All posts filed under: Appetizers

Thai One-Bite Paan Wraps

Thai One-Bite Paan Wraps (Miang Kham)

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Thai One-Bite Paan Wraps (Miang Kham) — this sweet, salty, and spicy appetizer is an explosion of flavors wrapped in a betel leaf! With toasted coconut, lime, ginger, peanuts, Thai chili, shallots, crispy tofu, and a sweet sauce, there’s nothing quite as bright and colorful as this vegetarian Miang Kham! Enjoyed roadside around Thailand and Laos, Miang Kham are usually enjoyed with some protein, so we’ve used crispy tofu instead. Each is meant to be eaten in one bite — just add a spoonful of each topping, a drizzle of the sauce, and you’ll be transported to the streets of Thailand! WATCH HOW TO MAKE THAI ONE-BITE PAAN WRAPS (MIANG KHAM): Thai One-Bite Paan Wraps (Miang Kham) — this sweet, salty, and spicy appetizer is an explosion of flavors wrapped in a betel leaf! With toasted coconut, lime, ginger, peanuts, Thai chili, shallots, crispy tofu, and a sweet sauce, there’s nothing quite as bright and colorful as this vegetarian Miang Kham! Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for step-by-step videos. DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? Don’t …

Beetroot Rasam Shots with Herbed Veggie Crackers

Beetroot Rasam Shots With Herbed Veggie Crackers

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Beetroot Rasam Shots with Herbed Veggie Crackers — warm and comforting but still bright and sharp, this is a quick appetizer for holiday parties or dinners! The crackers feature yogurt, dill, and crunchy veggies, making them a refreshing accompaniment that’ll pair perfectly with so many winter meals! WATCH HOW TO MAKE BEETROOT RASAM SHOTS WITH HERBED VEGGIE CRACKERS: Beetroot Rasam Shots with Herbed Veggie Crackers — warm and comforting but still bright and sharp, this is a quick appetizer for holiday parties or dinners! The crackers feature yogurt, dill, and crunchy veggies, making them a refreshing accompaniment that’ll pair perfectly with so many winter meals! Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for step-by-step videos. DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? Don’t forget to tag @naturallynidhi on Instagram and hashtag it #naturallynidhi. You can also post your pictures to my facebook page. I’d love to hear how the recipe turned out and what you think in the comment section below. Find me on and share your creation with me!

Grilled Halloumi in Turmeric Sauce

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Grilled Halloumi in Turmeric Sauce — a delicate and vibrant dish that features a sweet and salty contrast between a warm, velvety sauce, red grapes, and rich halloumi cheese. The real magic of this dish comes from the aromatic sauce that is both nutty and floral while the satisfying halloumi makes this a show-stopping addition to any dinner menu! HOW TO MAKE GRILLED HALLOUMI IN TURMERIC SAUCE: Make the Sauce! In a blender, grind the almonds, green chilies, garlic, and water into a fine paste. Then heat oil in a non-stick pan and add in the almond paste and sauté on medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Now, add in your all purpose flour and sauté for 2-3 minutes until it becomes the texture of wet sand. Add in your milk and stir continuously to prevent lumps. Then, add in oregano, black pepper, turmeric, salt, and sugar. Let boil for 4-5 minutes and then add in your cream and lemon zest. Let simmer for 3-4 minutes and then add in your lemon juice and take off …

Cheese Stuffed Tandoori Olives

Cheese Stuffed Tandoori Olives with Cranberry Sauce

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Cheese-Stuffed Tandoori Olives — oozing with parmesan and crisped to perfection, these fried olives are coated in a tandoori yogurt marinade for all the flavor! With notes of rosemary and thyme paired with a cranberry dipping sauce for an Indo-Western fusion, this is finger food at its best — and just in time for those Christmas dinner parties! WATCH HOW TO MAKE CHEESE STUFFED TANDOORI OLIVES: Cheese-Stuffed Tandoori Olives — oozing with parmesan and crisped to perfection, these fried olives are coated in a tandoori yogurt marinade for all the flavor! With notes of rosemary and thyme paired with a cranberry dipping sauce for an Indo-Western fusion, this is finger food at its best! Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for step-by-step videos. DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? Don’t forget to tag @naturallynidhi on Instagram and hashtag it #naturallynidhi. You can also post your pictures to my facebook page. I’d love to hear how the recipe turned out and what you think in the comment section below. Find me on and share your creation with me!

