15 Simple and Healthy Rice Recipes for Kids

Children usually get bored eating similar food every day. So, it is important that we create a variety of flavors from our staple diet, such as rice, to keep them distracted from junk food. There are many creative rice recipes for kids that can make mealtime exciting and nutritious. By incorporating different ingredients and cooking methods, we can introduce new tastes and textures, ensuring that children enjoy their meals while receiving essential nutrients. This approach not only promotes healthy eating habits but also fosters a lifelong appreciation for wholesome foods.

Easy Rice Recipes for Children

Simple rice recipes for kids are easy to make and healthy. Rice can be combined with any flavour or food. For perfect and healthy Indian rice recipes for kids, stick to homemade or organic ingredients. Enjoy the easy rice recipes for a kid’s lunch box, below.

1. Moong Dal Kichadi

Moong Dal Kichadi is a nutritious and comforting dish perfect for children, combining rice and lentils with mild spices for a wholesome meal.

Ingredients

• ½ cup moong dal
• ½ cup rice
• 1 small chopped onion.
• 1 chilli
• ½ inch ginger
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 4 peppercorns
• 1 pinch asafoetida
• 3.5 – 4.5 water
• 2 tbsp ghee
• salt to taste
• ghee
• coriander

How to Make

1. Soak the washed moong dal and rice for 60 minutes.
2. In a cooker, temper the cumin seeds in ghee.
3. Add the pepper and ginger.
4. Once the raw smell of ginger fades away, add the onions.
5. Sauté the onions to a light brown colour and add the chilli.
6. After a minute, add the asafoetida, turmeric, the moong dal/rice mix, salt and water.
7. If you want a thinner consistency, add 4.5 cups of water.
8. Leave it for three whistles, and garnish it with a tablespoon of ghee and chopped coriander.

2. Curd Rice

Curd Rice is a cooling, creamy dish that’s perfect for hot days, offering a soothing blend of rice and yogurt.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked rice
• 1½ cup curd
• ½ cup pomegranate
• ¼ cup chopped coriander
• salt
• 1 tbsp oil
• ¾ tsp mustard seeds
• ¼ tsp urad dal
• pinch of asafoetida
• 1 red chilli
• a few curry leaves
• some split cashews

How to Make

1. Smash the cooked rice slightly, and mix salt to taste.
2. Add the curd and half of the milk.
3. Add the pomegranate and chopped coriander.
4. Temper the cashews, and set aside.
5. Temper the other ingredients and add the cashews.
6. Immediately, pour the mix into the curd rice and mix well.
7. Add the rest of the milk as a garnish.

3. Sticky Ripe Mango Rice

Sticky Ripe Mango Rice is a delightful and sweet rice dish, blending the tropical flavor of ripe mangoes with creamy coconut milk.

Ingredients

• 3 cups rice (white)
• 2 cups canned or fresh coconut milk
• 3/4 cup jaggery
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 sliced ripe mangoes
• grated coconut for garnish

How to Make

1. Soak the rice in diluted coconut milk overnight and pressure cook it to four or five whistles.
2. Heat the coconut milk (do not boil) and add jaggery.
3. Take a bowl of prepared rice and add one cup of the hot coconut milk and leave for 10 minutes
4. Add the ripe, sweet mangoes and salt to taste.
5. Garnish with grated coconut.

4. Ghee Rice

Ghee Rice is a fragrant and rich dish, enhanced with aromatic spices and generous amounts of ghee, making it a favorite among kids.

Ingredients

• 1 cup rice
• 2 cups water
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 star anise
• 1 strand mace
• 3 cardamom
• 4 cloves
• 1-inch cinnamon stick
• 1 small onion
• ¼ cup split cashews
• salt to taste
• ghee

How to Make

1. Soak washed rice for 30 minutes.
2. In two tbsp. of ghee, fry the onions and cashews (separately) to a golden brown and set aside.
3. Temper all the other ingredients (except water and rice) in a pan.
4. Add water.
5. Add the drained rice to the mixture with salt to taste.
6. Check often and add more water if required till the rice is well cooked.
7. Garnish with the onions and cashews.
8. Be generous with the ghee. Serve with raitha and some chips.

5. Sweet Potato Rice

Sweet Potato Rice is a colorful and slightly sweet dish that combines the softness of sweet potatoes with rice, making it both tasty and nutritious.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked rice
• 2 boiled sweet potatoes
• 4 pieces of garlic
• ¼ tsp mustard seeds
• 1 small chopped onion
• 1 large tomato
• ½ tbsp. ginger paste
• 1/s tsp chilli powder
• 3 tsp oil
• salt to taste

How to Make

1. Smash rice and sweet potatoes with salt and set aside.
2. Temper the mustard seeds.
3. Add onion and garlic.
4. Add ginger to the translucent onion, and add tomato after a few minutes.
5. When the tomato oozes out the juice, add chilli powder.
6. Add the smashed rice and potatoes to the mixture and mix it for a few minutes on the stove before switching it off.

