Delicious Snacks You Can Make With Cold Pressed Oils – The Monsoon Edition

When it is pouring out there, all you want to do is stay indoors – you might want to set up a movie night or perhaps snuggle in a blanket with a cup of cocoa and a good book. But the one thing that almost everyone wants when the rains come calling are some delicious snacks; something to munch on, something hot, crispy, crunchy and something that soothes the soul. At Gramiyaa, we bring to you some of the purest cold pressed oils, which can be used for all types of cooking, including those snacks in the rainy season that you will want to keep going back to. 

Kicking it off with deep fried monsoon snacks with cold pressed oils

As you sit by the window, watching the rains come down, a bowl of something deep fried and delicious would be your perfect friend! Pair it with a cup of piping hot masala chai or coffee and you are set. Here are some of our deep-fried favourites that we think would be perfect for the rainy season:

Pakoras 

The rains come pouring down and the first thing you think of is chai and pakoras and given that a basic batter can be converted into a platter full of pakoras, make this a constant favourite. Once you have the batter with besan (chickpea flour) and spice infused batter ready, you can use a variety of vegetables to create the most delicious and decadent pakoras. While potato and onion remain the top favourites, you can even use spinach leaves, sliced plantain/raw banana, sliced capsicum, mushroom and even paneer to make pakoras. Serve them with mint or tamarind chutneys or even plain old ketchup. 

Bonus tip – Use cold soda water to make the batter and the pakoras will absorb less oil and turn out a lot crispier! 

Stuffed pakoras 

While there are always those regular pakora snacks in rainy season that you can enjoy, there are also some stuffed versions, which are just as delicious, but also filling. For instance, there is the bread pakora, which is a staple of north India – a spicy potato filling is spread between two slices of bread and then this ‘sandwich’ is slathered in pakora batter and deep fried. The same potato mix can also be stuffed into large green chillies and then batter fried to make the most sensation mirchi bhajji or milagu bhajji as it is known down south. And what do you do is you are leftover with the potato mix and some batter? Simple – make balls of the potato mix, dip in batter and fry – whether you eat it as an aloo bonda or stuff inside some pav as a vada pav; that is a choice we leave to you! 

Vadas 

Just like the world of bhajjis and pakoras, the world of vadas is just as large and there are several easy snacks recipes in rainy season that you can make with Gramiyaa’s cold pressed oils. For instance, you can consider chana dal vada, which is also known as parippu vada or masala vada in the southern parts of the country. Soaked chana dal is coarsely ground and mixed with chopped onions, curry leaves and a blend of spices. Deep fried, these crunchy vadas can be served with chutney or ketchup or savoured on their own! Then there is the Maharashtrian favourite – Sabudana vada. Soaked tapioca pearls comes together with boiled potatoes, peanuts and some basic spices to form the vada base. Deep fried to golden perfection, these Sabudana vadas are a delight during the monsoon days. 

And there is more! 

If you are looking for more heartwarming deep-fried delicacies, might we suggest the evergreen aloo tikki or perhaps the vegetable cutlet? Both these start off with a base of mashed boiled potatoes, but the vegetable cutlet has a lot more veggies. You can add grated carrots, chopped beans, sweet corn, grated beetroot or even chopped up broccoli. And if you want to jazz up the cutlets, shape them into balls and stuff a piece of cheese inside for ooey-gooey goodness. 

We also have some cold pressed oils snacks that are not deep fried!

Now, if you are the truly health-conscious types; the ones who are not really into the deep fried savouries, we also have some non-deep fried rainy season recipes, which you can relish. 

• Roasted corn – Bhutta as it is commonly known is always associated with the rains; grilled corn on the cob, brushed with lemon juice, chili powder, and salt is one of the easiest and one of the best items to devour when the rain gods are busy doing their thing! 
• Paneer tikka – If you have some paneer in the fridge, all you need is a simple marinade made with curd and some spices. Leave the paneer pieces to soak in the marinade and then grill them. Remember to pour a dash of cold pressed mustard oil for that smoky, pungent flavour that will linger on your palate and your mind! 
• Chilli cheese toast – This is perfect for those people who don’t want to put in too much effort, because rainy days can make you slightly lazy too! On a griddle pan, add a dollop of butter, ghee or even oil and then place slices of bread that are topped with cheese, green chillies or chilli flakes. Once the bread turns golden and the cheese melts (which shouldn’t take more than a few minutes), you are ready to snack! 
• Pav bhaji – There is nothing that beats a plate of steaming hot, spicy and tangy bhaji with soft pav smothered in butter! While traditional bhaji is made with butter, you can always make it with cold pressed oil and then finish it with butter. 

Now that you have all these snacks to cook with cold pressed oils to savour on a typical monsoon day, which one are you planning to prepare?