We often hear, to eat as little as possible when it comes to weight loss. But do you know what is the real secret to weight loss? 

It’s eating smarter, choosing the right foods, and not skipping them. Based on a similar note we have listed down the top six Indian recipes for weight loss. These are low in calories but also packed with flavors and nutrients that help boost metabolism and support healthy weight loss.

Let’s read on to know about these strikingly perfect dishes, offering the balance between taste and nutrition, so you don’t have to compromise on flavor to stay fit.

1. Moong Dal Chilla (Savory Lentil Pancakes)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup yellow moong dal (soaked for 3-4 hours)
• 1 green chili (optional)
• ½ inch ginger
• Salt to taste
• Pinch of turmeric
• Chopped coriander
• Finely chopped onions, tomatoes, capsicum (optional)

Instructions:

1. Grind soaked dal with ginger, chili, and a little water into a blender to make a smooth batter.

2. Take out the mixture in a bowl and add salt, turmeric, chopped veggies, and coriander.

3. Now heat a non-stick pan, and pour batter making a thin circle like a dosa.

4. Cook both sides until golden brown (no or minimal oil).

What makes it great for breakfast or light dinner: 

1. It provides no more than 50 and 130 calories, keeping you full without extra calories.

2. High in protein & fiber because of lentils and vegetables.3. The fiber content helps in improving digestion, suppresses hunger pangs, and promotes satiety.   

2. Vegetable Upma (with oats or rava)

Ingredients:

• ½ cup oats or semolina (rava)
• Mixed veggies (carrot, beans, peas)
• Mustard seeds, curry leaves, green chili, ginger
• Salt & lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Take oats or rava (whichever you prefer) and roast it on a non-stick pan till golden brown.

2. In another pan sauté vegetables in minimal oil, after the vegetables have become soft, add roasted oats, salt, and water and cook everything together till you get a porridge-like consistency. 

3. Garnish with lemon juice and coriander.

What makes it great for breakfast or an evening snack?

1. It provides around 150-200 calories, enough for an excellent breakfast option.  

2. It digests slowly and helps you feel full for longer.  

3. The presence of vegetables makes them high-fiber food, improving digestion. 

3. Quinoa Khichdi

Ingredients:

• ½ cup quinoa
• ½ Moong dal
• Chopped veggies (spinach, carrot, peas)
• Chopped onion, ginger, garlic, green chilies
• Pinch of turmeric 
• Pinch of cumin

Instruction:

1. Soak quinoa and moong dal for 15-20 minutes in a container. 

2. Put the soaked quinoa, dal, and chopped vegetables in a pressure cooker and cook until three whistles come.

3. In a blender add chopped onions, ginger, garlic, and green chilies and grind them to make a smooth paste.

4. In another pan, heat the oil, add the cumin seeds, ginger, garlic, and onion paste, with turmeric, and saute it. 

5. When this saute mixture is ready, add the cooked quinoa mixture, mix it well, and serve hot 

What makes it a great wholesome meal?

1. It is a low-calorie food providing around 150 calories.

2. It is best for those with gluten intolerance issues since quinoa is gluten-free.

3. It is the best alternative to rice, offering high protein, dietary fiber, and higher nutritional values. 

4. It is also a good option for diabetic individuals since it has a low glycemic index and regulates blood sugar levels.

4. Cabbage & Moong Sprouts Salad

Ingredients:

• Shredded cabbage
• Moong sprouts
• Onion, tomato, lemon, mint
• Salt, pepper, chat masala

Instruction:

1. Mix shredded cabbage, moong sprouts, chopped onion, and tomato in a bowl.

2. Season the mixture with salt, pepper, chat masala, drops of lemon, and mint leaves. 

3. Let the mixture cool for 10 minutes and it’s ready to eat.

What makes it great for lunch and snacks?

1. It offers around 115 calories with high nutritional value coming from moong sprouts. 

2. It helps to fill the stomach when eaten as a snack and reduce the feeling of hungriness

3. Being high in fiber and nutrients, and full of enzymes, it is the best choice to consume this salad for fast weight loss results.  

5. Besan Cheela (Chickpea Pancake)

Ingredients:

• ½ cup besan
• Chopped onion, tomato, coriander
• Salt, turmeric, ajwain

Instruction:

1. Mix besan with chopped onion, tomato, coriander, salt, turmeric, and ajwain in a bowl.

2. Add water and make it like a paste, batter should not be too runny. 

3. Once you have a dosa batter-like consistency, leave it aside for 5 minutes to set. 

4. Heat a nonstick pan, pour a ladle full of the cheela batter, and spread it similar to a dosa. 

5. Roast the dosa till light brown from both sides by flipping it.

What makes it great for snacks or meals? 

1. A medium-sized besan cheela offers about 70 calories and 2.5 grams of protein. So you can have two or three cheelas to eat at mealtime. 

2. It has a high protein content which keeps you full for longer and reduces the chance to munch on heavy snacks. 

3. The protein content is not only good for weight loss but it equally supports those on the muscle-building journey. 

6. Low-Carb Paneer Bhurji

Ingredients:

• 100g paneer (crumbled)
• Chopped onion, tomato, green chili
• Turmeric, cumin, garam masala

Instruction:

1. Heat oil in a pan, put some cumin seeds, add chopped onion, tomato, and green chili, and saute till light brown.

2. Add turmeric, salt, and garam masala and again roast for a minute or two. 

3. Now add the crumbled paneer, stir everything, and let it cook for 3-4 minutes with the lid closed.  

4. Paneer bhurji is ready to serve hot. 

What makes it great for lunch, dinner, or a mid-day meal?

1. One serving of paneer bhurji offers about 370 calories and around 10 g of protein. 

2. It is low in carbs, making it best for low-calorie meals while promoting the fat-burning process.

3. Due to its high protein content, it is great for weight loss, keeping you full for long, and great for building muscles.