When you’re entertaining a group of friends in a completely new country, finding an authentic taste of foods you would typically enjoy snacking on, can be quite a challenge. Most times, tweaking what’s readily available or sprucing up food with a few personal touches can really enhance an eating experience, when it needs to be reflective of the food memories you have an attachment towards. While there is nothing wrong with picking up a few packets of frozen groceries from the supermarket, making it more suited to your palate as well as giving those attending your party a glimpse of the robust flavours of Indian food is still possible. Here are seven snacks to reaffirm this.
Paneer Tikka
Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons
Marinate cubes of Indian cottage cheese in a mixture of yogurt and spices, and skewer them with bell peppers and slices of onions for a fun DIY activity to engage your guests in. Use an outdoor grill or simply bake until they are golden brown and smoky. Serve with a desi coleslaw made with shredded cabbage and onions, mint chutney and lemon wedges.
Samosas
Buy premade and frozen triangular pastries filled with a mixture of spiced potatoes and peas to save time. Fry them up in hot oil, in small batches as and when your guests arrive and serve them with tamarind chutney or mint chutney.
Pakoras
Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons
Make crispy and flavourful vegan fritters by dipping slices of vegetables such as potatoes, onions, eggplant or spinach leaves in a gram flour batter and deep-frying until they're golden and crunchy. Pair with mint chutney or ketchup for guests to dip in.
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Chaat Grazing Board
Replace a quintessential charcuterie board with a chaat-themed board – dollop a generous amount of Greek yoghurt on the base and dress it with drops of mint chutney, tamarind chutney, chopped onions and tomatoes, sev, fresh coriander and pomegranate pearls. Serve with potato chips or papdi puris, if you can manage to find them.
Aloo Chaat
Image Credits: Flickr
This simple yet delicious dish made from boiled and cubed potatoes tossed with spices, chopped onions, tomatoes and chutneys – the aloo chat is a zesty and tangy snack. For a healthy option, swap the potatoes with sweet potatoes, yam or turnips and dress them in the same way and leave your guests asking for more!
Vegetable Spring Rolls
Buy filo pastry wrappers and stuff them with a mixture of sautéed vegetables, noodles and shredded chicken before rolling them up and deep-fry until crispy. Serve with a sweet chili sauce or soy sauce for dipping. For a non-vegetarian option, replace the filling with shredded chicken or prawn, and bake them until crispy.
Corn Bhel
Image Credits: Foodie Trail
This corn chaat is a healthy and tangy snack made with boiled corn, diced onions, tomatoes, cucumbers and a blend of spices. Drizzle with lemon juice and garnish with fresh coriander leaves for added flavour. Ideal for those who are on a fitness journey or with dietary restrictions, this vegan and gluten-free snack appeals to all.