10+ Indian Snack Recipes to Enjoy Anytime

Indian snack recipes offer a tasty way to enjoy quick and simple bites any time of day. These snacks are popular for their bold flavors and variety.

You can find many recipes that are easy to make at home and perfect for sharing with family and friends.

Close-up of various Indian snacks including samosas, pakoras, and sev arranged on a white marble countertop with small bowls of chutneys.

Whether you want something spicy, savory, or a little sweet, Indian snacks give you plenty of options to explore. They often use everyday ingredients, making it easy for you to try new tastes without a lot of fuss.


Ingredients:

  • Flour
  • Spices (such as cumin, coriander, chili powder)
  • Vegetables (like onion, potato)
  • Oil for frying or baking

Cooking Instructions:

  1. Prepare the dough or batter with flour and spices.
  2. Add chopped vegetables or fillings as needed.
  3. Heat oil to 350°F (175°C) for frying or preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) for baking.
  4. Cook snacks until golden brown or crispy.
  5. Drain on paper towels if fried, and serve warm.

1) Onion Bhaji

Close-up of crispy golden onion bhaji fritters on a white marble countertop.

Onion bhaji is a tasty Indian snack made with thinly sliced onions mixed in a spiced chickpea flour batter. They are crispy on the outside and soft inside, perfect for a light snack or appetizer.

You can enjoy them with chutney or sauce. These fritters are simple to make and use common ingredients.

You only need a little oil for frying, which keeps them light. Onion bhajis are vegan and gluten-free if you use chickpea flour.

Mix onions, spices, and batter, then fry small spoonfuls until golden brown. They taste best fresh and hot.

Ingredients

  • 3 large onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup chickpea flour (gram flour)
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • Salt to taste
  • Water (enough to make a thick batter)
  • Oil for frying

Cooking Instructions

  1. Slice onions thinly and place in a bowl.
  2. Add chickpea flour, cumin seeds, chili powder, turmeric, and salt.
  3. Mix well and add water little by little to form a thick batter.
  4. Heat oil in a pan to 350°F (175°C).
  5. Drop spoonfuls of batter into hot oil.
  6. Fry until golden brown and crispy, about 4-5 minutes.
  7. Drain on paper towels and serve warm.

Learn more about onion bhaji recipes.

2) Chaat Tikki

Close-up image of crispy golden-brown Chaat Tikki Indian snack on a white marble surface.

Chaat Tikki is a tasty Indian snack that combines crispy potato patties with spiced chickpeas. You’ll enjoy the mix of crunchy and soft textures, along with tangy chutneys that add great flavor.

It’s a popular street food snack that’s quick to make at home. You start with potato tikkis, which are shallow fried until golden.

Top them with spicy chickpeas, tamarind chutney, and green chutney. A sprinkle of chaat masala and some fresh onions make it even better.

Ingredients:

  • Boiled potatoes
  • Bread crumbs
  • Cooked chickpeas (chole)
  • Tamarind chutney
  • Green chutney (mint and coriander)
  • Chaat masala
  • Salt
  • Oil for frying
  • Finely chopped onions

Cooking Instructions:

  1. Mash boiled potatoes well and mix with bread crumbs, salt, and a pinch of chaat masala.
  2. Shape the mixture into small patties.
  3. Heat oil in a pan and fry the patties until golden brown on both sides.
  4. Warm the cooked chickpeas and season them with chaat masala and salt.
  5. Place the fried tikkis on a plate, top with chickpeas, tamarind chutney, and green chutney.
  6. Garnish with chopped onions and sprinkle some extra chaat masala. Serve immediately.

3) Dabeli

Close-up of an Indian Dabeli snack with bun, spicy potato filling, pomegranate seeds, peanuts, cilantro, and sev on a white marble surface.

Dabeli is a tasty Indian snack from the Kutch region of Gujarat. It features soft pav buns filled with spicy potato masala.

You’ll also find sweet and tangy chutneys mixed in to balance the flavors. The filling is topped with crunchy roasted peanuts, onions, and fresh pomegranate seeds.

This mix of spicy, sweet, and crunchy makes every bite interesting. You can make dabeli fresh at home with basic ingredients.

