Diwali Snacks | 124 Diwali Faral Recipes

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Glittering diyas, twinkling lights, snacks and sweets that dazzle the eyes and soul, and happiness all around – Diwali festival in India is all this and more. Also, popular under the title ‘Festival of Lights,’ Diwali falls on October 24, 2022 this year. Since the festivities also mean the most delicious Diwali Recipes, both savory and sweet, I am sharing a personal favorite collection of 124 Diwali Snacks & Faral Recipes here.

collage of four diwali snacks recipe

From North Indian, South Indian, Maharashtrian snacks (popularly known as ‘faral’) and Chaats to all those snacks and starters that’ll turn your Diwali party A1 – this extensive list has a choice of snack, that everyone can enjoy during the Diwali festive season.

About Diwali Festival

Diwali or Deepavali is undoubtedly one of the most widespread and loved Indian festivals. In many parts of the country, there are special vacations in schools and colleges too during this season. So, it automatically becomes the best time to meet friends, go for picnics or small trips/outings, and celebrate the spirit of Diwali with your family.

If not doing so, you can also just relax at home and finish that book, you’ve been wanting to, since eternity! And when doing so, I’m sure this compilation of 124 Diwali Snacks & Faral Recipes is going to help sort your savory and snack requirements for the festivities.

Just like any other legends related to most of the common Indian festivals, the story that forms the crux of Diwali festival celebrations is that of the return of Lord Rama with his wife Sita and younger brother Lakshman to Ayodhya.

He did this after killing the demon king Ravana in Lanka. And to celebrate this victory of good over evil, light over darkness and hope over despair, the people of Ayodhya decorated the streets and their homes with clay lamps.

More on Diwali

This is also one of the reasons why a variety of Diwali Recipes including Diwali Snacks and sweets are an important part of the Diwali festival celebrations, no matter which part of the country you are in. Hindus have a way of celebrating any auspicious or special occasion with food. So is the case with Diwali as well.

The Diwali festival revelries is not limited to just one day. The festivities usually go on for 5 days, where each day signifies a specific meaning. It begins with Dhanteras which has people buying utensils and jewellery on this day. This day is also considered as God of Ayurveda’s birth anniversary.

Next is Choti Diwali or Naraka Chaturdashi; third day is the main Diwali day, also known as Badi Diwali or Lakshmi Puja (since Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped on this day); fourth day is Govardhan Puja and fifth day is Bhai Dooj that celebrates the brother-sister bond.

Diwali Festival – A Snacky Affair

If there’s one festival which can be truly considered as festival joie de vivre (meaning cheerful enjoyment of life), it is he Diwali festival. Not just this, this major Hindu festival is also all about bright lights, fun-filled festivities and loads of delectable food. Snacks and sweets alike.

So, if you are wondering what to make for Diwali festival, then look no further. Here are some of the most common/traditional as well as some special/unusual Diwali Recipes in the savory category. This super collection of 124 tasty Diwali Snacks & Faral Recipes is really going to help you decide and finalize your Diwali menu.

India is diverse when it comes to cuisines as well, as each regional food culture has something unique to offer. Each state across the Indian subcontinent has its own popular and favorite snack or sweet that is most lovingly prepared during the Diwali season.

In this compilation of Diwali Recipes of snacks, I have included recipes from all over India. So, you will find North Indian snacks, South Indian snacks Maharashtrian snacks or faral and even some Bengali snacks. This list also comprises both savory and sweet snacks.

Since I always support home cooking more than buying food from outside, I would really suggest that you make these Diwali Recipes too at home. You’ll know the difference when the flavors, textures and aroma will hit just the right spots on your palate. Which is sometimes missing from store-bought foods.

124 Diwali Snacks & Faral Recipes

The Diwali Snacks & Faral Recipes in this personalized list of mine can be prepared in advance, some days before or even a week earlier. Since many of these Diwali Recipes are deep-fried preparations, they can be stored in an airtight steel container or jar at room temperature for a longer period of time.

Some of these Diwali Snacks & Faral Recipes are vegetarian and some are vegan. You can easily turn the vegetarian recipes vegan, by substituting ghee (clarified butter), milk, yogurt and butter with alternative vegan ingredients. For instance, a vegan butter or oil instead of your dairy butter, almond or cashew milk instead of dairy milk or a vegan yogurt instead of dairy yogurt.

I have also added some cookie, sandwich and Indo-Chinese recipes in this Diwali Recipes compilation. What’s also cool about these recipes is that most of these can be easily scaled. So, no problems even if you want to make the dishes for a larger number of people.

