India is a land of diverse languages, dialect, culture and food. Visit any Indian household and you won't be able to leave without being served a traditional variety of snacks.
Often branded as junk food, today we are going to give you a low-down on a few top Indian snacks and their nutritional information. Fasten your seat belts because these snacks and appetizers could be making you stray pretty far from your healthy diet and fitness plans!
Samosa.
A traditional Indian samosa is a crisp, deep fried snack made with a flour casing, and a filling of a spicy mixture with mashed potatoes, coriander powder, salt and red chilli powder. The only healthy way to eat samosas is to have them with healthy chicken or vegetable based flavourings and yes, steaming or baking instead of frying (but of course, where's the fun in that!
Calorie information: 1 pc of traditional deep fried samosa has 252 calories.
Dhokla. Dhokla, a traditional Gujarati delicacy, is prepared by mixing grounded and soaked chickpeas flour. They are steamed and therefore healthy, unless they're fried. However, be careful when you are giving en extra tadka of oil, mustard seed and a whole lot of other spices to them.
Calorie information: 1 pc of dhokla has 150 calories.
Chivda. Chivda is a typical Mumbai mixture and is a popular snack eaten at any time of the day. It is basically a mixture of dried peanuts, puffed rice, chickpea deep fried noodles, lentil and a host of other traditional ingredients. The only healthy way to eat chivda is to prepare a stir fried variety of it at home rather than opting for a packaged, fried one.
Calorie information: Handful of chivda has 201 calories.
Murukku. Popularly known as chakli, murukku is a crispy snack eaten with evening tea in many Indian households. Urad dal is mixed with rice flour and a host of other spices. They are circular coils, which are deep fried until golden brown in colour.
Calorie information: 1 pc of chakli has 150 calories.
Pakoras. Pakoras are made by deep frying your preferred variety of vegetables – such as onions, cauliflower, cottage cheese, spinach, green chillies, tomatoes- in a mixture of garlic, besan and salt. It is served along with a sweet and spicy dip. The healthy way to have pakoras is to either bake them or grill them.
Calorie information: 1 pc of standard pakora has 76 calories. Calories may increase depending upon the size of a pakora.
Masala vada. Served along with sambhar and coconut chutney, masala vada is a medium sized cookie shaped deep fried dumpling prepared with a mixture of channa dal, curry leaves, ginger and green chillies. A healthy way to prepare masala vadas is to steam or bake them.
Calorie information: 1 pc of masala vada has 100 calories.
Aloo Tikki. This popular street food snack is made with a mixture of channa dal, mashed potatoes, coriander, salt, garam masala and a host of other spices. This mixture is then hand pressed into a flat ball and deep fried. A healthy way to have aloo tikkis is to bake them.
Calorie information: 1 pc of aloo tikki has 275 calories.
Paapri chaat. Paapri chaat is prepared by flat circular deep fried bread using white flour and salt. This bread is then topped with various spices such as channa, coriander, green chillies, onions, tomatoes and mainly includes a mixture of mashed potatoes. It is served along with spicy and sweet sauce.
Calorie information: 1 plate of paapri chaat has 712 calories (6 pcs).
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I'm well-versed in the domain of Indian cuisine, encompassing its diverse languages, cultures, and, of course, its rich tapestry of food. The article you provided delves into various Indian snacks, shedding light on their traditional preparation, flavors, and nutritional information.
Let's break down the concepts:
Indian Snacks Featured in the Article:
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Samosa: A deep-fried snack filled with spiced mashed potatoes enclosed in a flour casing. The healthier alternatives involve baking or steaming rather than deep frying. One piece contains approximately 252 calories.
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Dhokla: A Gujarati delicacy made from chickpea flour, steamed and usually healthy unless fried or laden with extra oil and spices. A single piece amounts to about 150 calories.
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Chivda: A popular Mumbai mixture comprising dried peanuts, puffed rice, chickpea deep-fried noodles, lentils, and other traditional ingredients. Healthier options involve stir-frying at home instead of choosing packaged, fried varieties. A handful has around 201 calories.
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Murukku/Chakli: Circular coils made from urad dal mixed with rice flour and spices, deep-fried until golden brown. One piece contains approximately 150 calories.
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Pakoras: Vegetables dipped in a batter of garlic, besan (gram flour), and salt, then deep-fried. Healthier methods involve baking or grilling. A standard pakora contains about 76 calories, varying by size.
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Masala Vada: Cookie-shaped deep-fried dumplings made from a mixture of channa dal, curry leaves, ginger, and green chilies. Healthier preparation methods involve steaming or baking, with each vada having around 100 calories.
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Aloo Tikki: A street food snack made from mashed potatoes, spices, and channa dal, shaped into flat balls and deep-fried. Healthier consumption involves baking them, with one piece containing about 275 calories.
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Paapri Chaat: Circular, deep-fried bread topped with spices, mashed potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and served with spicy and sweet sauces. A plate with six pieces amounts to approximately 712 calories.
The article emphasizes healthier preparation methods like baking, steaming, or stir-frying instead of deep-frying for a better nutritional profile. It's a fantastic showcase of how traditional Indian snacks can be enjoyed with a mindful approach to health and fitness goals.
