusted in 20 minutes), you’ll find plenty of colourful ideas. We’re talking, gluten free pilau, healthy chicken dishes, quick and easy curries using heart-healthy cooking oils, like olive oil, and easy dinner ideas using pantry staples, such as black beans and chickpeas.
Bear in mind, though, these are recipes I regard part of an everyday healthy eating pattern, but what’s healthful for one “body” is not fundamentally healthy for another. If you have specific health issues, restrictions, dietary concerns or cultural preferences, talk to a suitable registered dietitian. You can also find dietitian-approved Desi~licious meal plans at the link.
Vegetable Quinoa and Garlic Shrimp Recipe | Easy Skillet Dinner
Make this easy and healthy vegetable quinoa with garlic shrimp. It's gluten-free, and one of my favourite ways to get dinner on the table – fast! Plus, all the cooking action happens in your skillet. We're upping the nutritional value of the dish with a beautiful mixture of kidney beans, zucchini, peppers, tomatoes, and quinoa. Infused with heaps of flavour from the smoked paprika, cumin, coriander and lemon juice, it's a great way to keep your salt intake in check – without compromising on taste.
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Slow Cooker Vegan Black Eyed Peas Recipe | Easy And Healthy
This budget-friendly Slow Cooker Vegan Black Eyed Peas Recipe is a game-changer if you're looking for a hassle-free easy and healthy recipe. Super simple to pull off, family-friendly and brimming with Desi~licious flavours. It's the perfect pick to feed a crowd using humble pantry ingredients. Vegan, gluten-free and only 15 minutes of prep time required.
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Vegan Shepherd’s Pie | Healthy Vegan Dinner Recipe
A family-friendly and satisfying Vegan Shepherd's Pie recipe gets an Indian twist. Loaded with flavour-packed green lentils simmered in a tomato sauce infused with traditional South Asian spices, and topped with velvety mashed potatoes. Heads up, it's so Desi~licious that you'll want more than one helping!
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South Asian Fish Biryani Recipe | Desi~licious RD
Desi-liciously spiced with layers of fragrant basmati rice, grilled peppers and flaky masala haddock fillets, cooked in a tomatoey sauce infused with cardamom, cinnamon, cumin, and saffron to create a biryani recipe that'll knock your socks off!
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Holiday Persian Rice | Desi~licious Ethnic Recipe
Persian rice infused with the luxurious scent of saffron and cardamom – jewelled with crunchy carrot matchsticks, tart dried cranberries and protein-rich chickpeas to create a desilicous show-stopping rice dish for your holiday menu. Yes, it's as good as it looks.
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Egg Curry Recipe With Turnips | Desi Recipes
Rip your roti and soak this all up. An easy desilicious egg curry recipe with some major Fall vibes. Turnips cooked in a thick tomatoey-yogurt base, infused with fresh herbs, curry powder, and made complete with delicious eggs. A perfect balance of spice, lusciousness and flavour – in every bite. It doesn’t get more comforting than this.
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Desi Pumpkin Bean Burger | Healthy Ethnic Recipes
Just in time for Fall, these easy and healthy Desi Pumpkin Bean Burgers are an excellent alternative to store bought vegan burgers. Kidney beans, pumpkin and oats infused with curry powder and cumin, to create a healthy ethnic recipe – that'll knock your socks off! Served on a bed of alfalfa microgreens and topped with creamy guacamole. Just tuck in!
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Baingan Bharta (Indian Eggplant) | Healthy Ethnic Food Recipes
Easy, quick to prep and scrumptious. This Baingan Bharta (Indian Eggplant) is a sure pleaser for the entire family. Roasted eggplant cooked in aromatic South Asian spices, simmered in a thick tomato-pepper sauce and garnished with tangy lemon and cilantro. If you're on the hunt for healthy desi recipes – with less oil, spices and salt – this is it! Best enjoyed with roti, quinoa, or lettuce leaves. Vegan and gluten free.
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Daal Makhani | Coconut Lentil Curry | High Protein, Vegan, Gluten Free
Rich. Spicy. Exquisite. A mouthwatering and aromatic Indian dish, Daal Makhani is a thick, hearty lentil curry, made with brown lentils and red kidney beans in a creamy coconut and tomato sauce and seasoned with traditional Indian spices. This meatless meal is a guaranteed winner! High protein, vegan and gluten free.
