The perks of Ramazan are plenty. One of them is that your day doesn’t have to be as fast-paced as it usually is. You can sleep in a little, work a little less and generally unwind- just a little. Right? Sure, as long as you don’t have kids.
Kids tend to make sure that you do not get any lazy days, and add the fact that school is off- you have yourself a regular day of regular chaos, only in Ramazan when you happen to be fasting. #Blessed.
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The one thing that seems to be of most inconvenience is whipping up breakfast/lunch/snacks in the heat when you’re feeling a little woozy. So we’ve put together a list of quick, kid-friendly dishes (and tips) that will be your saving grace this month.
*Remember, the key here is to make sure your kids are fed with minimal effort- not how to get the maximum amount of Vitamins A, B and C, iron, fiber and calcium into one meal.
What you can do in advance
- Shred a LOT of cheese and freeze in a Ziploc bag.
- Marinate boneless chicken with tikka masala, or a tandoori chicken masala; divide into smaller servings and freeze.
- Buy fish fillets, clean and freeze. All you need to do with these is dip in flour, egg and seasoned breadcrumbs and fry.
- Stock up on frozen parathas- whole wheat parathas are also available in the market now which may be a preferred choice for parents.
- Stock up on other frozen foods: fries, frozen vegetables, chicken chunks, etc.
- Buy uncooked pasta: macaroni, spaghetti, etc.
- Buy marinara sauce or tomato puree for a quick sauce.
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Frozen parathas FTW
Frozen parathas and I are the best of friends this month. They offer a great base for many dishes and are good with some reheated salan from the night before. Here are some things you can whip up using frozen parathas:
- Pizza paratha: pizza sauce (ketchup works too), shredded cheese, chicken chunks (use from leftovers or defrost some ready-to-eat chunks), any veggies you have available in the fridge. Throw everything on top of the paratha, fold and leave in the frying pan over low heat until the cheese melts. Et Voila!
- Paratha rolls: Use the chutney you’re going to prep for iftar anyway. If you took the time to marinate some tikka chunks, pan fry them and add to the paratha; you can use pre-made seekh kababs too. Roll it up. Hand it to your child and take a nap.
- Paratha, nutella, banana, nuts- don’t judge.
Eggs for days
I will refrain from the number of typical phrases that people use when talking of eggs: (anday ka funda, eggcellent, eggsactly, eggcetera). Wow, I really couldn’t help it.
Anyway, eggs are great. Especially because you don’t need to defrost them and they have a cook time of two-minutes. Here’s what you can do:
- Anda paratha
- French toast
- Egg sandwiches with cheese
- Khageena– add whichever veggies you have on hand. Spinach is a great choice.
- Cheese omelette- always a winner
Read: The Best Recipe For Khageena- Pakistani Style Scrambled Eggs
Pasta la vista baby
Pasta is one of the most versatile ingredients to work with. It can be fancy-gourmet, or super simple. Here are a few ideas on how you can make pasta with the least amount of effort:
- Spaghetti, doused in ready-made marinara sauce. All you need to do is boil a small serving of spaghetti, and toss in a few tablespoons of heated marinara. Add olives and cheese, chicken chunks or ready to eat meatballs.
- Mac and cheese: butter, flour, milk, mustard powder, salt, pepper and cheddar cheese- that’s IT. Boil some macaroni and fold through, maybe add some broccoli if you’re feeling a little extra. Even better, blend some steamed broccoli and mix in the sauce- they will never know.
- Chow mein: egg noodles cook faster than regular spaghetti. Carrots, cabbage, a few typical Chinese sauces and you’re out of the kitchen before you know it. (side note: fried rice is equally easy, using leftover rice). Get a bag of frozen veggies and use them for chow mein and fried rice.
Read: Pakistani Style Chicken Chow Mein Recipe
Sandwich it
- Shami kabab sandwich
- Cheese sandwich
- Faux club sandwich (a quick omelette for one layer, some tomatoes and chicken spread on the other)
- Peanut butter and banana sandwich
- French toast sandwich
- Hunter beef sandwich
You get my point. Use brown bread, I’ve noticed that kids don’t really notice the difference (unless it’s multigrain, then you’re in trouble mama)
What do you guys whip up for your kids when you would much rather be asleep? Let us know!