Samosa Chaat

This is a very unhealthy snack but somethings you just got to have it :)

What you need:
Samosa 4 pieces
Boiled white peas 1/2 cup
Curd 1/2 cup
Tamarind chutney 3-4 spoons
Green chutney 3-4 spoons
Roasted cumin powder 1/2 spoon
Red chilly powder 1/2 spoon
Chaat masala 1/2 spoon
Onions 1/2 cup chopped finely
Tomato 1/2 cup chopped finely
Sev/boondi mixture 1/2 cup
Cilantro for garnish

Method:
1) Put samosas in plate and smash into small eatable chunks
2) Add boiled peas to the samosas and mix well
3) Add onion and tomatoes to the mix - don't mix
4) Add curd on top - don't mix
5) Add tamarind chutney &  green chutney - don't mix - you can decorate by spreading this chutney in various designs
6) Add chilly powder and chaat masala on top
7) Finally add sev/boondi mixture on top
8) Garnish and serve

Remember not to mix after step 2.

Chivda (semi spicy puffed rice snack)

This is my favorite snack when I feel hungry. It is light and tastes very nice. Also isn't too spicy to cause stomach upset

What you need:
Thin poha 3 cups (should be as flat as possible)
Oil 2 spoons
Mustard seeds 1 spoon
Curry leaves 3-4
Green chillies 2 finely chopped
Roasted peanuts 3 spoons
Roasted channa dal 3 spoon
Turmeric powder 1/2 spoon
Salt 1 spoon
Sugar 1 spoon

Method:
1) Microwave poha for 2 minutes and stir every 20 seconds
2) Heat oil in pan
3) Add mustard seeds, curry leaves & green chillies
4) Add this mixture to poha in bowl
5) Add all remaining ingredients in the bowl
6) Mix it well until it is consistent - preferably cover the pan and toss it up and down, inverting it once in a while
7) Microwave for another minute
8) Let it cool and serve

Add dry pan fried sliced coconut pieces for extra flavor

Gobi (Cauliflower) Manchurian

Although the name is Chinese this is a more or less an Indian dish. It is spicy and cripy. Goes very well with drinks or just plain Chinese noodles or fried rice.

It is a two step process - one for making fried Cauliflower balls and the second to make the gravy and mix it up

Step 1)
What you need:
Cauliflower - 1 - chopped into eatable chunks
Maida - 2 spoonfull
Corn flour - 2 cups
Chilli & Black pepper power - 1 spoon each
Salt - 1 spoon
Water to prepare batter
Oil to fry

Method:
1) Put the cauliflower is hot water for 5 mins
2) Prepare batter by mixing all ingredients above - keep it in semi solid state - not too thick or thin
3) Dip cauliflower pieces into batter and then fry in pan until light brown and cooked

Step 2)
What you need:
Onion 1 medium sliced
Garlic 3-4 cloves (chopped finely)
Ginger small cube finely chopped
Tomato sauce 3 spoons
Green chili - 2 finely chopped
Chilly sauce 1 spoon
Soy sauce - 3 spoons
Oil 2 sppons
Cilantro for garnishing

Method:
1) Pour oil in pan and saute onion, garlic and ginger until onion is light brown
2) Add Tomato, chilly and soya sauce and mix well
3) Add cauliflower and mix well
4) Add garnish

Try it with Chinese hakka noodles or fried rice.

Bhelpuri (Spicy Snack)

Bhelpuri is a very tasty snack popular throughout India. Depending on location it acquires a different flavor and taste. Chinese Bhel is also popular in India but has nothing to do with China. It was originally made in India but given the name Chinese bhel to differentiate it from the common bhelpuri.

What you need:
1) Puffed rice 3 cups
2) Potatoes 2 nos - boiled and chopped (not finely)
3) Onion 1 - chopped finely
4) Tomato 1 - chopped finely
5) Green chillies 2 chopped finely
6) Coriander leaves chopped
7) Tamarind chutney 1/2 spoon
8) Green chutney 1 spoon
9) Chaat Masala 1 spoon
10) Fine sev - thick sev can be used but fine sev gives better texture and mixes well
11) Papdi 2-3 (crushed into small pieces)

Method:
1) Mix all ingredients in a bowl except puffed rice, sev and chutneys
2) Add chutneys and mix well. Chutney should be as per taste
3) Add puffed rice and mix well
4) Garnish with sev and serve immeditely

It is best to prepare just before eating otherwise the puffed rice will become soggy. For extra flavor add some sliced green mangoes. It will give a tangy taste to it.