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Chickpea Kale Curry With Spaghetti Squash
A traditional Indian curry gets a unique seasonal twist. Chickpea kale curry stuffed spaghetti squash is a delicious gluten free healthy dinner! Simple, flavorful, and oh so satisfying. It's one of the most popular recipes in our household – and for good reason too!
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Superfood Vegetarian Chili Recipe
Cozy up with a warm bowl of this hearty superfood vegetarian chili recipe. Chock full of vegetables and spices, you’ll surely enrich your health with a flood of healing nutrients. Perfect as a make-ahead healthy one pot wonder – that’s also freezer-friendly. I promise, it's finger-licking good!
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Grilled Tandoori Chicken | Low Carb Indian Recipe
Probably the easiest Indian recipe you’ll ever make; this fast and mouthwatering grilled tandoori chicken recipe is spicy, tangy and smoked to perfection – just like the one at your favourite Indian restaurant! Ideal for when you’re strapped for time and looking for a healthy, low carb and satisfying option for the family. Gluten Free.
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Chicken Dhansak
Looking for an easy and healthy weeknight curry? Skip the take out, and make this Chicken Dhansak with lentils. Packed full of flavor, this restaurant-style curry brings the creaminess of lentils together with traditional South Asian spices to create a hearty and nourishing meal for the entire family. Sprinkle with fresh cilantro and grated ginger for that perfect garnish.
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30-minute Healthy Recipes
Vegan Tikka Masala Recipe | Desi~licious Easy and Healthy Ethnic Recipe
Want to learn how do you make the best tikka masala sauce from scratch? Look no further! This vegan tikka masala recipe is loaded with plant-based ingredients and the perfect easy and healthy ethnic recipe to feed a crowd.
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How To Make An Omelette – Desi~Style | Easy Ethnic Recipes
How to make an omelette at last! While egg omelette recipes are not in short supply – inspiration might be. Try this easy Desi~licious (South Asian) omelette, sizzling with irresistible spiciness and chock-full of veggies to create a thick and satisfying family-friendly meal. Indeed, it's perfect for any time of the day. Pair this omelette with roti (flatbread), potatoes, bread, or even roll in lettuce leaves to create a tasty omelette dish. Here's how to make it!
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Easy Tomato Soup With Fennel | Desi-licious RD
A quick and simple go-to weeknight meal, this easy tomato soup recipe is jam-packed with healthy ingredients and bursting with flavour. Juicy plump tomatoes and aromatic fennel cooked with onion, cumin and black pepper to create a desilicious and vibrant dish that takes only 25 minutes to make.
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Desi~licious Vegetarian Kebab Recipe | Healthy Ethnic Recipes
Perfect for times when your pantry is low in ingredients, and you just need something quick and simple. This kebab recipe creates succulent and soft vegetarian kebabs (Shammi kebab-style) that are packed with protein and rich in flavour! Made with black beans and sweet potato, and infused with traditional South Asian spices, to create a healthy ethnic food recipe – that the entire family will love.
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Bharazi (Vegan Coconut Curry) | Easy East African Recipe
A classic from Nairobi, East Africa, this easy Vegan Coconut Curry, aka Bharazi, will make your taste buds dance. Perfect as a one-pot dinner, this mouthwatering creamy sauce is infused with the flavors of coconut, onions, garlic, ginger, turmeric and cilantro – to create a flavor-packed plant powered dish. Meatless Monday….check!
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Egg Bhurji (Indian Scrambled Eggs) | Easy Ethnic Recipe
Weekend brunch doesn’t get any better than this. Enjoy a delicious plate of hot Egg Bhurji (Indian Scrambled Eggs). Pairs perfectly with toast, roti, bread, paratha or potatoes. Easy to pull off and packed with flavour, this is a show-stopping egg recipe.
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Mediterranean Style Crispy Tofu | Vegan, Gluten Free
Switch up your meatless Monday routine and learn how to make this healthy Crispy Tofu recipe – Mediterranean style. It’s unbelievably easy to pull off, and trust me when I say, you’ll want to make it again, and again. Tofu bites are marinated in a zesty and delicious Mediterranean-style marinade – to add heaps of flavor. Yes, it’s possible to liven up tofu. The intense flavor of oregano and thyme take this to another level! We love to serve it Buddha Bowl-style.
