Greek Tomato Fritters — crisp and golden brown, these fritters are the perfect Thanksgiving side and pair so well with a zingy, homemade tzatziki! I had these for the first time in Santorini last summer—where they’re traditionally called tomatokeftedes — and fell in love with the melt-in-mouth texture!
Kheere ka Samosa — inspired by the Murshidabad kheere ki kachori, this is the cutest, most flavor-packed Diwali appetizer! With a tangy, spiced cucumber filling wrapped in a crisp, golden brown exterior, it doesn’t get much better than this for festive snacking!
Rajasthani Papad Platter — the easiest Diwali party appetizer that is bound to be a hit! With kachri ki chutney, garlic chutney, onion sesame achaar, and more, everyone will love assembling their own perfect bites! WATCH HOW TO MAKE RAJASTHANI PAPAD PLATTER: We’ll start by making our Kachri ki Chutney. Kachri is a type of wild melon that is sour. In Delhi, they even make a chaat out of this! For the chutney, we’ve blended the kachri with soaked Kashmiri chillies which gives this lovely red color. And just like when making garlic chutney, we’ve cooked it down with some water and basic spices until you start to see oil on top. Presentation is key here since the rest of the dish is just assembling. On my board, I’m keeping onion sesame achaar, our kachri ki chtuney, garlic chutney, green chutney, and other toppings like cucumbers, tomatoes, pomegranate, smoked mirchi, and of course bhujiya! Pair this with all your favorite papads and crunchy snacks! I’ve used different kinds of papads and khichiyas. Enjoy! If you …
Orange Dahi Vada Layer Chaat – with layers of creamy orange yogurt, beetroot aloo, mini vadas, and masala chana, this appetizer is as pretty as it is delicious! Chaat is a classic for entertaining, but let’s level it up with this new twist that combines the bright, refreshing notes of orange with all the classic chatpata goodness!
Nawabi Corn Kebabs — crisp and smoky, this is the perfect finger food for your Diwali Taash parties! With fresh corn and shredded coconut, these kebabs are so flavorful, especially when paired with a special mustard raisin chutney!
Water Chestnut Wonton Cups — with a chatpata water chestnut (panifal/singhada) filling, vibrant mint yogurt, and colorful pomegranate seed, this is a dish that truly captures the warmth of entertaining and hosting during the festive season! Make it ahead of your party for a hassle-free serving experience and your Diwali parties are going to be a hit!
Stuffed Chili Mushrooms — with a decadent, cheesy filling and tossed in a spicy, Asian-inspired sauce, this is the ultimate Diwali appetizer! Serve in a large platter or as individual bites, and your Diwali appetizers are sorted!
Sweet Potato Paneer Skewers — perfect for Navratri, these are grilled to golden brown perfection and covered in a chatpata marinade! Paired with a slightly sweet yogurt and a bold green chutney, it’s almost like a chaat—but better!
Spiced Orange Rasam — tangy, peppery, and spicy, elevate this classic South Indian drink by presenting it as a martini using a French Press! Paired with refreshing Peanut Kiwi Sago Crisps, this combination is both refined and tempting! WATCH HOW TO MAKE SPICED ORANGE RASAM: The orange rasam features black pepper, cilantro, garlic, and curry leaves that makes it super bright and sharp. With a fiery tadka and sweetness of oranges to round off the flavors, it’s such a light yet complex drink to enjoy! The peanut kiwi sago bites offer a break in texture and is super refreshing! With coconut, tomatoes, cucumbers and a tangy dressing, this is the best pairing! If you like this, please try my other recipes: Achari Paneer Upside Down Puff Pastry Instant Bajra Dosa Loaded Veggie Chilla – Moong Dal Pancakes Pineapple Rasam Spiced Orange Rasam — tangy, peppery, and spicy, elevate this classic South Indian drink by presenting it as a martini using a French Press! Paired with refreshing Peanut Kiwi Sago Crisps, this combination is both refined …
Smashed Aloo Chaat – golden brown and crispy without frying, this colorful dish is my favorite way to enjoy aloo chaat! With a pink yogurt base and packed with all the classic chatpata flavors, this is sure to be a hit! WATCH HOW TO MAKE SMASHED ALOO CHAAT: We’ll start by boiling our potatoes along with some ginger, garlic, and green chilies to really help these flavors infuse. Once these are fork tender, we can arrange these on a lined baking tray and gently smash using a bowl until flat. Brush these with some ghee and sprinkle with some salt and pepper before baking until golden brown. In a small bowl, add red chilies, chopped cilantro, spices, and hot ghee. Once our potatoes are out of the oven, you’ll see they’re super golden brown and crisp. Brush this chatpata ghee mixture on top and let sit while we assemble. For the yogurt, add some beetroot juice and honey and beat until smooth and silky. Spread the yogurt on your serving platter and add a few …