6. Rice Kheer/ Payasam

Rice Kheer, or Payasam, is a traditional Indian dessert made with milk and rice, sweetened with sugar, and flavored with cardamom and nuts.

Ingredients

• 3/4 litre milk
• ¼ cup basmati rice
• a generous pinch of kesar
• 4 tbsp. sugar
• 4 crushed green cardamom
• one tbsp. raisins
• 10 cashews
• 10 blanched almonds

How to Make

1. Soak the washed rice in water for 30 minutes.
2. Add the drained rice to boiling milk.
3. Lower the flame and let the rice cook.
4. When the rice is al dente, add sugar, blanched almonds, cashews.
5. Once the rice is completely cooked, add raisins.
6. This can be served hot or cold.

7. Simple Egg Fried Rice

Simple Egg Fried Rice is a quick and delicious meal that combines protein-rich eggs with flavorful rice for busy days.

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• 1 cup cooked rice
• 1 tsp ginger paste
• 1 tsp garlic paste
• 4 peppercorns crushed
• 1 medium chopped onion
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp butter

How to Make

1. Sauté the two eggs and a pinch of salt in a tsp of butter until they are dry and scrambled.
2. Sauté the onion and pepper in oil.
3. Add the ginger and the garlic paste after a few minutes.
4. Once the onion is translucent, add the scrambled eggs and the cooked rice. Sprinkle salt to taste.
5. This fried rice recipe can be served with some tomato sauce.

8. Tomato and Chicken Rice

Tomato and Chicken Rice is a hearty and savory dish that pairs juicy chicken with tangy tomatoes, making it a favorite for children.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 tsp garlic paste
•  ½ small onion
• 200 ml chicken stock
• 1 chopped carrot
• 2 medium chopped tomatoes (1/2 a tin)
• ½ cup peas
• 1 cup chicken breast chopped finely
• 1 cup rice
•  black pepper (to taste)
• chopped coriander
• salt

How to Make

1. Cook the rice to al dente.
2. Sauté garlic paste and onion to a golden brown in oil.
3. Add all the other ingredients, except peas and coriander, and check regularly as it cooks.
4. Add peas and coriander when it is almost done.
5. Simmer till the peas are well cooked.
6. You can serve this delicious chicken and rice recipe for kids with some veggies on the side.

9. Lemon Rice

Lemon Rice is a zesty and vibrant dish, flavored with fresh lemon juice and aromatic spices, perfect for a refreshing meal.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked rice (warm or hot temp.)
• half a lemon
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1tsp urad dal
• 2 dry chillies
• one long sliced green chilli
• 8-9 curry leaves
• ¼ peanuts (dry fried or sautéed)
• ½ tsp turmeric
• salt

How to Make

1. Temper mustard seeds and sauté urad dal. Add the chillies (dry and green) and curry leaves.
2. Once they change colour, switch off the flame.
3. Mix hing, turmeric and salt to the tempering.
4. Spread the rice evenly in a pan. Add the above mixture and then squeeze the lemon. Mix well.
5. Add coriander to garnish.

10. Rice Cutlets

Rice Cutlets are a crispy and delicious snack, made by combining rice with vegetables and spices, perfect for a quick bite.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of cooked rice
• ½ cup boiled potato
• I chopped onion
• 1 chopped green chilly
• ¼ cup chopped coriander
• ¼ tsp of red chilli, turmeric and coriander powder each
• ½ tsp chat masala
• 3 tbsp. gram flour
• salt
• oil

How to Make

1. Mix and mash all ingredients one after the other in a bowl (except oil). Add or reduce the spices or salt according to your taste.
2. Make small or medium-sized patties and shallow fry in a pan. They are well done when they are golden brown.

11. Vegetable Pulao

Vegetable Pulao is a colorful and nutritious rice dish, packed with a variety of vegetables and subtle spices.

Ingredients

• 1 cup basmati rice
• 1 small chopped carrot
• ½ cup peas
• 1 small chopped potato
• 1 small chopped tomato
• 1 small chopped onion
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 2 cloves
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 cups water
• salt to taste
• 2 tbsp ghee

How to Make

1. Wash and soak the basmati rice for 30 minutes.
2. In a pan, heat ghee and temper the cumin seeds, cloves, and bay leaf.
3. Add the chopped onion and sauté until golden brown.
4. Add the chopped vegetables and sauté for a few minutes.
5. Add the soaked rice and water, and bring to a boil.
6. Lower the flame and cook until the rice and vegetables are done.
7. Serve hot with raita.

12. Spinach Rice

Spinach Rice is a vibrant and nutritious dish, perfect for kids, combining the goodness of spinach with rice for a healthy meal.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked rice
• 1 cup spinach leaves
• 1 small chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 green chilli
• ½ tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tbsp oil
• salt to taste

How to Make

1. Blanch the spinach leaves and blend them into a smooth paste.
2. In a pan, heat oil and temper the cumin seeds.
3. Add the chopped onion, garlic, and green chilli, and sauté until golden brown.
4. Add the spinach paste and cook for a few minutes.
5. Add the cooked rice and salt and mix well.
6. Serve hot with curd.