And just so that the sweet bit is not left out, here is the fabulous collection of 121 Diwali Sweets that you must refer to for all your sweet/mithai or dessert requirements for Diwali festival.

Last but not the least, I wish all my reader friends a very Happy and Food-filled Diwali. May this Diwali bring peace, prosperity and wisdom in your life.

Maharashtrian Snacks (Diwali Faral)

Below you will find the typical Marathi style savory snacks for Diwali, also locally known as ‘faral.’ Though most of these are deep-fried, you can choose to make them healthier by baking or air-frying instead.

chakli kept on a white plate on a green background

Moderate
1 hr 15 mins

Chakli is a deep-fried snack made from rice flour, gram flour, wheat flour or a mixture of lentil flours. Make this crispy and crunchy snack for Diwali festival. 

top closeup shot of shankarpali filled in wooden bowl

Moderate
1 hr

Sweet shankarpali are crisp, flaky, melt in the mouth fried and baked biscuits. Shankarpali is a popular festive snack from Maharashtra.

five karanji pieces on a white plate on a cream doily

Moderate
1 hr 20 mins

Karanji is a crisp flaky fried pastry stuffed with desiccated coconut and dry fruits. it is also one of the sweet snack that is a part of Diwali faral.

bhakarwadi recipe, bakarwadi recipe, how to make bhakarwadi or bakarwadi

55 mins

Bhakarwadi is one of the popular snack from western India. Bhakarwadi are fried and crisp pinwheels or spirals. They are addictive and have a sweet, spicy and tangy taste.

chivda in a decorative metal bowl

Moderate
25 mins

Chivda is a quick and delicious snack mix from the Maharashtrian cuisine made with flattened rice (poha), spices, dry fruit, nuts and with hints of salt and sugar.

cornflakes chivda recipe, makai chivda recipe

25 mins

Cornflakes chivda is a crisp, crunchy, sweet & savory fried mixture made with corn flakes, dry fruits and spices.

roasted oats chivda recipe

20 mins

Roasted oats chivda is a savory mixture of roasted oats, nuts, spices and herbs.

puran poli folded and served on a green color plate.

5 hrs

Puran poli is a sweet flatbread stuffed with a sweet lentil filling made from skinned spilt bengal gram/chana dal and jaggery.

North Indian Snacks

This category has both savory and sweet snacks from the northern parts of India. In fact, a few of these are popular all over India.

nankhatai placed on a wired rack.

40 mins

Nankhatai are Indian shortbread cookies that are made with all-purpose flour, sugar and ghee (clarified butter) or butter.

mathri in a white plate

Moderate
1 hr 10 mins

Mathri also called as mathiya or mathari is a popular North Indian tea time snack of savory, flaky, spiced and crispy crackers made with all-purpose flour, spices and seasonings. I share both fried and baked versions.

gujiya arranged neatly on a white plate placed on a white and blue checkered napkin.

Difficult
1 hr 15 mins

Gujiya is a popular and traditional North Indian sweet of a crisp, flaky pastry filled with a sweet khoya (evaporated milk solids) and dry fruits stuffing. They can be fried as well as baked. Get both the fried and baked versions in this recipe.

namak pare on a brass plate

Moderate
1 hr 10 mins

This Punjabi style Namak Para or Namak Pare are crispy, spiced and savory fried bites made with wheat flour, spices, fat and seasonings. These are a popular snack across North India that you can make as a tea-time snack or for festivals like Diwali.

shakkar pare recipe, shakkar para recipe

Moderate
50 mins

Shakkarpara or Khurma is a diamond-shaped, crunchy, flaky and fried flour cookies coated with crystallized sugar. Try my authentic Punjabi recipe of this scrumptious Shakkarpare snack that you can literally munch on, any time!

sev recipe, besan sev recipe

35 mins

This sev recipe is made from besan (gram flour) and hence also known as besan sev. These are crisp sev made from besan and spices. This is a quick, savory snack prepared during Diwali.

potato sev recipe | aloo sev recipe

50 mins

Crisp spiced sev made with besan and potatoes.

