The festive season has quietly sneaked upon us. It is almost time for Diwali! With Diwali comes the fun and frolic of house parties and the promise of lip-smacking delicacies. Are you hosting a party at your place this Diwali? If you are, then you must be stressing out about the menu for the party. Fret not, delicious food doesn’t always need herculean preparations. We have curated a few simple recipes for you that would take less than 30 minutes and will help you win over your guests with their taste. So let’s take a look at these recipes:
- Paneer Tikka Kebab with Coriander Chutney
Ingredients:
- Half a cup of greek yoghurt
- 2 spoons of chaat masala
- 1 spoon of coriander powder
- 1 spoon of garam masala
- 1 spoon of ginger garlic paste
- 1 spoon of red chilli powder
- 2 tbsp mustard oil
- Chopped Cilantro, plus more for garnish
- Chopped mint
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 200g paneer
- 1 capsicum, diced
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 cup chopped fresh coriander leaves
- ½ inch chopped ginger
- 1 chopped green chilli
Instructions:
- For this dish, we will marinate the paneer overnight, so it is easy to cook and serve during the party
- To prepare the marinade, take half a cup of greek yoghurt in a bowl. Add the chaat masala, coriander powder, red chilli powder, garam masala, ginger-garlic paste, mustard oil, and mix it well
- After whisking the batter for a while, add chopped cilantro, mint and lemon juice, and marinate the paneer in the mixture overnight
- Before the party, take a skewer and arrange the paneer, diced capsicum and onion on the skewer, as shown in the picture
- Bake the kebabs at 450 F degrees for 10 minutes. Now grill them over a stovetop for 2-3 minutes until they are lightly charred for the smokey taste
- Now for the chutney, put the coriander leaves, chopped ginger and green chilli, some salt, lemon juice and water in a blender. Blend it well, and your chutney is ready
- Serve the paneer tikka kebab hot with your fresh coriander chutney.
2. Nachos with Cheese Dip
Ingredients:
- Store-bought nachos
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 cup whole milk
- 6 oz. medium cheddar, shredded (about 1.5 cups)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp chili powder
Instructions:
- In a small pan, take the butter and flour together for the base. Heat it on a low flame and gently keep whisking it until you see bubbles and the texture becomes silky smooth
- Next, add milk to the pan and keep whisking the mixture. Turn the heat up and let the milk simmer, so the mixture thickens up slightly and reaches a saucy texture
- Take the shredded cheddar and mix it into the batter gradually. Keep the heat low and avoid overheating the sauce
- After all the cheese has properly melted, add salt and chilli powder and stir well. Now taste the sauce and ensure the seasoning is up to your desired taste
- If the sauce is to your liking, take it off the pan and serve it cold with your nachos.
3. Corn Bhel
Ingredients:
- ½ cup chopped onions
- ¼ cup chopped tomatoes
- 2 tbsp green chutney
- ¼ cup sweet chutney
- 1 tbsp chaat masala
- 1 tbsp red chilli powder
- 1 ½ tbsp lemon juice
- ¼ cup chopped fresh coriander leaves
- 2 cups boiled sweet corn
- ¼ cup sev, for garnish
Instructions:
- Take all the ingredients in a bowl and mix it well. Make sure all the elements balance each other out
- Garnish with sev and serve it as a quick party snack.
These are all-time popular Diwali snacks, and you can serve whichever you are convenient with. The ones who like to impress with their cooking can go for the paneer tikka kebab, and the ones who like to keep it chill can go for the classic nachos and cheese dip or corn bhel. If you are in the mood for something different, how about surprising your guests with some incredible pasta dishes? No matter what you decide to cook, you can find all your ingredients on Nature’s Basket website, so head on over there and get cooking!
