Indian Recipes

Indian Microwave Recipes

If you’ve been using your microwave for just heating, it’s time to change that with these easy Indian microwave recipes. I am sharing four incredible Indian recipes that you can whip up in your microwave!

Serves 3 persons
Prep 5 minutes
Cook 40 minutes
Total 1 hour

Jump to the recipe

Microwaves aren’t just for reheating leftovers; they can do so much more! Your microwave is a surprisingly powerful tool for everyday cooking as well. From quick sabzis and dals to rice dishes, you can actually make your microwave your new best friend! Indian microwave recipes are all about convenience without compromising on flavor.

Think of this as your go-to collection for fuss-free meals that come together in minutes, using simple ingredients and minimal cleanup. Perfect for busy weekdays or lazy evenings, these dishes prove that great Indian food doesn’t always need a long cooking time.

Microwave Dal Tadka

I decided to make this comforting Indian staple, dal tadka, in the microwave and there is no looking back! It’s a simple recipe, but just requires a fair amount of soaking the dal to help everything cook evenly. It’s warm, hearty, and just like the pressure cooked and stovetop version.

Microwave Matar Paneer

How cool it is that you can make restuarant-style matar paneer masala in the microwave!! This microwave recipe just completely blew my mind! This microwave version has the same creamy, mildly spiced curry along with the softest pieces of paneer and green peas. It’s a simple recipe that does not compromise on taste at all. I made this for a gathering recently and none of my friends could guess that this wasn’t made the traditional way!

Microwave Aloo Gobi Sabzi

This everyday favorite comes together effortlessly in the microwave, with potatoes and cauliflower cooked until tender and tossed in a flavorful mix of spices. It’s a no-fuss, homestyle sabzi that pairs beautifully with roti or dal-rice.

Microwave Rice

Light, fluffy, and perfectly cooked, microwave rice is a total game-changer for busy days. With just the right water ratio and timing, you can skip the stovetop and still get consistent results every time.

The recipe

Microwave Dal Tadka

Here'a an easy dal tadka recipe that comes together entirely in the microwave. It's a fuss-free, one-pot recipe you absolutely need to try!

Serves 3 persons
Prep 5 minutes
Cook 40 minutes
Total 1 hour

Ingredients

½ cup tur dal
1 tablespoon sunflower or any neutral flavoured oil
1 teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)
1 pinch asafoetida (hing)
¼ teaspoon finely chopped ginger
¾ teaspoon finely chopped garlic
1 green chilli (finely chopped)
2 tablespoons finely chopped onions
¼ teaspoon coriander powder
⅛ teaspoon cumin powder
¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
⅛ teaspoon red chilli powder
¾ teaspoon salt
2 cups water
¼ cup finely chopped tomatoes
2 teaspoons finely chopped coriander leaves

Method

1
Wash & soak dal for 1 hour.
2
Take oil & jeera in a microwave safe bowl, keep in the centre of the oven and microwave for 1 ½ minutes.
3
Add hing, ginger, garlic, green chilli & microwave for 1 minute.
4
Add onions & microwave for 1 ½ minutes till onions turn pale golden.
5
Add spice powders – coriander, cumin, turmeric, red chilli, salt, 2 tablespoons of water & microwave for 1 minute.
6
Add tomatoes, 2 tablespoons of water. cover the bowl with a microwave safe lid with holes in it or microwave safe cling wrap with holes punched in. microwave covered for 3 minutes till they are cooked well & become mushy.
7
Add soaked dal, 2 cups of water and microwave covered for 30-40 minutes till dals are cooked well & become mushy. Whisk well to get a smooth texture.
8
Garnish with coriander leaves and serve.

Notes

It is important to soak dal so they get evenly cooked. Covering with a lid with holes or cling wrap is important so heat does not escape while cooking and it fastens the cooking process. The lid or cling wrap must have holes in them, otherwise the water spills over & alters the cooking process. Keeping the bowl in the centre of the oven is important for uniform cooking. The microwave timings are suggested as per the microwave I use which may change slightly as per your microwave.

Equipment

1 Microwave

Nutrition

Calories 91 kcal
Carbohydrates 10 g
Protein 2 g
Fat 5 g
Saturated Fat 1 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3 g
Monounsaturated Fat 4 g
Sodium 645 mg
Potassium 174 mg
Fiber 3 g
Sugar 1 g
Vitamin A 144 IU
Vitamin C 4 mg
Calcium 32 mg
Iron 1 mg

The recipe

Microwave Matar Paneer

Can you believe that this matar paneer recipe comes together entirely in the microwave? One-pot, minimal post cooking clean up, and no one can tell this was cooked in the microwave!