South Indian Snacks

Listed below are Diwali snacks that are common in South Indian households. Some popular recipes are that of murukku and its many variations, as well as sweet appams, etc.

four murukku pieces in a metal jar

Moderate
50 mins

Murukku is a popular South Indian crunchy and crispy snack made with rice flour and lentil flour. It is also known as murukulu, chakralu and jantikalu in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

butter murukku recipe

30 mins

Butter murukku is a South Indian style murukku made with butter & rice flour.

ribbon pakoda recipe, ribbon murukku recipe

30 mins

Ribbon pakoda are fried crisp ribbon shaped savory snack. They are easy to prepare and tastes good too. they are also known as ribbon murukku or ola pakoda or nada thenkuzhal.

thattai recipe

40 mins

Thattai are deep-fried crispy rice crackers served as a snack and made during festivals like krishna jayanthi (gokulashtmi) or Diwali. Thattai are made with rice flour, spices and herbs having a spiced, crunchy and crisp taste.

omapodi recipe

30 mins

Omapodi is a delicious and crispy South Indian snack of sev laced with the aroma and flavor of ajwain or carom seeds

kara boondi served in a red-rimmed white ceramic bowl with text layovers.

45 mins

Kara boondi is a spiced version of boondi and a mixture consisting of boondi, peanuts, cashews, curry leaves and a few spices.

mixture recipe, south indian mixture recipe

1 hr 15 mins

Madras mixture recipe – one of the popular South Indian snacks made during Diwali is this South Indian mixture, which is basically a mix of various edible ingredients, nuts and dry fruits. It is also called as omapodi mixture.

poornam boorelu served on a green colored plate with text layovers.

Moderate
40 mins

Poornam boorelu – deep fried snack made with a stuffing of chana dal+jaggery and coated with rice+urad dal batter.

unniyappam recipe, unni appam recipe

3 hrs 50 mins

Unniyappam are sweet fritters made with rice, banana, a few spices and coconut.

wheat appam recipe, sweet paniyaram recipe with wheat flour, instant wheat paniyaram recipe

35 mins

These are instant appams made with whole wheat flour, jaggery and bananas.

banana appam recipe, banana paniyaram recipe

50 mins

Banana appam are sweet appam or paniyaram made with ripe bananas, rice flour and jaggery.

sweet paniyaram in a white bowl on a white plate

Easy
30 mins

Sweet Paniyaram is a crisp, soft and fluffy dumpling made with leftover idli batter. Vegan and gluten free snack.

Cookies

Just a fun way of making it a sweet snacky Diwali!

butter cookies on a white tray

Moderate
1 hr 5 mins

These butter cookies are decadently rich made with whole wheat flour, butter and spiced with cardamom and nutmeg powder. They are lightly crispy and so delicious, and made with only a handful of pantry staples.

eggless chocolate chip cookies stacked and kept randomly on a white plate

Easy
35 mins

Buttery, crisp and crunchy Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookies made from whole wheat flour.

single oatmeal cookies kept on a white plate on a cream napkin

Easy
30 mins

A super simple recipe of making oatmeal raisin cookies that give crisp, crunchy and chewy cookies.

coconut cookies served on a plate.

Easy
30 mins

Easy and flavorful Coconut Cookies that are healthier too as these are made with whole wheat flour, jaggery, desiccated coconut and a few more ingredients.

eggless coconut macaroons recipe

Easy
25 mins

Coconut Macaroons

This is a quick three-ingredient 30-minute recipe (baking time included) of coconut macaroons made without eggs.

Chaat Snacks

Who does not love Chaat? I know Diwali is a time to have plenty of sweets, but it is also a time to indulge in the most scrumptious chaats and Indian street food.

I always make it a point to make a few chaat snacks during Diwali festival. Not only the family loves these, but even our friends and guests enjoy them.

pani puri served on a white plate

Easy
35 mins

Pani puri is a popular Indian street food of crispy, fried, hollow dough balls that are stuffed with boiled potatoes, steamed moong sprouts, spicy tangy water and sweet chutney.

top shot of assembled dahi vada in a light green rimmed cream shallow plate topped with white curd, reddish tamarind chutney, green coriander chutney, pomegranate arils, chaat masala, cumin powder and coriander leaves

Moderate
8 hrs 45 mins

Fluffy, tender, tangy and sweet dahi vada are a combination of all your favorite flavors and textures in one tasty snack. They consist of homemade fried lentil dumpling fritters, dunked in creamy whipped yogurt and topped with both spicy and sweet chutneys.

ragda patties in a white bowl

Moderate
50 mins

Ragda Patties is a popular Bombay chaat recipe where potato patties are topped with ragda (dried peas curry) and the various chaat chutneys, sev and spice powders.

bhel puri served with a side of crisp baked puri in a red rimmed white bowl.