Ingredients

  • Pav buns
  • Boiled potatoes
  • Dabeli masala (spice mix)
  • Tamarind chutney
  • Garlic chutney
  • Roasted peanuts
  • Chopped onions
  • Pomegranate seeds
  • Fresh coriander leaves
  • Butter

Cooking Instructions

  1. Mash the boiled potatoes and mix with dabeli masala.
  2. Heat butter in a pan and cook the potato mixture for 3-4 minutes.
  3. Spread tamarind and garlic chutney on pav buns.
  4. Stuff buns with spicy potato mix.
  5. Top with peanuts, onions, pomegranate, and coriander.
  6. Toast the stuffed buns lightly in a pan with butter on medium heat (about 300°F / 150°C) until golden.
  7. Serve warm.

4) Phool Makhana Snack

Close-up of crispy Phool Makhana snack on a white marble countertop.

Phool Makhana, also known as fox nuts or lotus seeds, is a light and crunchy snack you can enjoy anytime. You roast them until crispy, which makes them a healthy alternative to fried snacks.

You can flavor Phool Makhana with spices like salt, chili, or even jaggery for a sweet version. Roasting them in a little ghee or butter brings out a nice, nutty taste.

It only takes about 5 to 7 minutes on medium heat to get them just right. This snack pairs well with tea or coffee and is great when you want something quick and easy to munch on.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Phool Makhana (fox nuts)
  • 1 tablespoon ghee or butter
  • Salt to taste
  • Optional: chili powder, cardamom, or jaggery

Cooking Instructions

  1. Heat ghee or butter in a pan on medium heat.
  2. Add Phool Makhana and roast, stirring often.
  3. Roast for 5 to 7 minutes until they turn golden and crisp.
  4. Add salt and any spices you like, and toss well.
  5. Let cool slightly before serving.

For sweet versions, add jaggery and a pinch of cardamom while roasting for a simple treat.

Learn more about roasting Phool Makhana snacks at Swasthi’s Recipes.

5) Paneer Cutlet

Close-up image of golden brown Indian paneer cutlets on a white marble countertop.

Paneer cutlet is a tasty Indian snack you can make quickly. It uses crumbled paneer mixed with boiled vegetables and spices.

Shape this mixture into small patties and fry until they become crispy on the outside. You can enjoy paneer cutlets as a party starter or a tea-time snack.

They are soft inside and crunchy outside, which makes them a favorite for many. You can pan-fry or deep-fry them, depending on your preference.

The recipe uses common ingredients you may already have at home. You can add chili or other spices to make it mild or spicy, as you like.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups paneer (crumbled)
  • 1 boiled potato (mashed)
  • 1/2 cup mixed boiled vegetables (carrots, peas)
  • 1 green chili (minced)
  • 1 teaspoon red chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (maida)
  • Salt to taste
  • Oil for frying

Cooking Instructions:

  1. Mix paneer, potato, vegetables, green chili, chili powder, and salt in a bowl.
  2. Add the flour and mix well to bind the mixture.
  3. Shape into small round or oval cutlets.
  4. Heat oil in a pan on medium heat (about 350°F/175°C).
  5. Fry cutlets until golden brown and crispy, about 3-4 minutes per side.
  6. Drain on paper towels and serve hot with chutney or ketchup.

You can see a detailed paneer cutlet recipe with vegetables here.

6) Butter Murukku

Close-up of golden-brown Butter Murukku Indian snacks on a white marble countertop.

Butter Murukku is a tasty South Indian snack you can enjoy anytime. It has a soft, tender texture because of butter mixed into rice and gram flour.

You’ll love the subtle spice and crispiness after frying. Shape it into spirals before frying for a fun look.

It makes a perfect snack for festivals or tea time. The recipe uses simple ingredients you might already have.

It’s quick to make and a great way to try something new in your kitchen.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup rice flour
  • 1.5 tablespoons gram flour (besan)
  • 1.5 tablespoons roasted gram dal flour
  • 1 tablespoon butter (room temperature)
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • Salt to taste
  • Oil for deep frying

Cooking Instructions

  1. Mix rice flour, gram flour, dal flour, cumin seeds, and salt.
  2. Add butter and mix well, then add water little by little to make a dough.
  3. Heat oil to 350°F (175°C).
  4. Shape dough into spirals using a murukku press.
  5. Fry until golden and crisp. Drain on paper towels.

7) Cabbage Pakoda

Close-up image of golden-brown crispy cabbage pakodas arranged on a white marble countertop.

Cabbage pakoda is a crunchy and tasty Indian snack you can enjoy anytime. It’s made by mixing shredded cabbage with spices and chickpea flour, then deep-frying until golden brown.

This snack is great for evenings or rainy days. You can change the spice level to suit your taste.

They pair well with chutney or ketchup. Making cabbage pakodas is simple and quick.

