5 Evergreen Snacks We’ll Always Love
Indian cuisine has such a colourful and elaborate history when it comes to snacks. There are so many favourites that have made a mark on our palettes and yet only a few ever make it to the list of classics. These are the ones that will always have our love, no matter how the food trends change. Here is a list of such evergreen snacks that will always have our support.
SAMOSA
Almost every snack bar, bakery or chaat shop in the country will have a heaped pile of samosas placed strategically at the entrance to entice customers, and they always get sold out! Our love for samosas is a never-ending entity and no amount of pizzas or burgers can break that special bond. Borrowed from the Middle Eastern cuisine, this crispy, crumbly snack with its classic potato filling (or other creative varieties) will always have a place in the hearts of Indians.
MIXTURE
Easily the most classic snack on the list, mixtures have been around for several decades and are an integral part of Indian festive savouries. Even with the stepping in of several western snacks, mixtures have held their ground and remain a frequent visitor to our kitchen shelves. Thanks to new and innovative flavours and recipes, mixtures continue to have a loyal fan base. No matter where we go, mixture will always be the snack that reminds us of home.
PAKORA
Cold, rainy days have a way of making us yearn for a hot serving of these crunchy fritters. Come evening, snack shops sizzle with the sound of pakoras getting deep-fried, wafting their tempting aroma to woo passersby. Not only are they super easy to make, but they are also so versatile and can be made with almost any vegetable you could get your hands on. Pakoras during monsoon is a typical Indian mom’s way of giving her kids a tasty treat, and as far as we can tell, this is one irreplaceable snack.
BHEL PURI
Even the most finicky snackers are sure to have tried this popular chaat that’s available almost everywhere in India. Said to be originated in Mumbai, it is now a staple in chaat corners around the country and also with street-side food vendors. Tossing together a bunch of ingredients and adding a couple of sauces is all that’s needed to get this snack going. This spicy dish with that slightest hint of sweetness is one snack we Indians can never let go of.
MURUKKU / CHAKLI
Known as murukku in Tamil Nadu, chakkuli in Karnataka and chakralu in Andhra Pradesh, this crunchy classic is another mandatory festive snack that the women of Indian households make from scratch and in huge batches. Its long shelf life makes it super travel-friendly and hence is one of the primary snacks moms pack for their distant-living kids. Also a staple in every snack shop, chakli was the snack of our childhood and is still the snack of every guest visit and festival.
Traditional snacks have been a huge part of our growing up and if there’s one thing that doesn’t change, it is how special they will be to us.