Easy
30 mins

Bhel puri is a crispy, sweet, tangy, spicy dish made with puffed rice, onions, tomatoes and assorted chutneys. This bhel recipe is easy to make and includes quick recipes for the three chutneys.

overhead shot of sev puri on a dark purple plate on a a dark blue table

Moderate
45 mins

Sev puri recipe is a canapé like snack -where crispy fried flour discs are topped with flavorful condiments, veggies, herbs, ground spices and more. Spicy, sweet, tangy, savory, crunchy, crispy flavors – all bursting in your mouth in each bite. Learn to make this mouthwatering snack with my authentic Mumbai style recipe.

masala puri recipe, masala puri chaat recipe

Moderate
9 hrs 20 mins

Masala puri is a delicious street food snack from bangalore. It is made with layers of crunchy puri, creamy and spicy dried white peas gravy, rich ground spices and fresh veggies.

jhal muri recipe, kolkata style jhal muri recipe, bengali jhalmuri recipe

15 mins

Jhal muri is a tasty and very popular street food snack from Kolkata. Jhalmuri is made with puffed rice and other tidbits like roasted peanuts, onions, tomatoes, boiled potatoes, spice powders and herbs.

aloo tikki chaat recipe

30 mins

Aloo tikki chaat is super delicious chatpata dish. In aloo tikki chaat fried potato patties are topped with a tangy sweet tamarind chutney and spicy green chutney along with curd (yogurt).

raj kachori recipe, raj kachori chaat recipe

40 mins

Raj kachori also called as the king of all kachoris is a popular chaat snack from north India.

closeup shot of dahi puri sprinkled with sev and coriander leaves in a white plate

Moderate
45 mins

Dahi puri also known as dahi batata puri is a delicious, yummy, chatpata chaat snack from Mumbai. It is sweet, sour, tangy, spicy and crispy chaat.

katori chaat recipe, aloo lachha tokri chaat recipe

45 mins

Katori chaat also known as tokri chaat is a popular chaat snack from north India. Fried potato baskets are topped with cooked chana, boiled potatoes, sweet and spicy chutneys, curd and a few spice powders. 

aloo tikki chole recipe

Moderate
45 mins

Aloo Tikki Chole are crisp spiced potato patties served with a spicy North Indian chickpea curry along with chutneys, onions and sev.

samosa chaat recipe, chana samosa chaat recipe

30 mins

Samosa chaat is a lip-smacking chaat made with samosa, chickpea curry, various chutneys and spices.

5 hrs 30 mins

Popular North Indian snack of dahi bhalla papdi chaat.

ram laddu recipe

Moderate
4 hrs 30 mins

Ram Laddu is a popular street food snack from Delhi. These are crispy fritters made from moong dal and chana dal batter. Ram Ladoo is served with toppings of spicy green chutney, sweet tamarind chutney, grated radish, lemon juice and chaat masala.

dahi papdi chaat recipe

Moderate
45 mins

Dahi papdi chaat is a popular chaat snack which is sweet, spicy and tangy.

aloo chana chaat recipe

Moderate
30 mins

Aloo chana chaat is a spicy, tangy, sweet chaat made with boiled potatoes, white chickpeas, onion, tomatoes, herbs and spices.

kala chana chaat with lemon wedges in a bowl

Easy
30 mins

Kala Chana Chaat is a tangy and tasty snack made from black chickpeas. This recipe is supremely easy to make. Just prep up the ingredients and mix everything together in a bowl.

pav bhaji served in a rectangular serving tray with buttered pav and chopped onions, cilantro and lemon wedges on a white table

Moderate
40 mins

Pav Bhaji is a hearty, delightsome, flavorful meal of mashed vegetable gravy with fluffy soft buttery dinner rolls served with a side of crunchy piquant onions, tangy lemon and herby coriander. You will love this pav bhaji recipe for its Mumbai style flavors. I share the traditional method of making street style Pav Bhaji and a quick Instant Pot recipe.

Diwali Party Snacks

Parties are a common thing during Diwali. It could be a small get together, a family reunion or something else. Also, when there’s a party, there has to be good food. Isn’t it customary?

In this section, I have compiled Diwali special party snacks and starters which can be made easily. You will find baked, steamed and fried snacks and appetizers in this list.

