Diwali, the festival of lights, is a time for joy, togetherness, and, of course, delicious food. If you're planning to host a Diwali party this year, consider preparing a delightful array of homemade snacks that will leave your guests raving. These snacks are not only easy to make but will also earn you well-deserved praises. Let's dive into the world of delectable Diwali snacks. Crunchy Starters for Diwali Delight 1. Samosas - A Classic Favorite A staple at any Diwali gathering, samosas are crispy, golden pockets of joy filled with spiced potatoes and peas. You can also experiment with different fillings like minced meat or paneer for a twist. Samosas, the iconic triangular pockets of flavor, have been a beloved snack for generations during Diwali and other festive occasions in India. These crispy delights are a must-have at any Diwali party. The process of making samosas involves preparing a savory filling with spiced potatoes and peas. However, you can get creative with the filling by using minced meat or paneer for a unique twist. To make samosas, you start by making a dough with all-purpose flour, oil, and water. After resting the dough, it's divided into small portions and rolled out into thin circles. These circles are cut in half, creating semi-circles. Each semi-circle is then folded into a cone shape and filled with the spiced mixture. The open end of the cone is sealed, and the samosas are ready for frying. Samosas are typically deep-fried until they turn a beautiful golden brown. The result is a crispy, flaky exterior that contrasts wonderfully with the flavorful filling. To elevate the experience, you can serve samosas with mint-coriander chutney or tamarind chutney for that extra burst of flavor. 2. Crispy Pakoras - A Spicy Nibble Serve up an assortment of pakoras – from onion and potato to spinach and eggplant. These deep-fried snacks are perfect with a cup of masala chai. Pakoras are a delightful addition to any Diwali celebration, offering a wide range of flavors and textures. They are essentially fritters made by dipping slices of vegetables in a spiced gram flour batter and deep-frying them to perfection. The most popular choices for pakoras are onions and potatoes, but you can get creative and experiment with other options like spinach leaves, eggplant, or even paneer. To prepare pakoras, you'll need a batter made from gram flour (besan), spices, and water. The batter should have a smooth consistency without any lumps. You can add spices like red chili powder, turmeric, cumin, and ajwain for that extra zing. After mixing the batter, slice your chosen vegetables thinly and coat them with the gram flour mixture. The key to achieving crispy and crunchy pakoras is to ensure that the oil is hot enough before frying. The pakoras should be deep-fried until they turn a lovely golden brown color. Serve these hot, spiced fritters with a steaming cup of masala chai for a perfect combination that your guests will absolutely love. 3. Paneer Tikka - A Paneer Lover's Paradise Marinated cubes of paneer, bell peppers, and onions are grilled to perfection. The smoky flavor and the spices will surely tantalize taste buds.Paneer Tikka is a fantastic addition to your Diwali snack lineup, especially if you're catering to vegetarian guests. It's a tantalizing dish where cubes of paneer (Indian cottage cheese), along with bell peppers and onions, are marinated in a flavorful mix of yogurt and spices. The marinated pieces are then skewered and grilled, imparting a delightful smoky flavor. To prepare Paneer Tikka, you'll need to create a marinade with yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, red chili powder, turmeric, garam masala, and a touch of lemon juice. The marinating process allows the paneer and vegetables to absorb all these wonderful flavors. After marinating for a few hours, skewer the pieces and grill them to perfection. The result is a medley of flavors, with the paneer becoming tender and slightly charred from the grill. The smoky essence of the grill combined with the aromatic spices makes Paneer Tikka a true delight for the taste buds. You can serve it with mint-coriander chutney or a tangy tamarind chutney to enhance the experience. Satisfying Snacks to Keep the Party Going 4. Poha Chivda - A Light and Crunchy Mix This healthy snack features flattened rice, peanuts, and spices, making it a great munching option throughout the evening. Poha Chivda is a popular Diwali snack, and for good reason. It's a healthy, crispy, and flavorful option that can be served throughout the evening to keep your guests munching happily. This snack features flattened rice (poha) as the main ingredient, combined with spices and roasted peanuts. To make Poha Chivda, start by rinsing the flattened rice to soften it. After draining, it's roasted to achieve a delightful crunch. In a separate pan, you can heat oil and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, curry leaves, green chilies, and turmeric. This tempering infuses the oil with aromatic spices. The tempered oil is then poured over the roasted poha, along with roasted peanuts, and mixed thoroughly. Poha Chivda is a great alternative to the heavier, deep-fried snacks. It's light, nutritious, and provides a satisfying crunch with every bite. The combination of spices and roasted ingredients offers a perfect balance of flavors, making it a Diwali favorite. 