10 Wholesome Family Recipes for Picky Eaters: Parenting Hacks

Picture this: you’ve spent hours in the kitchen preparing the dinner, but as you present your dish, you observe their hesitant looks and wrinkled noses. Everyone has been there! Don’t worry, every family has some picky eaters, and exploring mealtime with them can be quite twisted.

However, from vegetable biryani to palak paneer, we have listed below some of the most loved, wholesome family recipes that even picky eaters couldn’t resist trying. Not only are these loaded with nutrients, but they are also packed with innumerable flavors. Read below to find out the top ten wholesome family recipes that are a must-try.

Top 10 Family Recipe Ideas for Picky Eaters

Vegetable Biryani

Ingredients

• Basmati rice
• Carrot
• Peas
• Potatoes
• Onion
• Tomato
• Ginger-garlic paste
• Turmeric
• Cumin powder
• Garam Masala
• Fresh coriander

Method

Start by cooking basmati rice as per the instructions given on the label. Take a pan and sauté the onion and ginger-garlic paste until it turns golden brown. Now add the tomatoes and cook for another 5–6 minutes, and then add the remaining vegetables. Add the spices and cook until the veggies are tender. Layer the cooked vegetables with the prepared basmati rice, and garnish with some fresh coriander leaves. Serve with a mint dip.

Chana Masala

Ingredients

• Cooked chickpeas
• Chopped onion
• Chooped tomatoes
• Ginger-garlic paste
• Cumin 
• Chili powder
• Turmeric
• Coriander powder
• Fresh coriander leaves

Method

In a pan, sauté the ginger garlic paste and onion until they turn brown. Then add chopped tomatoes and cook for 4-5 minutes. Now add the cooked chickpeas and the spices, and cook until all the flavors are fused. Garnish with some coriander leaves, and serve with rice.

Palak Paneer

Ingredients

• Chopped spinach
• Cubed paneer or cottage cheese
• Chopped onion
• Chopped tomatoes
• Turmeric
• Garam masala
• Fenugreek leaves
• Fresh cream

Method

Blanch the chopped spinach leaves using boiling water and grind them into a fine paste after they are cooled. Take a pan, add onions, and sauté until they turn translucent, and then add tomatoes; cook until the veggies are soft. Now add the prepared spinach paste and spices, and cook for a few more minutes. Add fresh paneer and cream and give it a stir. Serve hot with some rice.

Dal Tadka

Ingredients

• Yellow dal
• Chopped onion
• Chopped tomatoes
• Ginger-garlic paste
• Turmeric
• Cumin
• Mustard Seeds
• Asafoetida
• Fresh coriander 

Method

Cook the yellow dal until it’s mushy. In another pan, heat some oil and add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, asafoetida, and onion. Cook until tender. Now add ginger-garlic paste,spices, and tomatoes and cook for a few more minutes. Pour in the cooked dal and let it simmer for 10–12 minutes. Garnish with some freshly chopped coriander and enjoy with whole wheat rotis.

Aloo Gobi

Ingredients

• Diced potatoes
• Cauliflower
• Choped onion
• Turmeric
• Cumin
• Corainder powder
• Fresh coriander

Method

Take a pan and sauté the chopped onions until they turn soft. Now add diced potatoes and cauliflower and the above-mentioned spices. Add water and cover it with a lid. Let it simmer until the vegetables are cooked completely. Sprinkle some fresh coriander and serve with roti.

Vegetable Pulao

Ingredients

• Basmati rice
• Carrort
• Peas
• Beans
• Onion
• Cloves
• Cinnamon
• Cardamom
• Fresh mint leaves

Method

Prepare the basmati rice along with the whole spices and keep it aside. Now sauté the onions in a pan and cook until golden brown. Then add the mixed vegetables and cook thoroughly. Now mix the veggies and basmati rice well, and garnish with some fresh mint leaves.

Pav Bhaji

Ingredients

• Potatoes
• Tomatoes
• Carrot
• Capsicum
• Cauliflower
• Onion
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Peas
• Pav bhaji masala
• Butter
• Pav

Method

Boil the vegetables, such as potatoes, cauliflower, peas, and carrots, and keep them aside. Take a pan and heat some butter. Saute finely chopped onions, tomatoes, capsicum, and ginger garlic paste until they turn golden brown. Pour in the boiled vegetables and add the spices. Mash the veggies properly and let them simmer for about 10–12 minutes. Toast the pav with some butter and serve hot with bhaji.

Masoor Dal

Ingredients

• Masoor dal
• Chopped onion
• Chopped tomatoes
• Ginger-garlic paste
• Turmeric
• Cumin
• Coriander powder
• Fresh coriander leaves

Method

Cook masoor dal until soft and place it aside. Now, heat some oil in a pan and sauté the onion, tomato, and ginger garlic paste until they are cooked properly. Add cooked dal, spices, and some water; let it simmer for a few more minutes, and serve hot with roti or rice.

Vegetable Upma

Ingredients

• Semolina
• Carrot
• Peas
• Beans
• Mustard seeds
• Curry leaves
• Green chillies

Method

Roast semolina until golden brown, and let it cool. Take a pan and heat some oil. Add mustard seeds, curry leaves, and green chillies. Then add the mixed vegetables and cook properly until they turn soft. Add some roasted semolina and water until the mixture thickens. Your lightweight breakfast snack is ready.

Paneer Butter Masala

Ingredients

• Cubed paneer or cottage cheese
• Chopped onion
• Chopped onion
• Ginger-garlic paste
• Cashew nuts
• Fresh cream

Method

Heat some oil in a pan and sauté the onions until they turn golden brown. Next, add diced tomatoes and ginger-garlic paste until the veggies turn soft. Prepare a cashew paste with water and pour it into the pan. Add cubed paneer and fresh cream, and let the mixture simmer for about 8–10 minutes. Serve hot with roti or rice.