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Tandoori Cauliflower Tacos
The curry powder-cashew marinade take these cauliflower tacos to another level! Grilled tandoori cauliflower florets; coated in a tangy marinade of cashew nuts, lemon, tandoori spices, chilli and coconut oil. Fragrant, finger-licking good and simple to pull off. This is the taco recipe you’ve been waiting for! Vegan, gluten free and all done in 30 minutes. Who’s in?
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Spicy Pan Fried Basa Fillet Recipe | Desi~licious RD
Done in under 30 minutes, this pan fried Basa fillet recipe adds the perfect amount of spice to a healthy, weeknight dinner the whole family will love! Crispy on the outside, with an inner flesh – that melts in your mouth.
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Portobello Mushroom Leek Pizza | Low Carb, Gluten Free Recipe
Bring back the pizza nights with this zero dough veggie-packed portobello mushroom pizza. Unconventional and absolutely delicious. Cooked in 30 minutes, and gone in seconds!
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Ginger Lime Chicken with Broccoli
Forget the Chinese takeaway this week and try this speedy meal. Lean, light and luscious, these chicken strips are coated in ginger, lime and soy sauce – without any additional salt. Done and dusted in under 30 minutes, you won’t be able to resist this succulent ginger-lime chicken with broccoli.
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Quinoa Mung Bean Salad
This refreshing, light, yet satisfying salad will definitely help to energize you through this Monday. Any day of the week in fact! Simple to pull off and high in protein and fiber; this super bowl is packed with vitamins and minerals. A sprinkle of sumac gives a tart, citrusy flair that will excite your taste buds! This one IS a SASSY salad!
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Dinner Recipe Ideas Done in 20 minutes or less
In the recipe below, I show you how to use this tomato sauce to create THREE simple heart healthy recipes to enjoy at dinner.
The Best Tomato Sauce Recipe
Want to learn how to make the best tomato sauce at home? My family says it's easily the yummiest homemade tomato sauce they've ever had. A luscious blend of sweet grape tomatoes, simmered in garlic, oregano and black pepper to create a rich and hearty sauce. Quick, easy, and you won't believe how ONE recipe transforms into three heart healthy meals. Indeed, busy weeknights call for low-effort, nourishing recipes that are insanely delicious!
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15-Minute Easy Salad Recipe | Desi~licious RD
This could be your go-to easy salad recipe. Packed with a medley of fresh and crunchy ingredients like broccoli, kale, carrots, pomegranate and pumpkin seeds – super nourishing and YUMMY! Tossed in a tangy dressing, that's the perfect match.
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Coconut Shrimp Curry
Are you looking for a protein-rich, flavour-packed meal and don't have much time? This coconut shrimp curry can be on your table in literally 15 minutes. It's elegantly spiced and insanely desi-licious. What can be faster, easier and more tasty than seafood?!
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Easy Lemon Pepper Salmon | Low Carb, 20-minute Recipe
Primed for a weeknight dinner, this easy and healthy flavourful Lemon Pepper Salmon recipe can be on the table in just 20 minutes. This one-pan wonder is by far the easiest fish recipe you'll ever make. Flaky, juicy, tangy and absolutely desilicious.
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Tomato Asparagus Frittata | Low Carb Recipe
Eggs mixed with a variety of colourful vegetables, cooked to perfection and topped with fresh cilantro. This Tomato Asparagus Frittata is infused with cumin, fenugreek and chilli flakes, to create an easy Desi-licious low carb breakfast or lunch! Dairy-free.
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Okra Recipe (Bhindi) | Vegan, One Pan Indian Dish
Ready to make meal planning a breeze? Try this simple and mouthwatering 20-minute okra recipe (Bhindi). An all-time favourite Indian and Pakistani dish, this recipe is bursting with nutrition and flavor. If you’re tired of eating the same ‘ol veggies, this has your name written all over it!
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What are your go-to healthy recipes? Have you tried any of my dinner dishes before? Share in the comment section below!
If you try these recipes, would love to hear from you! Leave a comment, rate them, or share a photo and hashtag with #desiliciousrd on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Can’t wait to see your photos.
Desi~liciously Yours,
Shahzadi
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