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5 min
16/09/2025
Picnics, dabbas and that last meal from your mom’s hands before you leave for another land, all of them evoke a sense of nostalgia and longing. While those times might be long gone, what has remained are the familiar flavours and the same love and concern packed in a box. You need them fast and packed with homeliness, which is also tasty. So, in walks the quintet of rice dishes that travel well with minimal moisture and long-lasting flavour.
Nothing beats rice in dabbas, whether it is for your kid, yourself, or your family. Rice travels well and does not need a side dish if you prepare it with spices and one extra ingredient that is the dominant flavour of the dish. Coconut rice, lemon rice, and tamarind rice are all classic examples. All of them are dry but slightly moist at the same time, and watery like curd rice. The rice recipes below have stood the test of time, celebrated not just for their comforting flavours but for their remarkable ability to travel well without losing charm or freshness.
A staple across South Indian homes, the best part about lemon rice is that you can easily use leftover rice for it. It is mostly made with rice, fresh lemon juice, turmeric, and mustard seeds, along with curry leaves and green chillies. Its flavours make it quite appetising with the perfect balance of sourness and mild spices from the tempering. Often, roasted peanuts are added to lemon rice for nuttiness. It’s great for tiffins, for it is travel-friendly, keeping well for about 6-8 hours if kept at room temperature. It also has minimal water content in it, so you don't have to fret about spills and leakages or even spillage on a hot summer day. Pack it with yoghurt or pickles for a filling meal.
Also known as puliyodarai or puliyogare, tamarind rice is cherished for its tangy, slightly sweet, and spicy flavour owing to the tamarind pulp, mustard seeds, dried red chillies, and a blend of spices like methi and hing used. What makes this delicious rice dish stand out is its deceptively simple look, which has a layered taste that perfectly balances sourness and spiciness, often complemented by crunchy peanuts or sesame seeds. Just like lemon rice, it can be packed into dabbas for adults and kids or taken to picnics or for longer train journeys or flights. It should keep well for up to a quarter of a day, regardless of the weather, if stored properly. Pack some papad and yoghurt salad with tamarind rice.
Also known as thakkali sadam, or tomato rice, comes from Tamil Nadu and is popular in the neighbouring states as well. It is made with rice tossed with a tomato-based masala made from fresh tomatoes, onions, mustard seeds, curry leaves, and green chillies. It is tangy and mildly spicy, and this rice dish has a rich tomato flavour that turns the rice a nice red colour. What makes this rice dish great is the concentrated taste of the fresh, juicy tomato, balanced with aromatic spices, which makes for a homely and satisfying meal. Unlike lemon and tamarind rice, tomato rice has a shorter shelf life. It is ideal for dabbas, but should be consumed within a couple of hours for the tomato not to spoil.
If you love coconuts, then fix yourself a rich coconut rice dabba, for this mildly sweet dish will just hit the spot. The cooked rice is mixed with freshly grated coconut, mustard seeds, curry leaves, green chillies, and sometimes cashews or peanuts. The tempering of the spices and the subtle sweetness from the grated coconut are what make this dish packed with flavour. Kids and adults will both love this rice dish, for it travels well, and fairly keeps well for up to 6 hours outside the fridge, at room temperature. This rice makes it an excellent accompaniment to dal, rasam and even spicy curries or dals.
This dish is native to the western state of Maharashtra, and masala bhath, also goes by the name of spiced rice. Like the name suggests, it is a hearty rice dish made with a blend of spices, vegetables like peas and carrots, and sometimes nuts or raisins. What makes it great is its rich, spicy, and aromatic nature, with spices like cumin, coriander, garam masala, and chilli powder. It is the perfect masaledar lunch box meal and is quite travel-friendly, keeping well as long as the lemon and tamarind rice. Enjoy this rice dish with some yoghurt or pickle on the side.
These rice dishes aren’t just travel-friendly; they’re time-saving, reliable meals built on regional knowledge and time-tested flavours. Perfect for a long commute, a school lunchbox, or a day trip, each one brings something distinct to the table. The lemon rice with its refreshing lemon flavour, the spicy kick from the masala bhath and the comforting wholesomeness from the fresh coconut in the coconut rice. All of them have stood the test of time and are homely meals.