Since ancient India, the festival of Raksha Bandhan has slowly and steadily developed into one of the main festivals of India. While the origins of this festival may be traced back to Hindu mythology and the tales of Draupadi tying a Rakhi on Lord Krishna’s wrist, over time, Raksha Bandhan transformed into a secular festival celebrated by people across all religions of India. The story of Rani Karnavati and Mughal Emperor Humayun is legendary, and so is that of Rabindranath Tagore’s Raksha Bandhan festival to inspire nationalism in Bengal.
Today, Raksha Bandhan is a time for brothers and sisters to get together, reaffirm their bonds of love and protection, and indulge in delicious goodies together. As with the festival of Rakhi itself, these food celebrations for the occasion have also evolved with time. While traditionally people have always celebrated with dishes like Dahi Vada, Kheer, Laddoo and more, the trend today is to load the festive platter with more new-age sort of snacks and treats that are popular with young brother-sister duos.
Of these, the vegetarian snacks and starters for Rakhi celebrations now not only include pizzas and burgers but also plenty of fusion dishes that are popular on social media. If you are looking for a trendy Raksha Bandhan celebration with your brother or sister, then here are some amazing and delicious vegetarian starters that you should add to your platter.
Video Credit: YouTube/Sanjeev kapoor Khazana
Pizza Samosa
Pizza Samosa is a delicious fusion snack that combines the flavors of two beloved classics: pizza and samosa. The inventive dish typically features a traditional crispy samosa shell filled with a mix of traditional pizza ingredients like chopped veggies, corn, tomato sauce and lots of cheese. In fact, the cheesier the Pizza Samosa, the more enjoyable it is, especially on occasions like Raksha Bandhan.
Ghewar Chaat
You may know ghewar as that crispy, deep-fried delicious sweet treat from Rajasthan—and the base of this dish is indeed that very ghewar. And yet, Ghewar Chaat is really a thing now! This delicious North Indian treat has a ghewar base loaded up with Indian chaat staples like potatoes, chickpeas, peanuts, mixture and some chutneys to elevate it to another level.
Kathal Momo
Jackfruit or kathal is celebrated among vegetarians and vegans as a delicious vegetable, thanks to the veggie’s meaty texture. So, Kathal Momos were created as a scrumptious starter for vegetarian parties to replace the meatiness of chicken with a veggie that’s equally amazing. The spicy jackfruit filling in this dish pairs really well with a red chilli momo chutney—the ultimate treat for brother-sister duos who love spicy food.
Idli Manchurian
Idli Manchurian is a creative Indo-Chinese dish that marries the softness of idlis with the bold and spicy flavours of Manchurian sauce. The idlis are cut into bite-sized pieces, stir-fried, and coated with a tangy, spicy Manchurian sauce made from soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and chili. The resulting dish is a treat for the senses, especially if you have a good spice tolerance.
Mozzarella Jalapeno Poppers
If you like Rajasthani Mirch Pakodas then this veg starter will have your heart as well as your sibling’s this Raksha Bandhan. Spicy jalapenos are slit, stuffed with a mozzarella mix, dipped in batter and deep-fried to golden perfection. Once fried, the mozzarella at the centre melts into a gooey, cheesy mess that both kids and adults can enjoy.
Dhokla Sushi
What happens when the sublime flavours of Gujarati dhokla meet the Japanese concept of sushi? The result is the perfect treat for siblings to celebrate with on Raksha Bandhan. Dhokla Sushi is made by making thin, white dhoklas with a traditional batter, placing a layer of chutneys on top and then rolling up the dhokla to give it a sushi-like appearance. These bite-sized wonders are must-haves this Rakhi.
Pav Bhaji Fondue
Love sharing plates of pav bhaji with your sibling? Now, you can do the same this Raksha Bandhan, but with the innovative dish called Pav Bhaji Fondue. The bhaji made with mashed cauliflower, potatoes, onions and peas is turned into a paste and cheese is added to it. To dip into this, pav or bread pieces on sticks are offered up to guests.
Paneer Tikka Tacos
Spicy paneer tikkas meet Mexican tacos to create the best treat you and your sibling can have this Raksha Bandhan. A marinate of yoghurt and spices is prepared for the paneer chunks, and these are then grilled on a tandoor until perfect. The paneer tikka is then stuffed into hard or soft taco shells and topped with chutneys, lemon juice and some cheese if you so like.