Close Menu
  • Latest News
  • Indian Events Near You
  • Local Trusted Business
  • Local Classifieds
  • Stories & Insights
  • Promote Your Business
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
  • About Us
  • Promote Your Business
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Indian CommunityIndian Community
Trending
  • Why Dal Baati Churma Is the Most Underrated Indian Dish — And Where to Try It in the U.S.
  • Unmissable Night of Joy: Rhythm Ratri 2025 with Pooja Kalyani in Kitchener-Cambridge
  • Jaipuri Malai Ghevar Recipe to Sweeten Your Raksha Bandhan Celebrations
  • Water Damage in Atlanta? Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Wait Another Day
  • Beautiful Bond, Perfect Timing: When is Raksha Bandhan 2025? Date, Muhurat & Rituals Explained
  • Shocking Prime Day Scam Alert: 5 Digital Scams That Could Ruin Your Shopping Spree
  • Exciting Update: When & Where to Watch Metro… In Dino on OTT – Everything You Need to Know
  • Is Dhurandhar Based on a True Story?
  • News
  • Events
  • Entertainment
    • Indian Artists
    • Entertainment News
    • Community TV
  • Indian Food
  • Trusted Business
    • Business and Entrepreneurship
  • Sport
  • Students
  • Stories
  • NRI
    • NRI Investment
Login
Indian CommunityIndian Community
Home » Indian Food
Indian Food

Indian Food Appetizers You Can Whip Up in 20 Minutes for Unexpected Guests

Rachna GuptaBy Rachna GuptaJune 19, 2025No Comments4 Mins Read
Indian Food Appetizers
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

Indian kitchens are no strangers to quick creativity—especially when it comes to appetizers. With a few pantry staples and a bit of spice, you can have flavorful starters ready in just 20 minutes. Whether you’re entertaining unplanned guests or satisfying midweek cravings, these Indian food appetizers are fast, easy, and bursting with flavor.

In this Article

  • 1. Tawa Paneer Tikka
  • 2. Aloo Chaat
  • 3. Moong Dal Pakoras
  • 4. Masala Papad Rolls
  • 5. Crispy Corn Masala
  • 6. Instant Rava Dhokla Squares

1. Tawa Paneer Tikka

Time: 15–18 minutes
Why It Works: No need for a tandoor! Toss paneer cubes in yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, and spices like chaat masala, garam masala, and Kashmiri red chili. Sear them on a nonstick tawa until golden brown.

Easy Paneer Tikka (Restaurant Style)

Pro Tip: Serve with green chutney and lemon wedges.

Ingredients:
Paneer cubes, thick curd, ginger-garlic paste, turmeric, red chili powder, garam masala, salt, chaat masala, and oil.

Recipe:

  • In a bowl, mix curd, spices, and ginger-garlic paste to form a marinade.
  • Coat paneer cubes and let them sit for 5–10 minutes.
  • Heat a tawa or skillet with oil.
  • Sear marinated paneer pieces until golden on both sides.
  • Sprinkle chaat masala and serve with green chutney.

2. Aloo Chaat

Time: 12–15 minutes
Why It Works: Boil or shallow-fry cubed potatoes and toss them with chopped onions, green chilies, tamarind chutney, and chaat masala. It’s street food magic in a bowl.

Delhi Aloo Chaat Recipe

Perfect For: Spicy snack cravings and monsoon evenings.

Ingredients:
Boiled potatoes, chopped onion, green chilies, coriander, tamarind chutney, chaat masala, and lemon juice.

Recipe:

  • Cube the boiled potatoes and sauté lightly in oil until crispy.
  • In a mixing bowl, combine potatoes with onions, chilies, and chutney.
  • Add chaat masala and a generous squeeze of lemon.
  • Toss well and serve immediately with sev or pomegranate seeds on top.

3. Moong Dal Pakoras

Time: 15–18 minutes
Why It Works: Soak moong dal in warm water for 15 minutes, blend into a rough paste, add onions, green chilies, and ajwain. Drop spoonfuls into hot oil.

Crispy outside, fluffy inside—these are a crunchy crowd-pleaser.

Moong Dal Pakoda Recipe (Moong Dal Bhajia, Moong Dal Vada, Moongode)

Ingredients:
Soaked moong dal, onion, green chili, coriander, ajwain, salt, oil for frying.

Recipe:

  • Soak moong dal in warm water for 15 minutes and blend into a coarse paste.
  • Mix in chopped onions, green chilies, coriander, ajwain, and salt.
  • Heat oil in a kadai.
  • Drop spoonfuls of the batter and fry until golden.
  • Serve hot with mint chutney.

