SNACKS AND APPETIZERS
Diversity is one of the characteristics that best describe India. India is relatively a large country, and every state has many different languages, dialects, unique traditions, and most importantly, Indian recipes. Food in India is so diverse that you can see dozens of variations of one dish alone.
Socializing and snacking is the lifestyle of any average Indian , it is tradition of any Indian home to serve you with a variety of snacks and dipping pickles to accompany them, many are very easy and quick to make in few minutes.
Snack foods are often classified as junk food because they typically fried, and are not seen as contributing towards generalhealth and nutrition. With growing concerns for diet weight control and general health, more and more health oriented snacks are preferred.
When it comes to Snacks and Appetizers, Indian cuisine is special because cooking is considered as an art in India and also due to the variations of mixed cuisines that we have a wide range of Snacks and appetizers. Children love to eat them as they are delicious & tangy to taste.
Some of the popular Indian snacks and appetizers that you can expect to tickle your palates and satisfy your cravings inclues:
Chaat – This flat bread is very versatile as you can flavor it any way you want. The basic ingredient in this snack is potatoes, which are mashed together with spices and other veggies and deep fried. The chaat can be served with sauces, chutneys, and soups.
Samosa – This appetizer has already met many variations and has even been adapted in western recipes. Basically, it is a thin pastry that is stuffed with a filling of vegetables and spices. It is folded into a triangular shape and baked in an oven. Sometimes, vegetables are replaced with chicken added with flavorings.
Dhokla – It is also considered as fast food in India, and is commonly served in streets as well. The basic ingredients of dhokla include chickpeas, which are ground and soaked in water. The mixture is kneaded into a roll, and steamed. In some recipes, dhokla is deep-fried, and served with herbs, spices, and chutney.
Chivda – Popularly called the Bombay Mix, chivda is a popular snack eaten with hands. It can be a healthy alternative topotato chips or popcorn, as chivda is made of dried lentils, chickpeas, chickpea noodles, peanuts, puffed rice, and many more.
Murukku – Also known as Chakli is a delicious, indulging and crispy snack. It is typically made from rice flour batter mixed with urad dal flour and spiced with asafeotida, cumin, ajwain or chilli. The batter or dough is squeezed through a murukku mold with a star-shaped nozzle to form a circular spiral coil and then deep fried till golden and crispy. This can be served as an evening snack with tea or coffee. Perfect for any festive occasion.
Pakoras – This crispy delight is made by dipping your favorite vegetables such as cauliflower, eggplant, bell pepper, potato, spinach, tomato and onion in a spicy batter and deep-fried. This delicious vegetable fritter is often served as an appetizer and during festivals and served with chutneys. Some popular pakora varieties are paneer (cottage cheese) pakora, palak (spinach) pakora, and pyaz (onion) pakora.
Papri Chaat also spelled Papdi Chaat is a easy to make delicacy originated from north India. Papri is made from wheat flour mixed with oil and salt and then deep-fried till crispy into disc wafers. It is served with finger-licking Chaat which is a concoction of assorted ingredients such as boiled chick peas, potatoes, chillis, tamarind chutney and yogurt.
Masala Vada - Masala Vada is basically a medium-sized dumpling served with sambhar, coriander chutney, coconut chutney or tomato ketchup along with tea or coffee, perfect as evening tiffin. Its main ingredients are channa dal, chopped onions, curry leaves, ginger and green chillies. Masala vada is best served hot.
Chaat – This flat bread is very versatile as you can flavor it any way you want. The basic ingredient in this snack is potatoes, which are mashed together with spices and other veggies and deep fried. The chaat can be served with sauces, chutneys, and soups.
Samosa – This appetizer has already met many variations and has even been adapted in western recipes. Basically, it is a thin pastry that is stuffed with a filling of vegetables and spices. It is folded into a triangular shape and baked in an oven. Sometimes, vegetables are replaced with chicken added with flavorings.
Dhokla – It is also considered as fast food in India, and is commonly served in streets as well. The basic ingredients of dhokla include chickpeas, which are ground and soaked in water. The mixture is kneaded into a roll, and steamed. In some recipes, dhokla is deep-fried, and served with herbs, spices, and chutney.
Chivda – Popularly called the Bombay Mix, chivda is a popular snack eaten with hands. It can be a healthy alternative topotato chips or popcorn, as chivda is made of dried lentils, chickpeas, chickpea noodles, peanuts, puffed rice, and many more.
Murukku – Also known as Chakli is a delicious, indulging and crispy snack. It is typically made from rice flour batter mixed with urad dal flour and spiced with asafeotida, cumin, ajwain or chilli. The batter or dough is squeezed through a murukku mold with a star-shaped nozzle to form a circular spiral coil and then deep fried till golden and crispy. This can be served as an evening snack with tea or coffee. Perfect for any festive occasion.
Pakoras – This crispy delight is made by dipping your favorite vegetables such as cauliflower, eggplant, bell pepper, potato, spinach, tomato and onion in a spicy batter and deep-fried. This delicious vegetable fritter is often served as an appetizer and during festivals and served with chutneys. Some popular pakora varieties are paneer (cottage cheese) pakora, palak (spinach) pakora, and pyaz (onion) pakora.
Papri Chaat also spelled Papdi Chaat is a easy to make delicacy originated from north India. Papri is made from wheat flour mixed with oil and salt and then deep-fried till crispy into disc wafers. It is served with finger-licking Chaat which is a concoction of assorted ingredients such as boiled chick peas, potatoes, chillis, tamarind chutney and yogurt.
Masala Vada - Masala Vada is basically a medium-sized dumpling served with sambhar, coriander chutney, coconut chutney or tomato ketchup along with tea or coffee, perfect as evening tiffin. Its main ingredients are channa dal, chopped onions, curry leaves, ginger and green chillies. Masala vada is best served hot.
Aloo Tikki – This crisp and spicy potato snack has been a popular Indian street food.
Indian snacks and appetizers can even be made as special dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You don’t have to wait for special festivals in India to enjoy sumptuous dishes and mouth watering snacks. With their huge array of sauces, soups, condiments, and spices, Indian cuisine offers no boundaries when it comes to taste.
Homemade snacks are much sought after for the obvious reason of using fresh food products and caring for better family health, at vahrehvah we have snacks and appetizers from steamed to oven baked and many are quick and easy snack ideas that you can churn to quick growing appetite of your children or to refresh your tired love one and cater to your guests.
Here is the complete list of Indian snacks that are easy to make and many are with our vahchefs cooking videos.
