> Appetizers & Snacks Archive

2February 28, 2017
Bharwan karela (pan roasted stuffed bitter gourd / melon) in Andhra style

“Truth is bitter but its result is sweet. Falsehood appears to be sweet but it is poisonous in effect.” And nature teaches us this maxim through various medium. Like the bitter gourd or melon and Neem / Margosa leaves. Both are known for its bitterness and yet both of them have numerous medicinal properties, have been used for centuries in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicines. This ancient healing fruit is not appreciated by all because of its sharp, pungent and bitter […]
3August 8, 2016
Beetroot chops, cutlets and Monsoon magic

Monsoon Magic with … Beets Ever since my Patna wali aunt served me “the beetroot curry” I had been running away from the beetroot since long until few good things happened in my life that had changed my perceptions about food in general, and especially the beetroots. Now I can not blame my poor aunt to make that awful beetroot curry, as that is the only way we Bong (Bengali) knows how to make aloo, beet ar gajar er dalna meaning […]
3March 28, 2015
Bengali dimer devil / deviled eggs a la college canteen style

Tucked away in the corner of terrace, near the busy junction of metro station, housed in a century old building, the canteen was cozy and intimate, always brimming up with flavours of foods, gossips and music. Even at 6.30 in the morning you can find students waiting near the tiny counter for their morning cup of tea and singara (samosa). And we used to enjoy special privileges as ours was the only classroom that was just next to the canteen. […]
0October 29, 2014
American Crab cakes the way Spongbob Squarepants makes krabby patties

In the middle of deep prussian blue color Pacific ocean, lies a beautiful coral island called Bikini Atoll and beneath it lies the most exciting city of the world called Bikini bottom with a population of roughly around 500 plus. The city has structured government, various businesses, law enforcement system but what sets it apart is the most happening restaurant of our times Krusty Krab. And the sole signature dish of Krusty Krab is Krabby patties, though other variations were […]
2October 18, 2014
Diwali snacks – Sweet potato tikki stuffed with spicy peas

Morning was bright and shiny, the air was crisp and the sky looks beautiful with islands of fluffy clouds scattered on it, just the way an early Autumn morning should feel fresh and crisp. But for past one week something was bothering me persistently. As the fresh gingerly flavor of morning tea wafts around the kitchen, I declared to DH that my heart skips the beats…. He smiled mischievously and before his mind raced along the wrong track, I warned […]
2July 30, 2014
Spicy Sin Hoi baby corn for Monsoon

“Life is like a roller-caster ride. It has its ups and downs. But its your choice to scream or enjoy the ride.” By some sane unknown person. And honestly speaking I did scream out all the time. I did not enjoy the ride. Last few months were terrible for me, reasons were too personal to share. But with all honesty I mean it was really terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible. Thats five times and I guess it was enough. So, this time I am […]
7August 21, 2013
Murg hariyali kebab / Minty green chicken skewers

We are travelling again. So will keep today’s post short, sweet and simple, as the name suggests minty green chicken skewers. In another few hours we will be flying to other part of the country, into another world ! We are going to Yellowstone national park and from there we will drive to Arches in Utah and many more places. So if you want to trail behind us and would love to follow our adventure – filled days, then do join […]
2February 12, 2013
Tomatoes and cheese hearts for your Valentine

” Where there is love there is life ” — Gandhi VALENTINES DAY SPECIAL RECIPES DAY 2 It is movie time now ! and I know popcorn are just irreplaceable, but give these little cuties a chance to win your heart. The classic flavour of tomatoes and cheese rolled up in a flaky crust is just waiting to melt in your mouth, and if you love bacon, then go ahead and decked up these cute little hearts with bits of bacon […]
8February 1, 2013
Guilt free crispy fish fingers with your choice of dips

Have you found anything more addictive than this, the finger licking goodness packed naturally with omega 3 ? Will you share your portion with anyone even if that person happens to be your better half ? Certainly not me, and whenever I bake these fish fingers it quickly get vanished, sometimes even I didn’t get the chance to taste one. Is it fair enough ? 🙁 But who am I to complain ? Few years back even I used to do the […]
14January 17, 2013
Post Sankranti mung dal er pithe – savory coconut stuffed yellow lentil shells

Mug daler bhaja pithe – stuffed lentil shells : Sankranti is not just one day celebration for us Bengali, but it is week-long celebration specially when it comes to relish those extravagant spread of pithe-puli . So today I am going to share with you very special family recipe and my favourite one too. For festivals like Sankranti every Bengali earnestly waited for three things, a good coconut, that elusive date palm jaggery and freshly harvested rice. And with just three ingredients an array of delicious […]
9May 1, 2012
Paneer reshmi seekh kebab for your barbecue nights