Serves 4 persons
Prep 3 minutes
Cook 22 minutes
Total 25 minutes

Ingredients

1 tablespoon sunflower or any neutral flavoured cooking oil
½ teaspoon jeera
1 cardamom
2 cloves
½ inch cinnamon
¼ cup finely chopped onions
¾ teaspoon salt (divided)
1 ½ teaspoons ginger garlic paste
1 teaspoon kashmiri chilli powder
½ teaspoon red chilli powder
½ teaspoon coriander powder
¼ teaspoon cumin powder
⅛ teaspoon turmeric powder
1 cup water (divided)
½ cup tomato puree
⅛ cup curds (whisked)
½ cup green peas (fresh or frozen)
100 grams paneer (cut into ½ inch cubes)
⅛ teaspoon garam masala powder
⅛ teaspoon kasuri methi

Method

1
Add oil, jeera, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon to a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 2 ½ minutes.
2
Add chopped onions, ¼ teaspoon salt & microwave for 2 ½ minutes till onions get roasted and turn light brown. Add ginger garlic paste and microwave for ½ minute. Add dry spice powders – kashmiri chilli, red chilli, coriander, cumin, turmeric, ¼ cup of water, mix well. cover the bowl with a microwave safe lid with holes in it or microwave safe cling wrap with holes punched in. microwave covered for 1 minute.
3
Add tomato puree, green peas and microwave covered for 8 minutes till they are cooked well.
4
Add ⅛ cup curds, ¼ cup of water and microwave covered for 4 minutes till oil separates from the masala.
5
Add paneer, garam masala, kasuri methi, microwave covered for 2 minutes and serve.

Notes

Covering with a lid with holes or cling wrap is important so heat does not escape while cooking and it fastens cooking process. The lid or cling wrap must have holes in them, otherwise the water spills over & alters the cooking process. Keeping the bowl in the centre of the oven is important for uniform cooking. The microwave timings are suggested as per the microwave I use which may change slightly as per your microwave.

Equipment

1 Microwave

Nutrition

Calories 147 kcal
Carbohydrates 9 g
Protein 6 g
Fat 10 g
Saturated Fat 4 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3 g
Monounsaturated Fat 3 g
Cholesterol 17 mg
Sodium 473 mg
Potassium 248 mg
Fiber 3 g
Sugar 3 g
Vitamin A 541 IU
Vitamin C 12 mg
Calcium 156 mg
Iron 1 mg

The recipe

Microwave aloo gobi sabzi

This microwave aloo gobi sabzi is as simple and flavorful as it's stovetop version. Perfectly cooked and a really easy, you need to try this!

Serves 2 persons
Prep 5 minutes
Cook 30 minutes
Total 35 minutes

Ingredients

1 tablespoon oil
½ teaspoon cumin seeds
½ teaspoon finely chopped garlic
¼ teaspoon finely chopped ginger
2 teaspoons coriander powder
1 teaspoon red chilli powder
¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
½ teaspoon amchur powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup potatoes (cut into ½ inch cubes, approx. 70 gms)
1 cup cauliflower florets (approx. 120 gms)
½ cup water divided
1 tablespoon finely chopped coriander leaves

Method

1
Take oil, cumin seeds, garlic, ginger in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 2 minutes.
2
Add spice powders – coriander, chilli, turmeric, amchur, salt, 2 tablespoons of water, mix well and microwave for 1 ½ minutes.
3
Add potato cubes, cauliflower florets, 2 tablespoons of water, mix well and microwave covered with a microwave safe lid for 8 minutes, give a good toss and microwave covered for 8 minutes till it’s cooked well. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve..

Notes

Covering with a lid is important so heat does not escape while cooking and it fastens the cooking process. Keeping the bowl in the centre of the oven is important for uniform cooking. The microwave timings are suggested as per the microwave I use which may change slightly as per your microwave.

Equipment

1 Microwave

Nutrition

Calories 132 kcal
Carbohydrates 15 g
Protein 3 g
Fat 8 g
Saturated Fat 1 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2 g
Monounsaturated Fat 5 g
Trans Fat 0.03 g
Sodium 621 mg
Potassium 436 mg
Fiber 3 g
Sugar 2 g
Vitamin A 317 IU
Vitamin C 35 mg
Calcium 44 mg
Iron 2 mg

The recipe

Microwave Rice

Learn how to make rice in the microwave quickly and in a few simple steps. Once you make rice in the microwave this way, there is no going back

Serves 2 persons
Prep 5 minutes
Cook 22 minutes
Total 57 minutes

Ingredients

½ cup sona masoori rice
2 cups water

Method

1
Wash rice well and soak for 30 minutes.
2
Take rice and water in a microwave safe bowl. cover with a lid with holes or microwave safe cling wrap with holes punched in it. Keep in the centre of the oven and microwave for 20-21 minutes till rice is soft and cooked well. Rest for 5 minutes, fluff up the rice with a spoon or fork and serve.

Notes

It is important to soak the rice otherwise it will not get evenly cooked. Covering with a lid or cling wrap is important so heat does not escape while cooking and it fastens the cooking process. The lid or cling wrap must have holes in them, otherwise the water spills over & alters the cooking process. Keeping the bowl in the centre of the oven is important for uniform cooking. The microwave timings are suggested as per the microwave I use which may change slightly as per your microwave.