Table of contents:
- Introduction
- Schezwan Papad Tacos
- Air-Fried Pakoras
- Mini Pizza Waffle
- Mushroom Cheese Puff
- Pesto Cheese Rolls
- Stuffed Potato Cakes
- Conclusion
Introduction
There’s no time like the monsoon to curl up by the window with your favourite book/music to keep you company. It’s even better if you have some lip-smacking snacks to add flavour to your rendezvous with the rain. And so, we bring you a few mouthwatering, quick recipes that are just perfect for the season. Different from the regular fare, these are a must-try:
1. Szechuan Papad Tacos
Time Required: 20-25 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients:
- Chana Papad: 6
- Mayonnaise: 5-6 tablespoons
- Schezwan chutney: 3-4 tablespoons
- Onion: 3-4
- Tomato: 2-3
- Capsicum: 1-2 (medium-sized)
- Cabbage: 1 small
- Oregano: 3-4 pinches
- Black pepper powder: 1 teaspoon
- Salt: To taste
- Coriander leaves
Method Of Preparation:
Chop onions, capsicum, tomatoes, and cabbage into thin, long pieces in a bowl. Sprinkle a pinch of coriander leaves on this. Add mayonnaise, schezwan chutney, black pepper powder, oregano, and salt to the chopped vegetables and mix thoroughly. Now, your Szechuan vegetable mix is ready.
As the next step, take a papad (buy a packet of the readymade papads) and cut off the edges to give it a perfect round shape. Now, heat it on a non-stick tawa without oil. Once the papad is evenly heated, use a rolling pin to fold it slightly in the middle and give it the shape of a taco.
Now, fill the folded papad with the Szechuan veg mixture you have already prepared. Sprinkle some more coriander leaves, and your Szechuan Papad Tacos will be ready!
2. Air-Fried Pakoras
Time Required: 45 min
Servings: 8
Ingredients:
- Chopped cauliflower: 2 cups
- Besan (chickpea flour): 1 ¼ cups
- Diced potatoes: 1 cup
- Minced garlic: 1 clove
- Chopped onion: ½
- Water: ¾ cup
- Coriander: 1 teaspoon
- Curry powder: 1 teaspoon
- Ground cayenne pepper: To taste
- Cumin cooking spray: ½ teaspoon
- Salt: 1 tablespoon
Method Of Preparation:
Take chickpea flour in a bowl and add cauliflower, potatoes, and red onion to it. Next, add garlic, coriander, curry powder, salt, cayenne pepper, and cumin to this. Add water and mix well. Now, your batter is ready. Keep it aside for 10 minutes so that it sets well.
In the meantime, preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and grease its basket with the cumin cooking spray.
Now, pour two tablespoons of the thick batter into the air fryer basket and flatten it to the desired size (of a pakora). See how many pakoras can be placed in the basket, with at least one finger space separating each one. Sprinkle the top of each pakora with the cooking spray.
Once you cook the pakoras for 8 minutes, flip them and cook for 8 more minutes. Take them out, place them on a plate and your treat is ready!
3. Mini Pizza Waffle
Time Required: 20-25 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients:
- Butter: 4-5 tablespoons
- Bread slice: 12
- Schezwan chutney: To taste
- Cheese slice: 6
- Tomato ketchup: To taste
- Mayonnaise: To taste
- Chopped capsicum: 1-2
- Chopped onion: 1-2
- Chopped tomato: 1-2
- Salt: To taste
- Oregano: To taste
Method Of Preparation:
Take out your mini waffle maker and apply butter on the tray inside. Next, cut bread slices the size of your waffle maker tray. Place one bread slice on the tray and liberally apply schezwan chutney on it.
Place a slice of cheese on this and spread a well-mixed combination of tomato ketchup and mayonnaise on it. Generously sprinkle chopped onions, tomatoes and capsicum on this and spread them evenly. You can now add salt and oregano to this.
Place another bread slice over this and apply butter on top. Cook for 5-6 minutes till the waffles are brown and crisp. All you have to do now is savour this yummy snack!
4. Mushroom Cheese Puff
Time Required: 45 minutes
Servings: 6-8
Ingredients:
- Readymade Puff-Pastry sheets:6 or 8, depending on the number of puffs you are making
- Chopped garlic: 5-6 cloves
- Chopped onion: 1-2
- Olive oil: 3 tablespoons
- Mushroom: 1 packet
- Spinach:2 handfuls of finely chopped leaves
- Salt: To taste
- Cheese: 1 packet
- Pepper powder: To taste
- Red chilli powder: To taste
- Coriander powder: To taste
- Cumin powder: ¼ teaspoon
- Ghee/melted butter: 5-6 tablespoons
Method Of Preparation:
First, saute onion and garlic in olive oil. Add chopped mushrooms to this and cook well (no water to be added). Once your mushroom has been cooked well, add chopped spinach leaves and cook well (don’t add water). Then add pepper powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, and salt.
Mix this thoroughly and keep it aside for cooling. Once the mushroom-spinach mixture has cooled, add grated cheese to it and mix well. Your filling is ready now.
Next, take a readymade puff pastry sheet and apply some ghee/melted butter on it. Place the filling on the sheet and fold it in a triangular shape. Fill as many sheets as you want and place them on a tray.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees, place the tray and bake it for 20-25 minutes. Once your mushroom-cheese puffs turn golden brown, serve them hot with a sauce/chutney of your choice!
5. Pesto Cheese Rolls
Time Required: 30 minutes
Servings: 10-12
Ingredients:
- Readymade puff-pastry sheets: 10-12
- Pesto: 1 bottle
- Grated cheddar: 1 big cube
- Egg: 1-2
Method Of Preparation:
Super yummy and super simple! That is the main USP of these pesto cheese rolls. Take a puff-pastry sheet and generously apply pesto on it. Add a layer of grated cheddar to this and roll the sheet. Beat an egg and apply a coating on the roll. Cut the roll into smaller slices and place them on a tray.
Bake at 180 degrees to 200 degrees for 25 minutes. Take them out once they are crispy and golden brown in colour. Treat yourself and your loved ones to this crunchy snack.
6. Stuffed Potato Cakes
Time Required: 30-40 minutes
Servings: 5-6
Ingredients:
- Potatoes: 4 medium-sized
- Corn starch: 2/3 cup
- Pepper powder: To taste
- Salt: To taste
- Cheese cubes: 15-18
- Olive oil: 3-4 tablespoons
Method Of Preparation:
Peel the potatoes and slice them into small pieces. Boil water in a sauce pan and put the potato chunks in it along with a teaspoon of salt. Let it boil for 1-2 minutes. Now, set it aside for 10-15 minutes till the potatoes are easily mashable.
Now, take the potato chunks out of the water, place them in a bowl/plate and mash them well. Add cornstarch, salt, and pepper and mash once again. The consistency should be that of a well-kneaded dough.
Next, roll these into small balls and flatten them. Place 2-3 cheese cubes in the centre of the flattened dough and roll into a ball once again. Flatten the cheese-filled dough now. Heat olive oil in a frying pan (on medium flame) and place the potato dough in it. Cook for around four minutes before flipping sides. Once they are well-cooked, serve them hot!
A Monsoon Treat
Sounds delicious, right? Well, they taste even better. Invite your family and friends over and treat them to these unique snacks this monsoon. There’s no better way to up the season’s flavour.