Can’t believe its Tuesday already !!! I had no idea how Monday slipped quietly and another day comes knocking at the door. Mondays are very deceptive and they arrived …. lets not discussed about it. Instead lets talk about my new venture in kebab, did I say new ? yes because this time I am talking about vegetarian kebab…wait what is that ? Isn’t kebab are supposed to be of meat and meat only and that’s the reason they are christened like that. I am not […]
22April 16, 2012
Bacon wrapped jalapeno and cheese appetizer

I never thought that one day I will end up as a food blogger (very obvious and general statement), cooking and eating were always different genre for me, but down the years when the two world collides and seamlessly merged into one, I am here sharing my thoughts on food …. food …. and food only. And it would be ironical enough to say that I never had this temperament for cooking, I was never a child prodigy in cooking unlike my […]
$“Weekends are a bit like rainbows; they look good from a distance but disappear when you get up close to them. ” by John Shirley. And how true it is, weekends allures us from a distance promising so many colorful things, and once we get close to it, the days swiftly passed by and within fraction of second, Monday comes knocking at the door. For me weekends strictly means eating out, shopping, mall hopping or a long drive on country […]$ 13March 13, 2012
Spice crusted paneer tikka in green sauce / chutney – a different approach

“Weekends are a bit like rainbows; they look good from a distance but disappear when you get up close to them. ” by John Shirley. And how true it is, weekends allures us from a distance promising so many colorful things, and once we get close to it, the days swiftly passed by and within fraction of second, Monday comes knocking at the door. For me weekends strictly means eating out, shopping, mall hopping or a long drive on country […]
24November 26, 2011
bruschetta with pesto and sundried tomato

Sandwiches or bread slices are excellent and quick way to make some yummy appetizer or snacks and all you need is just few minutes to prepare an appetizing platter. For accompanying the afternoon tea snacks or for your book club, bruschetta are great way to fill up your guest, it is easy and universally popular and can be literally topped with anything under the sun, just run your imagination wild. :)In Italy, where it is originated bruschetta is a popular […]
24November 25, 2011
baked tofu triangles with crunchy peanuts and sesame

Tofu is something which I am very fond of, because of its versatility, its ease of preparation and extremely friendly nature, it easily mingle with any dish and adds texture to any kind of dish. Tofu has no flavor or taste as such but it readily absorbs the flavor and taste of the dish in which it is being used. In one of my visit to Bangkok, I had these silken tofu dunked in some fruity flavoured syrup and I […]
18November 24, 2011
apple pecan cigar rolls

“Surely the apple is the noblest of fruits.” — Henry David Thoreau, Wild Apples The best apples for baking always has that tart and sweet taste and they do not break down as they cook. Macintosh being one of my favorite, other variety like gala apples are also good but Macintosh get cooked very easily. As I was planning to have some quick snacks which can be prepared in a jiffy, and should taste good, I thought of wrapping the […]
18November 23, 2011
stuffed chillies with roasted eggplants and olives – mediterranean style

I have this penchant for hot and spicy foods, so it is natural that I have affiliation towards chilies, I admire them in all sizes, colors, flavors and taste. And the thing which I loves about them most is that they can be a great appetizer. Feeling the heat already ? Well, not before you tried this delectable Indian curry of chillies which we fondly called mirchi ka salan or curried chillies. The red, yellow, orange and shades of green, […]
26October 20, 2011
bharwan mirch or stuffed chilli pepper appetizer

The other day I bought some chilli peppers, they were sitting prettily in a wicker basket at the counter of local grocery shop, waiting to be picked up by the people like me who has some strange fascination for chilies. It was kept as an assorted chilies, some are turning red while others are having various shades of green, some are pablano, Italian sweet chilli or jalapeno and some are tiny with red and pinkish hues, quiet unknown for me. […]
19August 30, 2011
zucchini fritters / fries

Whoa !!! what a weekend that was…two days of incessant rains…stormy winds cyclone – ing at more than 100 mph, uprooted trees, electric cables and poles…dismantled roofs…lurching us in the darkness for more than 36 hours…with frequent power outages…business closed…no foods…survived only on cold sandwiches…a hardboard landed on the bonnet of car like a flying saucer did a permanent damage to the car’s windshield as we were returning from the local grocery store and left me shrieked in fear…some of the […]
20August 15, 2011
imperfect samosas for monsoon medley

Saffronstreaks wishes its readers a very happy Independence Day and on this beautiful day, what is better than the plate of piping hot samosas to celebrate such a ocassion. If food has that power to bind the people, then I believe samosas has that unique and divine power. It is being loved by every one, from rich to poor, across all the religion, caste and creed, on street foods to gourmet tables, it is everywhere with endless possibilities of fillings that never fails to bring smiles […]
21August 4, 2011
hot and spicy chicken wings with barbecue sauce

