Serves 8 to 10 as an appetizer, 4 to 6 otherwise. Serve the puff hot or cool, cut in wedges or squares. It makes a very nice hors d’oeuvre or can be combined with a rather hearty salad for a perfectly tasty little supper. • 12 oz. marinated artichoke hearts • 1...
CUCUMBER SPEARS KHEERAY KI PHANKAY
Whenever I am looking for a snack that is not too fattening, I turn to these cucumber spears. We used to eat a simpler version as children, cucumber halves or quarters just sprinkled with lime juice and dusted with spices, but now I have started giving the dish a...
BOILED PEANUTS IN THEIR SHELLS UBLI MOOMPHALI
India is the second-largest producer of peanuts in the world, after China, and vegetarians make ample use of the protein-rich product by adding it to their meals, either cooking it along with vegetables and legumes (peanuts are a legume too, of course), or by adding...
OKRA FRIES TALI BHINDI
Crisply fried okra is eaten all over India. I remember that in our family we cut the okra into thin rings, fried them until very crisp, then ate them with a sprinkling of salt, amchoor (sour green mango powder), and some chili powder. In Tamil Nadu, where crisp foods,...
SPICY MATCHSTICK POTATOES ALOO KA TALA HUA LACCHA
This is a wonderful snack to nibble on, especially when enjoying favorite TV programs and films at home. You could serve it with Simple South Indian Tomato Sauce, plain old tomato ketchup, or nothing at all. It is good just by itself. SERVES 4 • 2 teaspoons lemon...
SPICED POTATO-BALL FRITTERS BONDA OR BATATA VADA
Wherever Indian snack sellers congregate, such as Chowpatty Beach in Bombay, you are likely to find some version of these bondas. Round in shape, with a chickpea flour skin on the outside and spicy crushed potatoes inside, they are served still hot and crisp from the...
SPINACH BHAJIAS PALAG KI PAKORI
These are best served piping hot with some Green Chutney and/or Simple Tamarind Chutney; dilute every tablespoon of the latter with a tablespoon of water. For more on Indian fritters in general, see the introduction to Onion Fritters. MAKES 12 MEDIUM-SIZED FRITTERS •...
ONION FRITTERS – KANDA BHAJIA OR PYAZ KI PAKORI
It is Indian restaurants in the West, particularly Britain, that have popularized onion bhajias as a first course. That name comes from western India, where all varieties of fritters are called bhajias and eaten at teatime or as a snack with lots of hot chutney for...
CABBAGE FRITTERS CABBAGE VEPADU
I was in Rajahmundry, a town on the banks of the mighty Godavari River—the widest river I have ever seen—in Andhra Pradesh. It was lunchtime, and I was desperately hungry. Someone thought I should try a mess. That suggested a military setup, but it turned out to be...
Chilly Veggie Pizza
PREP: 25 minutes BAKE: 8 minutes CHILL: 2 to 4 hours OVEN: 375°F MAKES 6 servings 1 8-ounce package (8) refrigerated crescent rolls 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened 1⁄3 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing 2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion (1) 1⁄2 teaspoon...