7 Delicious Snack Recipes From North India That You Can Make With Cold Pressed Oils

If you have ever travelled through the streets of Delhi or if you have ventured into the heart of northern India, you will know that food is an integral part of the local culture. Every nook and corner will have delicious aromas wafting towards you and whether you are out for a shopping spree or on a break from work, there will be something to tantalise your tastebuds and satiate those munchy carvings!

Even though I was born in the southern part of our gorgeous country, I grew up in the northern states of India, and I have an absolute love affair with the snacks that you can find in the little alleyways and market corners of the cities in this part of the country. Studying in a Delhi college allowed me to sample a variety of street foods and home cooked snacks, that flavour of which still lingers in my mind!

7 of the best north Indian snacks (which you can make with cold pressed oils)!

Being somewhat of a connoisseur of northern Indian snacks, I have chosen 7 of the absolute favourites; these are the items that you will find in pretty much all the north Indian states and most of them are super easy to make:

1. Dahi vada – Although there is the thayir vada of the southern states, there is something almost decadent about the north style of making dahi vada or dahi bhalla. Urad dal that is soaked for several hours, is ground to an almost fine paste and seasoned with nothing more than salt. Small balls are dropped into hot oil and then these bhalle are soaked in lukewarm water, till they are ready to be consumed. Excess water is squeezed out and then the generous toppings of slightly sweetened thick yoghurt, green and tamarind chutneys arrive. The final flourish is often of chilli powder, cumin powder and finely chopped fresh coriander! There is nothing better than a plate of cool dahi vada on a hot summer day! 
2. Aloo tikki – If you are in the mood to indulge in north Indian snacks, then it doesn’t get better than aloo tikki. If you go to a street vendor, you will see this huge flat concave tawa with oil in the middle and these neatly stacked semi-cooked tikkis sitting on the side, ready for a swim in the hot oil. Boiled and mashed potatoes are seasoned with basic Indian spices like salt, black salt, cumin, green chillies and coriander leaves. Shaped like cutlets, they are normally deep fried (but you can shallow fry them if you are making them at home). To serve, smash the tikki just a little and then top with chutneys and this luscious snack is ready to be devoured! 
3. Masala papad – But what if you are in the mood for a quick snack? Then too there is an answer – simply deep fry a papad of your choice (people from down south, just use your regular appalam, because it will work just as well) and then top with finely chopped onions, tomatoes, fresh coriander, a seasoning of chilli powder and a touch of chaat masala. This works well as a really good starter too! 
4. Samosa – Think of north India and the one snack that will come running to your mind has to be the samosa! This humble snack has become a global sensation and you will find foreign vloggers talking about it, eating it and at times, mispronouncing it too. But there is no denying that once you have tasted a samosa, there is no going back. The boiled potato makes an appearance again, however this time, there is a gamut of spices that go into it – there are green peas, cashews, chillies and coriander seeds that flavour the potatoes, which are then stuffed into a pastry dough and deep fried. There is an air fried version too, but there is no beating the taste of the deep-fried version! 
5. Paneer tikka – Go to any restaurant, fine dining or your local joint, one of the north Indian snacks recipes that you will see on the menu for sure has to be the paneer tikka. Marinated in yoghurt and handpicked spices, thick pieces of paneer are skewered with slices of onions, capsicum and tomatoes and then grilled to perfection over an open flame or inside a tandoor. All you need along with this is some thick green chutney and you are set! 
6. Bread pakora – There is a reason why a certain character in a certain movie took an oath on the bread pakora; because that is how delicious this snack is! The normal bread is made decadent, when it is stuffed with a potato mixture and a thick slice of paneer, dipped in pakora or bhajji batter and then dunked into hot oil. The result is pure deliciousness that will leave you feeling super filled, but still craving for more! From the canteens of Delhi colleges to the small streets of Lucknow, you will find this item being ranked among some of the best north Indian snacks ever! 
7. Pani puri – If one were to make a list of north Indian snack items, how can one forget the absolutely inimitable pani puri! Crispy little deep fried dough balls filled with potato and chana, and then dipped in spicy, tangy water, these are literally heavenly, when made right. What makes these great are that you can have as many or as little as you want – turn it into an interactive party snack or make it as a cheat meal for one!

And in case you thought, yes, these can all be cold pressed oil snacks! Every single one of them, you can make at home and you can use cold pressed oils to make them. And of course, if you are looking for the best quality cold pressed oils, you know that you only need Gramiyaa!