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Indian cuisine has a very special and unique quality: it is accepting of other flavours and tastes. We have foods that range from spicy to mild to sweet, with something to offer everyone. Not only main courses or desserts and drinks, but a huge repository of snacks that are easy to make, delicious to eat, and fun to share.
So, if you are a student in the USA or have started working there and you are preparing to host a party for all the new friends you have made in the new country, why not serve delectable Indian snacks to your guests and start with exchanging culture and food? Here are eight Indian snacks that you can easily prepare and share with your American friends.
Samosas:
Samosas are a quintessential Indian snack enjoyed by people all over the world. These crispy, triangular pastries are typically stuffed with spiced potatoes and peas. Samosas are a crowd-pleaser and can be customised to suit various tastes. In the USA, you can find them served at Indian restaurants, but making them at home is a fun and rewarding experience.
Prepare a filling with boiled potatoes, peas, and spices like cumin, coriander, and garam masala. Make or buy samosa dough, which is a mixture of all-purpose flour, oil, and water. Stuff the dough with the filling, fold it into a triangle, and deep-fry until golden brown. Serve with mint chutney for a Desi touch.
Paneer Tikka:
Recipe - Chef Ranveer Brar
Paneer tikka is a vegetarian delight that's sure to please your guests. It consists of marinated paneer cubes grilled or baked to perfection. The marinade is a tasty mixture of yoghurt and spices, giving the paneer a smoky, tangy taste.
Marinate paneer cubes in yoghurt, ginger-garlic paste, red chilli powder, and tandoori spice blend. Thread the marinated paneer onto skewers and grill until charred. Serve hot with sliced onions and lemon wedges.
Pani Puri:
Pani puri, also known as golgappa or phuchka in some regions of India, is a popular street food snack that we all love and can never just stop at a couple of servings. Making it in the USA is rather simple.
Prepare the pani by mixing tamarind pulp (replace with lemon water if tamarind is difficult to find), mint, coriander, and spices. Fill crispy store-bought puris with a mixture of boiled potatoes and chickpeas. Let your guests dip it into the tangy pani and enjoy a partly DIY snack.
Chaat:
Chaat is a diverse category in itself, ranging from papri chaat to aloo tikki chaat to samosa chaat. Chaat is known for its sweet, sour, and spicy flavours, making it a great representation of our cuisine. For a simple aloo chaat, prepare the base by mashing boiled potatoes and mixing them with roasted cumin and coriander powder. Top them with yoghurt, tamarind chutney, green chutney, and various toppings like chopped onions, tomatoes, and sev.
Bhel Puri:
Bhel puri is a light and refreshing snack that's perfect for breezy gatherings. It's a mixture of puffed rice, vegetables, and chutneys, creating a dish that your American guests will never forget the taste of. Mix store-bought puffed rice with chopped onions, tomatoes, boiled potatoes, and roasted peanuts. Then, add tamarind chutney, green chutney, and a sprinkle of chaat masala for flavour.
Pakoras:
Recipe - Hebbars Kitchen
Pakoras, bhajiya, or bachka, as they are called in different parts of India, are deep-fried fritters made from a batter of gram flour or besan and spices like turmeric, red chilli powder, and cumin powder. They're incredibly crispy and can feature various vegetables like onions, potatoes, and spinach, according to seasonal availability. Slice vegetables thinly and dip them in a gram flour batter. Deep-fry in cooking oil until golden brown, and serve with mint chutney or ketchup.
Dahi Puri:
Dahi puri is a close cousin of pani puri, but it's creamier and less spicy for those who would like to take a break from all that heat. These bite-sized delights consist of hollow puris used in golgappe, filled with a mixture of yoghurt, chutney, and basic Indian spices like chaat masala, cumin, coriander, and black salt. Fill ready-made puris with a mixture of yoghurt and tamarind chutney. Garnish with chopped cilantro, sev, and a pinch of chaat masala.
Masala Peanuts:
Masala peanuts are a crunchy and addictive snack that's perfect for munching during a party. They are coated with a flavourful spice mix and roasted to perfection. While it is spicy in its authentic version, you can adjust the heat level according to the preferences of your guests. To make it, toss raw peanuts with a mixture of spices like cumin, coriander, red chilli powder (optional), and salt. Roast them in the oven until they turn crispy. Serve as it is or garnish with chopped onion and tomatoes for a fun chaat.