Mix the ingredients, shape small balls or patties, and fry them until crispy on the outside.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups shredded cabbage
  • ¾ cup thinly sliced onions
  • ½ cup besan (chickpea flour)
  • 1-2 tablespoons rice flour
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • Salt to taste
  • 1-2 green chilies (optional), chopped
  • Water (as needed)
  • Oil for deep frying

Cooking Instructions

  1. Mix cabbage, onions, besan, rice flour, spices, and salt in a bowl.
  2. Add water little by little to make a thick batter.
  3. Heat oil in a deep pan to 350°F (175°C).
  4. Drop spoonfuls of batter into hot oil carefully.
  5. Fry until pakodas turn golden brown and crispy.
  6. Remove and drain on paper towels.
  7. Serve hot with your favorite chutney.

For a detailed recipe, see this cabbage pakoda recipe.

8) Masala Nuts

Close-up of a pile of spiced Masala Nuts on a white marble countertop with a bright neutral background.

Masala nuts are a tasty, spicy snack you can easily make at home. They combine mixed nuts with bold Indian spices for a crunchy and flavorful bite.

This snack works great for teatime or as a quick energy boost. You can roast the nuts in an oven or air fryer to make them crispy.

Toss the nuts with spices like chaat masala, chili powder, and some salt. The spices add heat and tang.

Store masala nuts in an airtight jar to keep them fresh. They make a perfect party snack or a healthy option when you want something salty and spicy.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups mixed nuts (cashews, almonds, peanuts)
  • 1 tsp chaat masala
  • 1/2 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp cumin powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp oil

Cooking Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
  2. Mix nuts, oil, and spices in a bowl.
  3. Spread nuts on a baking sheet lined with parchment.
  4. Roast for 15-20 minutes, stirring once halfway.
  5. Cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

9) Rava Dhokla

Close-up of several pieces of golden-yellow Rava Dhokla arranged on a white marble surface.

Rava Dhokla is a soft, fluffy snack from Gujarat. It’s quick to make because it doesn’t need fermentation like traditional dhokla.

You’ll enjoy the slightly tangy and mildly spicy flavors from yogurt and simple spices. This dish is perfect for breakfast or a light snack.

You steam it, so it stays moist and tender. Serve it with green chutney or a sprinkle of mustard seeds and coriander leaves.

You need semolina (rava), yogurt, and a few basic spices to make it. Adding eno fruit salt or baking soda makes the dhokla rise and become airy.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup semolina (rava/sooji)
  • ½ cup plain yogurt
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 tsp ginger paste
  • 1-2 green chilies, chopped
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp eno fruit salt or baking soda
  • 1 tsp mustard seeds
  • A pinch of asafoetida (hing)
  • Fresh coriander for garnish

Cooking Instructions

  1. Mix semolina, yogurt, water, ginger paste, green chilies, sugar, salt, and asafoetida in a bowl.
  2. Let the batter rest for 10 minutes.
  3. Just before steaming, add eno fruit salt and mix gently.
  4. Pour batter into a greased steaming pan.
  5. Steam for 15-20 minutes at 212°F (100°C) until a toothpick comes out clean.
  6. Heat oil, add mustard seeds to temper, and pour over the steamed dhokla.
  7. Garnish with coriander leaves and cut into squares.

You can find more details and tips on making instant rava dhokla at this rava dhokla recipe page.

10) Avocado Chickpea Chaat

Close-up of a bowl of avocado chickpea chaat with chopped avocado, chickpeas, onions, tomatoes, and cilantro on a white marble countertop.

Avocado Chickpea Chaat is a quick and tasty Indian snack you can enjoy anytime. It mixes creamy avocados with protein-rich chickpeas for a healthy boost.

The dish has a nice balance of tangy, sweet, and spicy flavors. You don’t need to cook anything if you use canned chickpeas.

Adding fresh ingredients like red onion, pomegranate seeds, and cilantro gives the chaat crunch and color. A squeeze of lemon juice ties all the flavors together.

This snack is perfect if you want something light but filling. You can have it as lunch or an afternoon snack without much effort.

Ingredients

  • 2 ripe avocados, pitted and diced
  • 1.5 cups cooked or canned chickpeas
  • 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • Salt and chaat masala to taste

Cooking Instructions

  1. In a bowl, combine chickpeas and diced avocados.

  2. Add sliced red onion.

  3. Add pomegranate seeds and chopped cilantro.

  4. Squeeze lemon juice over the mixture.

  5. Sprinkle salt and chaat masala to taste.

  6. Gently toss everything together.

  7. Serve immediately.

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