5. Murmura Ladoo - Sweet and Crispy Balls These sweet treats combine puffed rice with jaggery and ghee to create a snack that's both crispy and sweet. Murmura Ladoo is a delightful Diwali treat that brings together the crunch of puffed rice (murmura) with the sweetness of jaggery and the richness of ghee. These sweet, crispy balls are easy to make and are a hit with both kids and adults. To prepare Murmura Ladoo, start by roasting puffed rice in a pan until it becomes crisp. In another pan, melt ghee and add jaggery to create a syrup. The jaggery syrup is then mixed with the roasted puffed rice, along with a touch of cardamom for flavor. The mixture is shaped into small, round ladoos while it's still warm. Murmura Ladoo offers a delightful contrast of textures, with the puffed rice providing crunchiness and the jaggery syrup lending a satisfying sweetness. The addition of cardamom adds a pleasant aroma and taste, making these ladoos an ideal choice for your Diwali celebration. 6. Chakli - The Spiraled Delight Chakli is a spiral-shaped, deep-fried snack made from rice flour, gram flour, and a blend of spices. It's crunchy and addictive. Chakli, also known as Murukku, is a classic Indian snack that's popular during Diwali. It's a deep-fried, spiral-shaped delight made from a mixture of rice flour, gram flour (besan), and a blend of spices. Chakli is known for its distinctive appearance and addictive crunch. To make Chakli, you'll need to prepare a dough using rice flour and gram flour. The dough is spiced with ingredients like cumin seeds, sesame seeds, red chili powder, and asafoetida (hing). The dough is then loaded into a chakli maker, a special device with a nozzle for shaping the spiral. As you squeeze the dough through the nozzle, it forms the iconic spiral pattern, ready to be deep-fried to perfection. Chakli is a delightful combination of flavors and textures. It's both crispy and slightly spicy, making it an ideal accompaniment for a cup of tea or coffee. The spiral shape and unique crunchiness of Chakli make it a must-have snack for your Diwali celebration. 7. Khasta Kachori - A Flaky Surprise Kachoris filled with a flavorful mix of lentils and spices are fried to a golden perfection, providing a satisfying crunch. Khasta Kachori is a flaky and savory snack that's perfect for a Diwali party. These deep-fried delicacies are filled with a flavorful mixture of lentils and spices, creating a satisfying crunch with every bite. Khasta Kachori is well-known for its irresistible taste and is sure to impress your guests. To make Khasta Kachori, you'll begin with a dough made from all-purpose flour, ghee (clarified butter), and water. The dough is rolled out into small circles, and a generous portion of the lentil filling is placed in the center. The filling is made by cooking lentils like urad dal with a blend of spices and herbs, giving it a rich and aromatic taste. The key to achieving the "khasta" (flaky) texture is ensuring that the oil is hot enough for frying. When deep-fried, the kachoris puff up, creating a crispy exterior while the lentil filling remains deliciously flavorful inside. Khasta Kachori can be served with tamarind chutney or mint-coriander chutney to enhance its taste. Showstopper Sweets for a Diwali Extravaganza 8. Gulab Jamun - The Sweetest Bliss These soft, syrup-soaked dumplings are a Diwali must-have. You can make them from scratch or opt for a ready-made mix. Gulab Jamun is one of the most beloved sweets during Diwali and other Indian festivals. These soft, syrup-soaked dumplings are an absolute must-have at your Diwali party. You can either prepare them from scratch or choose a ready-made mix for convenience. Making Gulab Jamun from scratch involves creating a dough from milk powder, all-purpose flour, ghee, and milk. The dough is shaped into small balls and deep-fried until they turn a rich golden brown. After frying, the dumplings are soaked in a fragrant sugar syrup, allowing them to absorb all the sweetness. The result is a dessert that's incredibly soft and indulgent, with a delightful sugar syrup that adds a burst of sweetness to every bite. To make it even more special, you can garnish Gulab Jamun with slivered almonds or pistachios. 9. Jalebi - The Perfect Swirl Jalebi is made from deep-fried maida batter soaked in saffron-infused sugar syrup. Its unique shape and sweetness make it a crowd-pleaser. Jalebi is a crowd-pleaser and a Diwali favorite. It's a sweet delicacy made from deep-fried maida (all-purpose flour) batter, soaked in saffron-infused sugar syrup. The unique shape of Jalebi, resembling a coiled spiral, adds to its charm. To prepare Jalebi, you'll need to create a batter from maida, yogurt, and a pinch of baking soda. The batter is left to ferment for a few hours, enhancing its texture and flavor. It's then transferred into a squeeze bottle or cloth bag with a tiny hole at the end. The batter is squeezed into hot oil in a circular motion, creating the iconic Jalebi shape. Once the Jalebis are golden and crispy, they are immediately dipped into a saffron-infused sugar syrup. The syrup seeps into the Jalebis, creating a sweet and slightly tangy flavor. Jalebi is often enjoyed hot, and its twisted, bright orange appearance adds to the festive spirit of Diwali. The air of Delhi-NCR is going to suffocate, buy air purifier today at 40% discount Be careful when body gives such signals in the morning! Kidneys may get damaged Is eating cheese daily beneficial for your health? Know the expert's opinion