13. Coconut Rice

Coconut Rice is a fragrant and slightly sweet dish, enriched with the creamy flavor of coconut, making it a delightful and easy meal for kids.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked rice
• ½ cup grated coconut
• 1 small chopped green chilli
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 tsp urad dal
• 8-9 curry leaves
• 1 tbsp oil
• salt to taste

How to Make

1. In a pan, heat oil and temper the mustard seeds and urad dal.
2. Add the chopped green chilli and curry leaves, and sauté for a few minutes.
3. Add the grated coconut and sauté until golden brown.
4. Add the cooked rice and salt, and mix well.
5. Serve hot with pickles.

14. Peas and Carrot Rice

Peas and Carrot Rice is a colorful and mildly sweet dish, combining the crunch of peas and carrots with the softness of rice.

Ingredients

• 1 cup basmati rice
• ½ cup peas
• 1 small chopped carrot
• 1 small chopped onion
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 2 cups water
• salt to taste
• 2 tbsp oil

How to Make

1. Wash and soak the basmati rice for 30 minutes.
2. In a pan, heat oil and temper the cumin seeds.
3. Add the chopped onion and sauté until golden brown.
4. Add the chopped carrot and peas, and sauté for a few minutes.
5. Add the soaked rice and water, and bring to a boil.
6. Lower the flame and cook until the rice and vegetables

15. Broccoli and Cheese Rice

Broccoli and Cheese Rice is a creamy and cheesy dish, packed with the nutritious goodness of broccoli, making it a kid-friendly meal.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked rice
• 1 cup small broccoli florets
• ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 small chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp butter
• ¼ cup milk
• salt and pepper to taste

How to Make

1. Blanch the broccoli florets in boiling water for a few minutes until tender, then drain and set aside.
2. In a pan, melt the butter and sauté the chopped onion and garlic until golden brown.
3. Add the broccoli florets and cook for a few more minutes.
4. Add the cooked rice and mix well.
5. Pour in the milk and add the shredded cheddar cheese, stirring until the cheese is melted and evenly distributed.
6. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
7. Serve hot, ensuring the cheese is fully melted and creamy.

FAQs

1. Can I use brown rice instead of white rice in these recipes?

Yes, you can substitute brown rice for white rice in most of these recipes. However, brown rice has a different texture and takes longer to cook, so you might need to adjust the cooking time and water quantity for brown rice recipes accordingly. Brown rice is also more nutritious, offering more fiber and vitamins, making it a healthy alternative for kids.

2. How can I make rice dishes more appealing to picky eaters?

To make rice dishes more appealing to picky eaters, try incorporating their favorite ingredients and flavors. Use colorful vegetables, mild spices, and fun shapes (like rice balls or cutlets). Adding a small amount of cheese or a drizzle of their favorite sauce can also make the dish more enticing. Involving kids in the cooking process can also make them more interested in trying the food they helped prepare.

3. Are these rice recipes suitable for lunchboxes?

Yes, many of these rice recipes are suitable for lunchboxes. Dishes like Lemon Rice, Rice Cutlets, and Vegetable Pulao can be packed easily and taste good even when they are not hot. Make sure to cool the rice completely before packing it to avoid sogginess. Using insulated lunchboxes can help maintain the temperature and freshness of the meal.

4. Can I prepare these rice dishes in advance?

Yes, many of these rice dishes can be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator for a couple of days. To retain their freshness, store them in airtight containers. Reheat the dishes thoroughly before serving. Some recipes, like Curd Rice, can taste even better the next day as the flavors meld together. However, avoid storing recipes that contain fresh ingredients like yogurt or cut fruits for too long to maintain their taste and texture.

So, these were some delicious rice recipes for your little one. You can also include puffed rice in their meals. Indian rice recipes are made with many spices and vegetables that provide the right nutrients. So, enjoy your cooking as you make good food for a healthier generation.

References/Resources:

1. Jéquier. E; Carbohydrates as a source of energy (The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition); National Library of Medicine; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8116550/; March 1994

2. Gray. P, Conklin. S, Todorov. T, Kasko. S; Cooking rice in excess water reduces both arsenic and enriched vitamins in the cooked grain (Food Additives & Contaminants); ResearchGate; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283444077_Cooking_rice_in_excess_water_reduces_both_arsenic_and_enriched_vitamins_in_the_cooked_grain; November 2015

3. Rice; Nutritionfacts.org; https://nutritionfacts.org/topics/rice/

4. Rice; Harvard T.H. Chan; https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/rice/

5. Baby Food for Thought: How Safe is Rice Cereal?; University of Rochester Medical Center; https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/publications/health-matters/baby-food-for-thought-how-safe-is-rice-cereal

6. Rice, white, long-grain, regular, enriched, cooked; Food Data Central; U.S. Department of Agriculture; https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/168878/nutrients

7. Karagas. M, Punshon. T, Sayarath. V, Jackson. B, et. al.; Association of Rice and Rice-Product Consumption With Arsenic Exposure Early in Life (JAMA Pediatrics); National Library of Medicine; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5215769/; June 2016

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