Feta-Stuffed Figs With Saffron Syrup

Feta-Stuffed Figs With Saffron Syrup

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Feta-Stuffed Figs with Saffron Syrup — this Middle-Eastern inspired appetizer is the perfect melody of succulent figs piped with a delicate, tangy whipped feta and drizzled with a floral syrup! Decadent and bright at the same time, there’s no simpler way to elevate your appetizer game for the holidays! Figs are the ultimate holiday fruit. They’re sweet and taste elevated and pair so well with both salty and sweet flavors. I went for a lemony feta and floral honey to create a contrast. Nothing captures the sweetness of the holiday season quite like it! HOW TO MAKE FETA-STUFFED FIGS WITH SAFFRON SYRUP: Make Feta Filling! Add your feta, olive oil, lemon juice, black pepper, chili flakes, and lemon zest to a blender or food processor. Blend until it’s smooth but still has some texture. Make Saffron Honey! Mix together your honey, saffron, and red-chili flakes. Keep it aside. Prepare Figs! Make sure the figs are washed and then gently cut off or remove the stem. Use a paring knife to make four slits in the …

Thai Lollipops with Mango Chili Coulis

Thai Lollipops with Mango Chili Coulis

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Thai Lollipops with Mango Chili Coulis — bright, floral, and spicy, these veggie lollipops are ready to bring all the flavor! With a sweet and peppery mango coulis to enhance those vibrant  gingery, lemony flavors, this appetizer is as much a treat to look at as it is to eat! I love the subtle, yet bright flavors of Thai cuisine, and this lollipop is one of my favorite (nontraditional) ways to enjoy it! With ginger, lemongrass, cilantro, and mango paired with that piquant Thai bird’s eye chili, I just can’t get enough of this perfect Diwali appetizer! If you like this, please try my other appetizer recipes: Kolkata Masala Crostini Mediterranean Chaat Tarts 7 Layer Dahi Chaat WATCH HOW TO MAKE THAI LOLLIPOPS: Thai Lollipops with Mango Chili Coulis — bright, floral, and spicy, these veggie lollipops are ready to bring all the flavor! With a sweet and peppery mango coulis to enhance those vibrant  gingery, lemony flavors, this appetizer is as much a treat to look at as it is to eat! Subscribe to …

Kolkata Masala Crostini

Kolkata Masala Crostini

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Kolkata Masala Crostini — a chatpata twist to an easy appetizer with sweet chili jam, spicy potato and kala chana filling, and colorful garnishes like coconut and peanuts! It’s a bright and bold dish to share that’ll transport you back to the rainy streets of Kolkata!  This crostini is all about the composition. The potato filling features tamarind chutney, lemon juice, chaat masala, and dried mint along with your usual masalas. Paired with the sweet jam-chutney layer and the crunchy garnish, this is finger food at its best! If you like this, please try my other chaat recipes: Kolkata Ghugni Chaat Mediterranean Chaat Tarts 7 Layer Dahi Chaat WATCH HOW TO MAKE KOLKATA MASALA CROSTINI: Kolkata Masala Crostini — a chatpata twist to an easy appetizer with sweet chili jam, spicy potato and kala chana filling, and colorful garnishes like coconut and peanuts! It’s a bright and bold dish to share that’ll transport you back to the rainy streets of Kolkata!  Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for step-by-step videos. DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? Don’t …

Lasooni Chili Peanuts

Lasooni Chili Peanuts

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These Lasooni Chili Peanuts are the most addicting, Chinese-inspired snack! With boiled peanuts stir-fried in a tangy, spicy schezwan sauce with aromatics like garlic and ginger, this is going to be a fan-favorite appetizer at any Diwali party! They run out fast because of how addicting they are — so be sure to make extra! Peanuts are a somewhat common snack typically served dry or coated in some kind of spice blend. I decided to give that indulging feeling of eating peanuts a new spin by making it Indo-Chinese style! It’ll pair perfectly with drinks or as an appetizer by itself! If you like this, please try my other party recipes: Vegetable Au Gratin Bread Tart Mediterranean Chaat Tarts Stuffed Peppers in Creamy Cashew Gravy WATCH HOW TO MAKE LASOONI CHILI PEANUTS: These Lasooni Chili Peanuts are the most addicting, Chinese-inspired snack! With boiled peanuts stir-fried in a tangy, spicy schezwan sauce with aromatics like garlic and ginger, this is going to be a fan-favorite appetizer at any Diwali party! They run out fast because …

Lentil Chilla Crisps

Lentil Chilla Crisps

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These Lentil Chilla Crisps are such a fun and innovative take on the classic chips and salsa! Spice up your typical moong dal batter with beets, fresh turmeric, and spinach for a beautiful array of colors. Cook them until golden brown and serve with your choice of accompaniments — I made peach salsa, lemon hummus, and guacamole! These are the perfect afternoon tea snack or appetizer when you’re in the mood to impress! If you like this, please try my other party recipes: Korean Chili Potatoes Rasmalai Falooda Matar Tikki Chaat Sizzler WATCH HOW TO MAKE LENTIL CHILLA CRISPS: These Lentil Chilla Crisps are such a fun and innovative take on the classic chips and salsa! Spice up your typical moong dal batter with beets, fresh turmeric, and spinach for a beautiful array of colors. Cook them until golden brown and serve with your choice of accompaniments — I made peach salsa, lemon hummus, and guacamole! These are the perfect afternoon tea snack or appetizer when you’re in the mood to impress! Subscribe to my …