onion bhaji
Onion bhaji are one of the great staters or snacks. The trick to making vengaya bhaji is to ensure there is more onion than batter.
starters
Snacks or starters are often bought from street vendors, but many of these can be easily made at home. These recipes are some simple dishes to start a meal.
Many of these recipes could also be served as the basis of a light meal.
paneer stuffed capsicums
Spiced paneer stuffed capsicums, bharwan simla mirch, are perfect for a vegetable dish on their own, as part of a feast, or as a starter.
spinach chaat
A dish from the street-vendor tradition of Delhi. Palak chaat is made from crispy fried spinach leaves and chaat dressings.
tandoori chicken
The classic North Indian tandoori chicken. Originally from Persia, it is not hot, but has a gentle and subtle spice background. Part of the flavour comes from the slightly charred outside of the chicken.
Parsi scrambled eggs
Scrambled eggs done the Parsi way. Akoori can be served at breakfast, as a snack, for lunch, or for a light evening meal.
fruit chaat
Fruit chaat, or phala chaat, is a mix of fruits, tossed with potatoes and chaat masala.
masala dosa
Masala dosa - spiced potato in rice and lentil crepes - are one of life's great joys. Simple, easy, fast and ca be served as a starter, snack, lunch or as a light dinner.
Goan mussels
Goan mussels is a slightly hot Portuguese-inspired dish. Xinaneao recheado can be served as a starter, a snack, or even a main meal.
fish tikka
This fish tikka, or Maachi tikka, is simple fried marinated fish dish. Easy to make and can be prepared overnight then finished just before serving. It is a very Mumbai-style dish.
green paneer tikka
Green paneer tikka, or paneer pudina tikka is a great starter or finger food for cocktails. The marinade is fresh, aromatic and has quite a chilli hit.