Traditionally, snacks were prepared from ingredients commonly available at home. Often leftovers, cold cuts sandwiches, nuts, fruits, and the like were used as snacks. The Dagwood sandwich was originally the humorous result of a cartoon character`s desire for large snacks. Beverages, such as coffee, are generally not considered snacks though they may be consumed along with snack foods. A beverage may be considered a snack if it possesses a substantive food item (e.g., strawberries, bananas, kiwis) that has been blended to create a smoothie. One of the famous Indian snacks is chaat. Chaat is very popular in India; vendors literally crowd the streets selling all kinds of delicious variations of it! Chaat wallahs carry deliveries of snacks across Indian cities during the lunch hour, and people also eat these snack foods on breaks, before dinner, or as side-dishes.
Samosa is another popular regional snack which is usually savoured as evening food item. It is served piping hot with Tamarind Chutney and Mint-Coriander Chutney. Street stalls often offer an assortment of such snacks, cooked fresh to order in large vats of oil, and many Indian restaurants also offer a spread of snacks, some of which get quite elaborate. Indian snacks are eaten with tea, known as chai, and served in train stations, airports, and other community hubs. Some of the best known Indian snacks include various breads like Chapati, simple flatbreads; bhelpuris, fried crisped breads; parathas, breads stuffed with everything from lamb to potatoes; naan, simple flat bread; and papads, crispy wafers made from lentil flour, bean flour, and a variety of other flours. These breads can be eaten as it is or served alongside various stewed lentil, vegetable, and meat dishes also eaten as snack foods in India.
Popular Snacks of various Indian Regions
Sabudana Vada- Sabudana vada is a traditional deep fried snack popular in Maharashtra. It is often teamed up with spicy green chutney along with hot tea.
Vada Pav-Vada Pav, straight out of the heart of Maharashtra, has iconic status in India.
Steamed Momo- This appetizer from the East Indian state of Sikkim is delicious and easy on the conscience too!
Bhoonja- It is a delicious snack consumed in North India.
Dhokla- It is a nutritious snack from Gujarat, tastes yummy with Tamarind and Mint-Coriander Chutneys.
Khandvi- This savoury snack also comes from Gujarat. It is mainly made from gram flour and yogurt which is slowly cooked into a paste.
Bikaneri Bhujia- This snack comes from Bikaner (a town in the western state of Rajasthan) and is a famous crisp snack.
Bonda- It is a South Indian snack and has various sweet and spicy versions of it in different regions.
Ghugni- Ghugni is a popular snack of Eastern Indian states like Assam, Bengal, Bihar and Odhisa.
Jhal-Muri- Jhal-Muri is one of the most popular and iconic snacks of West Bengal.
Murukku- The town of Manapparai in Tamil Nadu is particularly known for this snack which is made from rice and urad dal flour.
