With Independence Day just around the corner, parents can add a festive touch to their children’s school tiffin boxes with colourful tricolour recipes. These dishes use simple ingredients to recreate the three colours of the Indian national flag while making lunchtime fun and appealing for kids.
Tricolour Idli: Divide regular idli batter into three portions. Mix carrot puree into one portion for the saffron colour and spinach puree into another for green, leaving the third portion white. Pour the three batters into greased idli moulds and steam for 10–12 minutes. Serve with coconut chutney.
Tricolour Sandwich: Sauté grated carrot with a little oil, then mix in crumbled paneer and salt. Prepare green chutney using coriander, mint, lemon juice and a little water. Spread the carrot-paneer mixture on one bread slice, add a cheese slice and top it with another slice coated with green chutney. Toast lightly and cut into fun shapes.
Tricolour Pulao: Cook basmati rice and divide it into three portions. Prepare the saffron layer using carrot and tomato paste, keep the middle portion white with ghee and cashews, and mix spinach-coriander paste with the final portion for green. Layer the three portions in a bowl and turn it onto a plate.
No-Cook Fruit Skewers: Thread orange or papaya, banana and green grapes or kiwi onto skewers in three colourful layers. Add a little lemon juice or chaat masala for extra flavour.