Tikka, Kabab & Cutlet

paneer tikka

Moderate
2 hrs 30 mins

This Restaurant Style Paneer Tikka is a popular and delicious tandoori snack where paneer (Indian cottage cheese cubes) are marinated in a spiced yogurt-based marinade, arranged on skewers and grilled in the oven.

tandoori aloo tikka served on a white rectangular platter with a bowl of green chutney on the top left side and text layovers.

Moderate
40 mins

Tandoori Aloo also called Tandoori Aloo Tikka is a flavorful appetizer or starter snack of marinated, spiced potatoes that are usually grilled in a Tandoor – a clay oven. My recipe of Tandoori Aloo is easily adaptable to grill in an oven or pan-fry in a skillet or frying pan.

dahi ke kabab on a platter with some sliced onion rounds and a sprinkling of chaat masala

Moderate
8 hrs 15 mins

This is a traditional Dahi Kabab recipe that makes for a crisp, soft and tasty kababs. This Dahi ke Kabab are made with curd or yogurt, gram flour, onions, ginger, chilies, coriander leaves and spices.

closeup shot of veg cutlet cutlet placed on a tray with a few slices of tomatoes, cucumber

Moderate
45 mins

Vegetable Cutlet are crisp, savory, tender patties made with a mix of hearty veggies, savory spices, fresh herbs and crispy breadcrumbs. Cutlet is a popular snack in Indian cuisine.

corn cutlet or corn patties on a green plate

Moderate
50 mins

Corn cutlet or corn patties are crisp melt in the mouth snack made with mashed potatoes and stuffed with a spicy corn filling.

hara bhara kabab recipe

Moderate
50 mins

Hara bhara kabab is made with fresh spinach leaves, green peas and potatoes. So they are nutritious as well as delicious. Hara bhara kebab makes for a good Indian starter or snack. This green kabab can also be stuffed in burger buns or sandwiches can be made from them. 

corn kabab recipe, sweet corn kebab recipe

50 mins

This crispy and tasty sweet corn kabab is an easy to make snack.

Fried & Steamed Snacks

potato wedges recipe

Easy
30 mins

This recipe post details both the fried and baked methods of making potato wedges.

thayir vadai recipe | curd vada recipe

9 hrs 30 mins

Thayir vadai is the South Indian variation of dahi vada and is spiced and sour to taste. 

45 degree angle shot of khaman dhokla squares on a white plate garnished with cilantro, curry leaves and the fried curry leaves and spices mixture

Easy
20 mins

This khaman or khaman dhokla recipe makes a wonderfully soft and fluffy, lightly sweet and savory cake that’s perfect to enjoy anytime of the day. It’s easy to prepare steamed on the stovetop or even in the Instant Pot with my instructions.

khatta dhokla recipe, white dhokla recipe

Moderate
8 hrs 25 mins

Khatta dhokla is a fermented and steamed sour cake made from rice, black gram (urad dal) & sour yogurt. It is light, spongy and mildly spiced with ginger and green chilies.

rava dhokla slices in a steel square plate

Moderate
35 mins

Rava dhokla is a soft, fluffy, steamed savory cake made from rava (suji or semolina or cream of wheat) together with herbs, spices, white sesame seeds and topped with coconut and coriander leaves

Moderate
20 mins

Chana Dal Dhokla is a steamed lentil cake made with ground, fermented batter made of rice, bengal gram (chana dal) and curd (yogurt).

khandvi recipe

40 mins

Khandvi is a soft, melt in the mouth, spiced and seasoned gram flour rolls. A favorite snack from the Gujarati cuisine.

kothimbir vadi recipe

Moderate
35 mins

Kothimbir vadi is a delicious savory crisp snack from the Maharashtrian cuisine made with gram flour (besan), coriander leaves, peanut, sesame seeds and spices. They are a popular tea time snack loaded with coriander leaves (cilantro).

bread roll recipe

Moderate
50 mins

This is a crispy and tasty recipe of bread roll with a spiced, savory, tangy mashed potato filling. Makes for a delicious evening snack or an after school snack for kids.

closeup shot of gobi 65 filled on a white plate placed on beige napkin

Moderate
1 hr 10 mins

Spicy, crispy, vegan Gobi 65 is a fried cauliflower appetizer or snack that everyone will love. Crunchy and savory cauliflower 65 is perfect to serve with tomato ketchup, red chili sauce, chutneys, or your favorite condiment to dip.

three aloo tikki kept vertically on a white plate with a spoon and a splash of coriander chutney on the plate.

