Originating in China, mushrooms have already made their place in Indian cuisine. This fleshy and exotic ingredient has given the world a variety of delicious recipes, starting from comforting soups to creamy pastas. While talking about the Indian platter, almost every cuisine of the country has invented a special dish with mushroom that is enough to tickle your taste buds. Mushroom xacuti of Goa, mushroom Chettinad from Tamil Nadu, kombu barthad of Karnataka, Punjab’s mushroom masala and the list is unending.
They are not only delicious but also packed with vital nutrients like vitamin D and zinc that help in building stronger immune system. Recently, mushrooms have also been included in the list of superfoods. Another interesting fact about them is that they are not limited to the main course alone, Mushrooms are versatile enough to get into your snack as well as appetizer platters.
Here are five Indian mushroom recipes you can serve as starters in your next house party:
1. Mushroom 65
Hailing from the southern part of India, this recipe is very popular in the restaurant menus as well. Similar to chicken 65, it is prepared by coating mushrooms with all-purpose flour and corn flour along with spices like garam masala and pepper that add flavour to it. Mushroom 65 can also be enjoyed as an evening snack.
2. Mushroom Pepper Fry
This simple and quick dish is made with bell peppers, curry leaves, black pepper and fennel seeds. It is super delicious and also goes well with rice and roti as a side dish. Another interesting way to indulge in this dish is by stuffing into sandwiches and kathi rolls.
3. Mushroom Tikka
This Indian appetizer is made by marinating and grilling mushrooms with spices and herbs just like paneer tikka. Now you might be thinking that this dish cannot be as good as paneer tikka, but believe me it's far better than you can imagine. Filled with flavours, it can also be baked in oven instead of grilling too.
4. Chilli Mushroom
The combination of Chinese and Indian flavours has already done wonders, be it veg manchurian or chicken lollipop. Chilli mushroom is one of those wonders and it is made with bell peppers, garlic, soya sauce and chilli sauce. It has a perfect balance of sweet, spicy and tangy taste that makes it a side dish as well. Chilli mushroom can also become a part of Chinese meal when combined with hakka noodles or fried rice.
5. Mushroom Bhaji
If you are a bhaji lover, then this dish is definitely for you. Prepared within minutes, mushroom bhaji is deliciously flavoured with traditional Indian spices. Roast mushrooms with onion, garlic and spices then stir in tomato puree with garam masala. Just make sure you don’t over-crowd mushrooms in the pan as it may not allow them to cook uniformly.
These starters are comparatively healthier than other dishes and can bring a delicious earthy flavour to your party menu.