How many times it happens to you that you want to dish out a recipe and you run out of a specific ingredient in your pantry, most of the times ??, never or sometimes ?? Well, I am not in a habit of keeping a well-stuffed pantry because many a times it happens that the un-opened bottle of sauce got expired (specially those which has very short shelf life) and it heads straight to the bin ! Waste !!! Waste !!! and more Waste […]
15July 29, 2011
grilled shrimp with thousand island dressing

If you love sea foods or a seafood fanatic like me, then you are bound to love shrimps / prawns, both are same except few genetic differences but when you are going to cook them, it hardly matters. Seafood are enjoyed best when they are live (as in crabs) or fresh, so it is better to cook them in the same day, but if you are using the frozen ones, then thaw them and rinse them in lukewarm salted water to get […]
30March 15, 2011
mochar chop – banana blossom appetizer

Banana blossom or mocha (in Bengali an East Indian language) holds a special stature in Bengali cuisine, and consider as very adventurous and gastronomically exciting. I was never a huge fan of banana blossom or mocha as we love to call it in my growing up years though we had some banana plants in our backyard, but in recent years I developed a strong fascination for it. As I was gently removing the outer bracts to extract the inner flowers, […]
3February 7, 2011
shami kebab

Shami kabab or kebab was introduced to India by the Mughals and later it becomes synonymous with the Awadhi cuisine. It is also known as Syrian kabab. Ingredients: Minced meat (lamb): 600g Bengal gram (channa dal): 150gm Garlic cloves: 5-6 Ginger (chopped): 1tsp Cumin seeds: 1tsp Cloves: 3-4 Cinnamon: 1″stick Cardamom: 5-6 Black peppercorns: 4-5 Onions (finely chopped): 2tbsp Green chilies (finely chopped): 1tsp Coriander leaves (finely chopped): 1tsp Egg (whipped): 1 Oil for shallow frying Salt to taste Method to […]
2February 3, 2011
hara bhara kabab

kebab literally means fried or grilled meat dishes, and on a winter night when the freshly roasted kabab just out of the tandoor made their way into the dining table, it filled the atmosphere with its exotic aromas. Hara bhara kabab or the green filled kabab is a vegetarian twist to this ever-loving meaty delicacy, and this recipe uses healthy and fresh spinach, green peas, cilantro all of which imparts a green color to the kabab and filled with mashed […]
5January 30, 2011
crackling spinach

Couple of years ago I was introduced to this strange but amazing dish at Mainland China. It was a Diwali night and we went there for a family dinner. Outside the night sky was glittering with fireworks and it filled the atmosphere with joyous and festivity . It was already 10 pm in the night and we were patiently waiting for the dinner to arrive and just then, the manager informed us that the waiter spoiled the dish he was […]
1October 13, 2010
mochar pakora – banana blossom fritters

…durga puja special recipe… mochar pakora or banana blossom fritters Ingredients: Flower of Banana (or Mocha): One For the batter: All purpose flour: 1 tbsp Gram flour: 2 tbsp Salt : 1tsp Poppy seed paste: 2 tsp Cumin powder: 1/2 tsp Red chilli powder: 1/2 tsp Sugar to taste Oil for deep frying Method to Prepare: Mix all the ingredients need to prepare batter with little water, it should have a coating consistency. For this you need the innermost conical part […]
5October 13, 2010
koraishutir kochuri / peas kachori and aloo dum

…durga puja special recipes… Maha Shasti te mochar chop, koraishutir kochuri ar aloo dum Update : This post has been re edited, re photographed and re published. What a coincidence, I am updating this post with better photographs on Maha Shasti again, after three years. When I initially started the blog, food photography never surfaced as sole protagonist in the whole story, not even today but it has achieved the center stage now a days. I too succumbed myself to […]
8April 13, 2010
fish kabiraji cutlet

…poila baisakh special recipe… …fish kabiraji cutlet or fish cutlets in lacy egg net… Fish cutlets in kabiraji style meaning fried fish in egg net. This recipe is the result of British influence on the Bengali cuisine and the word kabiraji has probably the origin in ‘coverage’ as the cutlets are covered in a lacy egg net. Years back I had these kabiraji cutlets somewhere near the college street crossing in Kolkata (do not remember the name of the eatery) […]
0April 5, 2010
dhokla

…dhokla the great Indian Snack… Still grabbing the same old boring sandwiches when feel hungry at 4 pm in the evening? Thinking about the options you have? Well, dhokla will surely rescue you from such a situation. Dhokla belongs to Gujaratis but loved by everyone. A healthy vegetarian Indian snack which is low on calories too. These can be stored in an air tight container and refrigerate for a week or so. Dhokla is primarily made with chickpeas flour or […]