Pause. Breathe. Look around. No, seriously, lift up your heads and breathe in the festive air. In about a week, we will be rejoicing one of the biggest festivals of India, Diwali. By now, you must be stressing about all the cleaning left to do or wondering if you require another whitewash? I know questions like ‘why is that sharara double the price now?’ or ‘would I need another set of fairly lights for the balcony?’ plague my head until I enter the kitchen only to fret about this year’s Diwali party menu. That’s right. Unlike last year, I have decided to have a few of my friends over, a few of whom are more renowned for their picky eating habits than anything else. Catering to a crowd with diverse diet preferences requires a solid plan. And more often than not, my plan is to stick to classics. Since most people like to eat only vegetarian food on Diwali, the options may seem to narrow down, but if you are in a mood to explore, you can cook up a storm. 

Here are some of our veg classics that can steal the show at your Diwali party. 

1. Mathri

An qunitessential Diwali snack, Mathri, is crispy, savoury and biscuit-like. It can be found in any sweet shop, especially around Karwa Chauth and Diwali and remains in demand through the winters. 

2. Namak Pare

Namak Pare are diamond-shaped crisps made with besan and a hit of ajwain in some parts of India. The savoury snack is often distributed with sweets to cut through the monotony. 

3. Chilli Paneer

Is it even a house party without a paneer snack? This year, ditch the paneer tikkas for desi-Chinese magic. Instead, evenly cut paneer cubes tossed in a sauce replete withs sauce, bell peppers, chilli sauce and more. 

4. Mushroom Pepper Fry

Mushrooms stir-fried with heaps of bell peppers, soya sauce and spices. This chunky snack is sure to tug at your heartstrings with its varied textures and umami flavour. 

5. Gobhi Tikka

Cauliflower florets tossed in a batter of gram flour, hung curd, spices and ginger-garlic paste, grilled to perfection. This scrummy snack is also ideal for your friends on Keto. 

6. Dahi Kabab Lollipops

Why settle for kebabs when you can have a lollipop? Dahi kebab is a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth kebab made with curd, cottage cheese and spices. Skewer them with toothpicks and chomp away. 

7. Aloo Frankie

Not just another potato roll. This roll comes with an eclectic stuffing made with boiled and mashed potatoes, paneer, chillies, chutney, coriander and more. Cut them in halves and serve them on a big tray. 

8. Kurkuri Bhindi

You either like bhindi, or you don’t, but here’s a recipe that would turn even the harshest critics rethink their ‘reservations’. Long cuts made in okra ensure they don’t turn soggy soon, the crispness is courtesy of the batter made with gram flour seasoned with hot spices.