Moderate
40 mins

Aloo Tikki is a popular North Indian street food snack of savory, spiced and crispy potato patties. A basic Aloo Tikki Recipe is made with potatoes, spices, herbs, breadcrumbs or a binding flour and can be stuffed with a filling of mashed cooked green peas or cooked chana dal or paneer.

muthiya in a bowl

Moderate
50 mins

Muthiya or muthia is a fist-shaped dumpling snack from Gujarat state in Western India. This Muthiya recipe is made with fresh fenugreek leaves and gram flour. I share two ways to make methi muthia – steamed and fried.

vegetable chop recipe, veg chop recipe

50 mins

These are tasty Bengali vegetable chops which are a popular street food recipe of veg cutlet from west bengal.  

side shot of dabeli served on a white plate with garnished kept in white bowls on the upper side.

Moderate
1 hr 20 mins

Kacchi Dabeli or Kutchi dabeli is a Mumbai street food also popular in Gujarat.

cheese balls recipe

Moderate
45 mins

Easy to prepare tasty recipe of cheese balls made with potatoes, gram flour and cheese. This popular snack is vegetarian and gluten free, making it the perfect appetizer to share.

papaya sambharo recipe for fafda

30 mins

Fafda is a fried crispy crunchy tasty snack made with besan (gram flour), laced with carom seeds and black pepper. A popular Gujarati vegan snack.

Samosa & Kachori

samosa kept in a cream tray with a bowl of green chutney and fried green chillies by the side

Moderate
1 hr 30 mins

A Samosa recipe that is your popular and classic Punjabi samosa with a super flaky, crispy crust and a savory, tangy potato and green peas filling.

dal kachori placed on a wooden platter with fried green chilies and red chili chutney in a bowl.

Moderate
2 hrs 45 mins

Flaky and tasty kachori made with spiced moong lentils stuffing.

matar kachori recipe, motor shutir kochuri recipe

1 hr 15 mins

Koraishutir kochuri is a fried bread with a mild and sweet green peas stuffing. A popular Bengali breakfast as well as snack.

urad dal kachori recipe

1 hr

Urad dal kachori are soft as well as crisp stuffed kachori from the Uttar Pradesh cuisine. Kachori are stuffed with a spiced urad dal paste. 

radhaballavi recipe

9 hrs 30 mins

Radhaballavi also known as radhaballabhi are tasty dal puris. These soft pooris are stuffed with a spiced dal filling.

matar kachori recipe, peas kachori recipe

Moderate
1 hr

Matar ki kachori is a flaky, crispy deep-fried pastry filled with savory, spiced green peas stuffing. In the Hindi language, matar means green peas and Kachori is a deep-fried and flaky pastry.

Pakoda & Vada

Moderate
30 mins

Onion pakoda are onion fritters made with thinly sliced onions, gram flour or besan batter and some spices. This is a classic Punjabi style onion pakora recipe and one that I make at home as a tea-time snack.

bread pakora recipe

Moderate
1 hr 5 mins

Bread pakora is a popular North Indian snack of bread fritters. Bread slices are stuffed with spiced mashed potatoes filling, batter-coated and then deep-fried.

closeup shot of aloo pakora arranged on a plate with slices of wheat bread on a square white plate

Moderate
25 mins

Aloo pakora are soft melt-in-the-mouth fried potato fritters coated in a delicious, golden, crispy gram flour batter. Make this awesome vegan potato snack also known as potato bajji in less than 30 minutes.

Easy
25 mins

Paneer pakora are savory gram flour batter coated Indian cottage cheese fritters. Paneer pakora make for quick evening snack having a lovely crispy texture with a moist, soft paneer from within.

palak pakoda served in a bowl on a wooden board

Easy
30 mins

Easy Palak Pakoda recipe are a quick savory snack made with finely chopped spinach leaves mixed in seasoned gram flour batter and deep fried.

mirchi bajji recipe, mirapakaya bajji recipe, stuffed mirchi bhajiya recipe

40 mins

Tangy, spiced, crunchy and tasty stuffed mirchi bajji. These delicious bajjis are also known as mirapakaya bajji in Andhra and is a well known street food there. 

ulli vada recipe, onion vada recipe

40 mins

Ulli vada are crisp and crunchy onion fritters. Popular as a street food snack in Kerala.

gobi pakora served in a white plate with green chutney

Moderate
50 mins

Cauliflower pakoda or gobi pakora are crispy and tasty cauliflower fritters. In this North Indian recipe marinated cauliflower florets are coated with savory gram flour batter and deep fried. They make for a wonderful evening vegan snack.

