Dear diary, I’m in love with Indian appetizers. I am having a moment with them. A big moment.
Because when you combine crispy fried textures with aromatic spices and a dunk in some cool chutney, you are winning. You are living your best life. You are officially the host with the most.
These recipes are bold, they are packed with flavor, and I am 99.9% sure that angels sing when you eat them.
1. Vegetable Samosas
These deep-fried dumplings are pretty standard Indian treats, although their fillings are often different.
We are keeping things vegetarian-friendly here with a filling of potatoes, peas, onions, and chiles mixed with various herbs and spices. They are tasty and surprisingly filling despite their small size!
2. Indian Tomato Soup
I couldn’t wrap up this list without adding at least one soup, and Indian tomato soup is one of the best.
It provides you with all the warmth and comfort of traditional tomato soup, but it adds in a ton of extra flavor to delight your taste buds. Add a bit of heavy whipping cream to the top for an extra oomph of yumminess!
3. Mango Chutney
Mango chutney is one of the more well-known Indian condiments, and this recipe for it is one of the best I’ve found. You can prepare it to serve immediately or can it for longer storage.
It is a sweet and spicy topping that goes well on sandwiches, crackers, and breads.
4. Gobi 65 (Cauliflower 65)
If there is one thing I learned from my time experimenting with Indian recipes, it is that you can deep-fry anything—and yes, that includes cauliflower!
For this yummy appetizer, you batter the cauliflower florets and fry them until they are crispy, then season them with bold spices and a little yogurt.
Your kitchen should smell incredible, but serve them immediately because they lose their crispiness if they cool too long.
5. Onion Fritters (Pakoda)
I love onion fritters because they are like herbier, spicier Blooming Onions or Awesome Blossoms. They are also quick and straightforward to make, taking less than half an hour of your time.
You can add spinach for an earthier flavor or garam masala for a hotter, sweeter fritter—serve them with chutney if you like, but they taste just fine alone!
6. Paneer Pakora
Paneer pakoras are fried, cheesy squares of deliciousness. You may have to find a few of the ingredients at an ethnic marketplace or Amazon, but once you have them, you can whip these up in less than 15 minutes!
They are best when served with green or red chili chutney or schezwan sauce.
7. Idli Fry
Other than salt for taste and oil for frying, these tasty fries only require two ingredients: day-old idli and your choice of Indian spice mixture like bhaji masala.
I call them French fries for people who hate French fries, even though they aren’t made from potatoes. They are extraordinarily tasty, and I haven’t found anyone yet who doesn’t like them!
8. Vegetable Kabab with Potato and Cauliflower
Don’t confuse these veggie kababs with veggie kebabs because the two are entirely different things.
These kababs are similar in appearance, texture, and consistency to fried green tomatoes, although you can bake them for a slightly healthier option.
They are also simple to make, vegetarian-friendly, and relatively healthy!
9. Cabbage Pakora
Cabbage pakora is another good option for those unsure about ethnically diverse cooking. It is made in much the same way as any other pakora dish, and you can use any variety of spices and seasonings that you like.
If you are not a huge fan of cabbage, you may still enjoy these because the flavor of the onion and spices helps mask the cabbage’s natural bitterness.
10. Khaman Dhokla
These adorable cakes are soft, fluffy, and savory. They are made of besan (chickpea) flour, semolina, sugar, and as usual, plenty of spices.
They are super cute and a decent source of protein and fiber, so you can serve them as appetizers or add them to your breakfast menu.
11. Corn Pakora (Fritters)
Pakora is popular Indian street food—also referred to as pakoda or pakodi—and if you notice discrepancies in the names, it is just because people use the terms interchangeably.
If you are looking for a snack to ease someone into trying Indian food for the first time, I highly recommend corn pakora.
It is delicious but mild, and it looks and tastes enough like American food that newbies to Indian cuisine won’t dismiss it out of hand, plus it is quick and easy to make!
12. Vegetable Pakora
This is another vegetarian-friendly dish that is one of the most famous street foods in India. They are mixed veggies fried and flavored with garlic, chiles, mint, and other robust spices.
They smell amazing, and they taste even better!
13. Lentil Fritters (Masala Vada)
These lentil fritters taste fantastic, but that isn’t even why I love making them—I enjoy cooking them because of how pretty and colorful they look when they are done!
The word ‘masala’ means ’a variety of spices,’ and these fritters are covered in them: red onions, red chilis, chili flakes, curry powder, salt, coriander, and fennel seeds.
If you like lots of exotic tastes in your food, you will love these.
14. Papdi Chaat
Papdi chaat is the perfect mixture of spice, sweetness, and tanginess. There are several variations of the snack, but this recipe shows you how to make basic papdi chaat.
The main ingredients are chickpeas, yogurt, and potatoes, making for a hearty, filling appetizer!
15. Cilantro Mint Chutney
You can make this simple, delicious chutney in a blender in 10 minutes or less! It is smooth and creamy and adds a clean, fresh taste to any dish.
If you want the freshness without the hint of heat, just leave out the jalapeño.
