For working professionals, preparing an elaborate Rakshabandhan feast amidst hectic schedules can seem daunting. However, you can still whip up delicious treats for your siblings this Rakhi even with limited time, by taking smart shortcuts.

Make celebrations quick and hassle-free with these 20 easy recipes of delectable sweets, savory snacks and main dishes that can be put together fast using time-saving tips and shortcuts:

Sweet Rakhi Treats in Minutes

Instant Kheer

• Whip up this quintessential Indian dessert in minutes using readymade kheer mixes like Nestle Mottu.
• Simply boil milk, add the kheer mix, and dry fruits. Let it thicken.
• Garnish the creamy kheer with slivered almonds, pistachios, and saffron strands.
• Chill and serve for an instant sweet treat without tedious cooking.

Mango Shrikhand

• Blend ripe mangoes into a smooth pulp. Hang curd in a muslin cloth for a couple of hours till strained.
• Process the strained curd and mango pulp together to get a luscious, creamy shrikhand.
• Sweeten with sugar, flavor with cardamom powder and saffron strands.
• Top with chopped mangoes. Chilled shrikhand is ready in minutes.

Microwave Mysore Pak

• Take besan, sugar, and ghee/oil in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 2-3 minutes.
• Stir well till the mixture turns glossy. Microwave again for 2 minutes.
• Add elaichi powder. Pour into a greased plate, allow to cool, and cut into squares.
• Kids can help with mixing and shaping for quick Mysore pak.

Besan Laddoo

• Dry roast gram flour in ghee. Let it cool then mix with powdered sugar to form a crumbly dough.
• Make small balls out of the dough, and roll them in desiccated coconut or sesame seeds.
• Ready in about 15 minutes, these gluten-free laddoos make a great Rakhi treat.

Instant Rasmalai

• Soak rasgullas in cans of sweetened condensed milk for a couple of hours.
• Remove rasgullas and boil the milk till it turns into rich rabdi.
• Add cardamom and saffron for flavoring. Coat rasgullas with rabdi.
• Garnish with slivered pistachios and you have instant rasmalai!

Savory Snacks & Appetizers in a Jiffy

Baked Samosa

• Cut corn tortillas into wedge shapes and lightly coat with oil.
• Fill with readymade potato stuffing or use canned potato curry as filling.
• Top with cheese and bake till the cheese melts.
• Get the samosa taste in easy mini sizes without deep frying.

Microwave Potato Cutlets

• Mash boiled potatoes with spices like chaat masala, red chili powder, garam masala.
• Shape into flat patties or balls. Brush oil and microwave for 4-5 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Noodle/Pasta Veggie Balls

• Make veggie balls by mixing together cooked noodles or pasta, diced veggies like carrots, beans, capsicum, corn and spices.
• Shape into balls and shallow fry just 2-3 minutes till crisp on the outside.

Roasted Chana Chaat

• Drain and pat dry chickpeas. Toss with oil, chaat masala, red chili powder, cumin powder.
• Roast in the oven at 400°F for 15-20 minutes, stirring in between.
• Top the crunchy chana with chopped onion, coriander chutney and sev.

Pinwheel Sandwiches

• Make a quick filling by mixing veggies like cucumber, tomato, capsicum etc. with hung curd and spices.
• Take bread slices, spread filling, roll up tightly and cut into pinwheels.

French Fries

• Slice potatoes into wedges and coat lightly in cornflour mixed with chili powder, chaat masala.
• Pan fry in shallow oil just till crisp. Shake off excess oil and serve hot.

Main Course Rakhi Recipes Made Easy

One Pot Pulao

• Sauté onions, veggies like peas, beans, carrots, potatoes in oil.
• Add washed rice, spices like cardamom, clove, cinnamon, cumin and just enough water.
• Cook covered till rice is done. Fluff up and garnish with nuts and raisins.

Cheater’s Chicken Biryani

• In an oven-safe dish, layer cooked chicken chunks, sliced onions and rice.
• Mix yogurt, spices like garam masala and chili powder as “biryani masala”. Pour over.
• Cover and bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes till chicken and rice are tender.
• Finish by topping with fried onions and coriander leaves.

Easy Pasta Bake

• Boil pasta as per package directions. Make tomato sauce by sautéing onion, tomato puree and spices or use canned pasta sauce.
• In a baking dish, mix together cooked pasta, sauce, chicken chunks or veggies, grated cheese.
• Top with more cheese and breadcrumbs. Bake till cheese melts.

Microwave Mug Pizza

• Mix together refined flour, curd, baking soda, salt in a microwave safe mug to form thick batter.
• Microwave for a minute. Flip over onto a plate. Sprinkle oregano and chili flakes.
• Top with sauce, veggies and cheese. Microwave again till cheese melts.

Mac ‘n’ Cheese

• Boil macaroni or pasta shells just till al dente. Make white sauce by mixing butter, milk, flour and cheese.
• Combine pasta and white sauce. Transfer into a baking dish, top with more cheese.
• Bake till golden brown for quick mac ‘n’ cheese loaded with extra cheese!

Quesadillas

• Place tortillas on a hot pan. Layer with spices, veggies like tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, capsicum and grated cheese.
• Fold tortilla over filling. Grill both sides till the cheese melts.
• Serve with salsa and sour cream for easy appetizer or quick dinner.

With some smart planning, kitchen shortcuts and easy-to-assemble recipes, you can put together fast and fuss-free Rakhi treats even with busy work schedules. Surprise your siblings with your culinary creativity this season! They are sure to appreciate your efforts in making the celebrations memorable despite time constraints.

Time-Saving Tips for Quick Rakhi Cooking

• Stock up the fridge with ingredients like boiled potatoes, curd, and veggies that can be used instantly
• Prepare dough for puris, kachoris, and samosas beforehand
• Use readymade mixes for kheer, and halwa to save time
• Buy packaged snacks like mathri, mixture, and chivda as backup
• Assemble chaats with readymade chutneys, sev
• Use canned beans, corn, and sauces instead of cooking from scratch
• Microwave mug cakes, pizza, potatoes instead of oven
• Marinate meats overnight for quick grilling
• Pressure-cook dishes in advance to use later
• Bake casseroles, and pasta bakes for minimal cooking
• Use a microwave wherever possible instead of the stove
• Cook in batches and freeze extras for later use
• Involve siblings in pre-prep like chopping, decorating
• Order main course dishes online from food delivery apps

By taking certain clever shortcuts and planning in advance, you can put together easy yet impressive Rakhi recipes quickly even with demanding work hours. The festival is about spending quality time with siblings over delicious food. With smart strategies in the kitchen, you can whip up appetizing treats balancing work commitments without sacrificing the festive meal. Surprise your brother or sister with your culinary skills this Rakshabandhan despite your busy schedule.

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