Dahi Bhalla (Curd Vada or Dahi Vada)

This can be a dessert, snack or a meal in itself. I usually skip meals when I eat Dahi Bhallas. It is filling and very tasty and definitely good for digestion

What you need:
1) Urad dal 2 cups
2) Green chillies 3-4
3) Jeera powder - roast for 2 mins
4) Salt to taste
5) Oil 2 cups for frying vada
6) Chilli powder 2 spoon
7) Water 2 cups for soaking vada
8) 2 cups of curd

Method:
1) Soak Urad dal in water for 2 hours
2) Grid Ural dal along with green chillies and salt
3) Heat oil in pan until it is very hot.
4) Making round balls from the ground dal and fry in pan until light brown
5) After the balls cool down, let them soak in water until they are soft.
6) Beat the curd into a soft paste along with some water.
7) Add Salt, Jeera powder to curd
8) Squeeze the water from the dal balls and put in curd
9) Sprinkle with red chillies and Jeera powder

Vada and curd can be stored in fridge for upto 3 days and can be mixed and served when needed. Another quick option is to not make urad vadas but use off the shelf available bhoondi. It also tastes good as a tasty snack.

Masala Peanuts (Snack)

This is a very popular spicy snack that goes along with any drinks (soft or hard). It takes about 10 minutes to prepare.

What you need:
1) 1 cup roasted peanuts, preferably remove the skin
2) Red chilly powder 1/2 spoon
3) 2 green chillies - finely chopped
4) Garam Masala 1/2 cup
5) Chaat Masala 1/2 cup
6) Salt to taste
7) Oil 1 spoon
8) 1 cup finely chopped onions

Method:
1) Fry onion along with oil until they are slightly brown
2) Add peanuts and fry for 2 mins
3) Add red chilly powder along with green chillies
4) Add Salt, Garam Masala and Chaat Masala
5) Switch of heat and mix well

Ideally peanuts should be hard and crispy if done well.

Cheesy Dip

What you need:
1 teacup processed cheese ( table cheese)
2 tablespoons fresh cream
1 green chilli, chopped
1 tablespoon white vinegar
a pinch salt

Method
1. Put the cheese, cream and vinegar in a blender and blend. If you find the mixture very stiff, add a little milk.
2. Remove from the blender, add a pinch of salt and the green chilli.

Spicy Panner Snack

What you need:
250 grams mashed paneer
2 tomatoes, finely chopped
2 pinches ajwain
1 onion, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon chilli powder
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon pav bhaji masala
4 tablespoons oil
salt to taste

What you need for the garnish
1 teaspoon chopped coriander

Method
1. Heat the oil in a tava on a high flame. Add the ajwain and cook for a few seconds. Add the onion and fry again for 1/2 minute.
2. Add the tomatoes and fry again for 1 minute. Add the chilli and turmeric powders and the pav bhaji masala and fry for 1 minute.
3. Cook for a few minutes. Add the paneer and salt and cook for a while. Garnish with the chopped coriander and serve hot.

Homemade garlic bread snack

I had been to Taj Westend sometime back and had ordered this item. It had some exotic name but turned out to be a garlic bread toast decorated with a mixture of tomatoes and onions.

At home, after some experimentation I could make a clone (almost similar but not the same)

1) Take 5 spoons of virgin olive oil
2) Take 5 cloves of garlic, strip the skin and chop into small pieces.
3) Heat the olive oil a bit and add the garlic pieces
4) Use a masher to massage the mixture - garlic pieces should almost blend with the oil
5) Alternatively you can also use one spoon of garlic paste
6) Spread the mixture on 2-3 pieces of regular bread - choose white or brown based on your preference
7) Chop 1 onion and 1 tomato into small pieces
8) Add some coriander for extra minty flavor
9) Mix the three together and then spread them out on the bread pieces
10) Heat for 10 seconds in a microwave to soften the bread and serve

Spicy snack - Peanut Masala

This one I like to have when I am taking a break from my diet. It is high calorie but I love it

1. Take a cup of peanuts and heat in pan (don't any anything) - this makes them crisp
2. If you don't like the peanut skin you can remove it now by crushing the peanuts
3. Cut one onion into small pieces
4. Cut 2 green chillies into very small pieces
5. Mix onion, green chillies and peanuts
6. Add 1/2 spoon of red chilly power and salt to taste
7. Add 1/2 spoon lime juice
8. Mix well

I take this along with Pepsi and I absolutely love it. If only this was low calorie :)