pazham pori recipe

Moderate
40 mins

Pazham pori or ethakka appam is a popular street food snack from Kerala made with ripe bananas. 

medu vada stacked neatly in green lined beige colored plate

Moderate
4 hrs 40 mins

Medu vada are crisp and fried doughnut shaped fritters made with black gram (urad dal), herbs and spices. These urad dal vada are also known as Garelu in Andhra, Uzhunnu Vada in Kerala, Uddina Vada in Kannada and Medhu Vadai, Ulundu Vadai in Tamil.

dal vada arranged neatly on a white plate next to a small white bowl of red chutney

Moderate
2 hrs 35 mins

Dal Vada also known as Parippu Vada or Chana Dal Vada or Masala Vada are savory, spiced, crunchy fritters that are a popular street food in South India. Gluten-free and vegan.

batata vada recipe, maharashtrian batata vada recipe

Moderate
45 mins

Batata vada is a fried snack of batter-coated potato stuffed fritter dumplings. Making these take some time but absolutely worth it. I share this lip smacking delicious recipe of Maharashtrian style batata vada that you will love.

overhead shot of white plate having halved mysore bonda showing the fluffy texture on top of remaining bonda next to a side of light green coconut chutney

Moderate
8 hrs 30 mins

Mysore bonda also known as Mysore Bajji is a popular South Indian snack made with lentils, fresh herbs and vibrant spices. The ingredients are combined to create a thick batter, and are then deep fried to make crisp, soft and fluffy fritters.

maddur vada recipe, maddur vade recipe

30 mins

Maddur vada are crisp fried patties popular as an evening snack in Karnataka. Maddur vade are made with a mix of rice flour, semolina, all purpose flour, onions and some herbs-spices. 

goli baje recipe

3 hrs 20 mins

Goli baje also called as Mangalore bajji and Mangalore bonda is a popular streed food snack from the Karnataka cuisine. These are like soft and spongy fritters made with all purpose flour, spices and herbs.

paniyaram on a plate with a side of coconut chutney.

Moderate
35 mins

Paniyaram known as Kuzhi Paniyaram or Gunta Ponganalu are savory, spiced, crisp and soft dumplings made from leftover idli batter. Easy to make this paniyaram snack is vegan and can be made gluten-free by skipping asafoetida in the recipe.

punugulu recipe

Moderate
30 mins

Punugulu are spiced and crisp fritters made from idli dosa batter. Quick snack from the Andhra cuisine.

aloo chop recipe, aloor chop recipe

40 mins

Aloo chop is a delicious Bengali fried snack and made in the same way a batata vada or potato bonda is made. Just the spices and herbs added in the potato stuffing are different.

Sandwiches

veg sandwich dotted with green sauce and ketchup on a white plate

Moderate
35 mins

This Bombay veg sandwich recipe is a popular Mumbai street food of delicious sandwiches made with mix vegetables, green chutney and a few spice powders. 

mayonnaise sandwich topped with grated carrots and cheese on a square white plate

Easy
15 mins

This is a tasty and easy to prepare mayonnaise sandwich made with mix veggies, mayonnaise and spices. These sandwiches make for a hearty snack that can be made quickly.

club sandwiches squares with layers seen on a white plate

Moderate
40 mins

This scrumptious vegetarian Club sandwich with a unique twist making it different from the traditional club sandwiches! It has 3 layers of fresh, delicious fillings and can be made in about 40 minutes.

paneer sandwich recipe, indian style tasty grilled paneer sandwich recipe

Easy
15 mins

Paneer Sandwich is quick to put together and makes for a simple, easy and delish breakfast or snack.

overhead shot of cheese sandwich triangle slices with cilantro dip on a white plate

Easy
20 mins

There’s nothing more simple to make and satisfying to enjoy than a warm, crisp and gooey cheese sandwich. Here I share two ways to prepare an easy grilled cheese sandwich in less than 20 minutes. Try your preferred recipe for a quick and yummy breakfast, lunch, or even dinner.

aloo toast recipe, potato sandwich recipe

Moderate
40 mins

This grilled Potato sandwich is made with a savory spiced mashed potato stuffing. All you need to make these delicious sandwiches are few boiled potatoes, butter, herbs, ground spices, cheese and your preferred choice of bread.

veg coleslaw sandwich recipe

Easy
15 mins

Creamy, crunchy, quick, easy, and (mostly) raw coleslaw sandwich made with a stuffing og mix vegetables, seasonings and eggless mayo.

grilled sandwich with the filling side shown some potato wafers on a white plate

Easy
50 mins

This grilled sandwich recipe is filled with spiced cilantro chutney and delicious vegetables, then grilled to perfection.

close up shot of stacked cucumber sandwiches with the visible layers of cucumber and bread placed on a white plate.

Easy
10 mins

This simple Cucumber sandwich recipe is perfect to prepare as a light snack or lunch. It’s easy to make and great for customizing with your favorite ingredients, like tomatoes, cheese, and/or herbs.

chilli cheese toast recipe

Moderate
14 mins

Chilli cheese toast on tawa – tasty cheese toast spiced with chilies and ginger. An easy breakfast to prepare and serve.

Kulcha, Poori & Bhatura

kulcha recipe

Moderate
2 hrs 45 mins

Kulcha is a popular soft leavened North Indian flatbread. It can be made in the tandoor as well as on a tava or griddle.

aloo kulcha in a white plate

Moderate
3 hrs 10 mins

Aloo Kulcha is a crisp and soft leavened flatbread stuffed with a spiced mashed potato filling. The dish is from the North Indian cuisine and is very popular in Delhi as well as Punjab.

chole bhature recipe

Moderate
9 hrs 30 mins

Chole Bhature is a spicy chickpea curry served with leavened fried bread. Popular in Punjab and parts of north India.

aloo puri recipe

1 hr 15 mins

This aloo puri is a traditional Punjabi spiced potato curry served with pooris.

perfect golden puri placed on white parchment paper

Moderate
40 mins

Poori or Puri is a traditional Indian fried unleavened bread made with only whole wheat flour, salt, and water. Make crispy, fluffy, and soft poori to enjoy with your favorite meals.

Bhatura

Moderate
9 hrs

Bhatura or Bhature is a thick leavened fried Indian bread made with yeast or without yeast. These soft and fluffy no yeast bhatura are made with whole wheat flour (atta) and curd (dahi).

luchi recipe

1 hr 30 mins

Luchi is a deep fried and much loved Bengali bread. Luchi is made with all purpose flour, salt and ghee/oil.

Indo-Chinese Recipes

chilli paneer, chilli paneer restaurant style

Moderate
30 mins

Chilli paneer is one of the popular recipe from the Indian Chinese cuisine. This chilli paneer gives restaurant style taste and flavor.

gobi manchurian gravy in a ceramic bowl placed next to two wooden chopsticks

Moderate
1 hr 5 mins

This slightly healthier and tasty Chinese gobi manchurian gravy (with sauce) is a delicious dish of fried cauliflower florets in a spicy, sweet and sour sauce . A vegan recipe made without all-purpose flour and without deep frying.

manchurian or veg manchurian recipe

Moderate
1 hr

Veg Manchurian is a tasty Indo Chinese dish of fried veg manchurian balls in a spicy, sweet and tangy sauce. This delicious veg manchurian recipe is with a sauce or gravy. A vegan recipe.

white serving plate with 6 crispy fried veggie spring rolls garnished with green onions

Moderate
45 mins

Veg Spring Rolls are a popular Chinese snack of crispy, crunchy rolls filled with a savory mix of vegetable stuffing. Hot handheld pockets of spiced veggies are wrapped and deep fried for a delightful snack.

45 mins

Spicy and tasty indo Chinese recipe of mushroom manchurian dry.

chow mein in an orange and white bowl with a pair of wooden chopsticks

Moderate
50 mins

Chow mein is a popular Chinese dish of stir fried noodles with mix vegetables, soy sauce, aromatics and spices. Chow mein noodles is also a popular Indian street food.

chilli baby corn garnished with spring onion greens in a dark brown ceramic bowl

Moderate
45 mins

Chilli baby corn recipe is a delicious vegetarian, vegan snack or starter recipe of crispy fried baby corn in a spicy, sweet, umami sauce for a bright and bold dish that everyone will love.

overhead shot of chilli mushroom in a shallow white bowl

Moderate
40 mins

Spicy, sweet, tangy and crispy Chilli Mushroom from the fusion Indo Chinese Cuisine that makes for a delicious starter or snack. Perfect as a side with a Chinese meal or with your favorite dipping sauce.

hakka noodles recipe

Easy
40 mins

This hakka noodles taste delicious and will have you craving for more. A vegan recipe loaded with veggies and button mushrooms.

This post from the archives, first published in October 2013 has been updated and republished on 20 October 2022.


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