4. Masala Papad Rolls

Hara Bhara Papad Roll - Zheelicious

Time: 10 minutes
Why It Works: Fry or roast papads and top with a mixture of onions, tomatoes, coriander, sev, and a dash of lime. Fold gently for a roll-style appetizer.

Best Served With: A cold drink and light conversation.

Ingredients:
Papads, finely chopped tomatoes, onions, coriander, green chili, lime juice, sev.

Recipe:

  • Roast or lightly fry papads until crisp.
  • In a bowl, mix onions, tomatoes, chilies, coriander, salt, and lime.
  • Spread the masala over the papad and gently roll.
  • Sprinkle sev on top and serve immediately.

5. Crispy Corn Masala

Ingredients:
Boiled sweet corn, rice flour, black pepper, chopped onion, green chilies, coriander, and lemon juice.

Crispy Corn Recipe | Restaurant Style Snack

Recipe:Time: 15 minutes
Why It Works: Toss boiled sweet corn in rice flour, deep-fry until golden, then mix with chopped onions, chilies, coriander, and lime juice.

Think bar snacks—but homemade and healthier.

  • Pat dry boiled corn and coat lightly with rice flour, salt, and pepper.
  • Deep-fry until golden and crispy.
  • In a bowl, mix crispy corn with onions, chilies, coriander, and lemon juice.
  • Serve hot with a spicy dip.

6. Instant Rava Dhokla Squares

Time: 20 minutes (including steaming)
Why It Works: Combine semolina (rava), curd, ginger-chili paste, and fruit salt. Steam in a flat tray and temper with mustard seeds and curry leaves.

Instant Rava Dhokla (Rawa Dhokla) - Ruchiskitchen

Fluffy, tangy, and surprisingly quick to prepare.

Ingredients:
Rava (semolina), curd, green chili-ginger paste, fruit salt (Eno), salt, mustard seeds, curry leaves, and oil.

Recipe:

  • Mix rava, curd, salt, and green chili-ginger paste.
  • Add water to adjust consistency and let it rest for 5 minutes.
  • Add fruit salt just before steaming.
  • Pour into a greased plate and steam for 10–12 minutes.
  • Temper mustard seeds and curry leaves, then pour over dhokla.
  • Cut into squares and serve with chutney.

From tangy chaats to comforting pakoras, these Indian food appetizers prove that delicious doesn’t have to mean time-consuming. With a prep time of under 20 minutes, you can go from empty plate to flavorful bite in record time—perfect for impromptu guests or weeknight hunger pangs.


food recipes Indian Cuisine Indian Food Indian food appetizers
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
Rachna Gupta

    I am an Indian woman deeply rooted in my culture, blending traditional Indian values with modern fashion trends. As a fashion influencer and marketing expert, I specialize in showcasing how Indian festivals and traditions can inspire everyday style, festive looks, and décor. From clothing and accessories to makeup and home decorations, I offer fresh, creative ideas that celebrate our heritage with a contemporary flair.My goal is to help Indians living abroad stay connected to their roots by sharing fashion trends, beauty tips, and cultural insights that can be seamlessly integrated into global lifestyles. Whether it’s styling the perfect festive outfit or creating a modern twist on traditional décor, I’m here to inspire and empower those who want to embrace Indian culture with style and grace.

    Related Posts

    Why Dal Baati Churma Is the Most Underrated Indian Dish — And Where to Try It in the U.S.

    July 9, 2025

    Jaipuri Malai Ghevar Recipe to Sweeten Your Raksha Bandhan Celebrations

    July 9, 2025

    9 Essential Ayurvedic Monsoon Diet Tips for a Healthier and Happier You

    July 8, 2025
    Join Indian Community
    Join Indian Community Near You
    Latest News

    CMFRI launches training on fish feed production using black soldier fly larvae

    July 10, 2025

    No such idea exists: Pak Interior Minister on Zardari’s removal

    July 10, 2025

    Colonial era Indian legislators hailed as icons of national unity at Delhi Assembly symposium

    July 10, 2025

    Pressure on Thackerays to fight BMC polls jointly, MVA tie not must for local elections: Raut

    July 10, 2025

    Hindi-Marathi conflict: Annu Kapoor condemns violence but says local language, culture should be respected

    July 10, 2025

    Football: Joakim Alexandersson names 24-member travelling squad for Uzbekistan friendlies

    July 10, 2025

    Taj city’s green push turns landfill into Miyawaki forest

    July 10, 2025

    3rd Test: Root and Pope take England to 83/2 after Reddy removes openers

    July 10, 2025

    Karnataka HC directs authorities to issue notice to CM Siddaramaiah’s wife in MUDA case

    July 10, 2025

    RSS leader Indresh Kumar backs Muslim woman’s battle against Waqf land ‘mafia’

    July 10, 2025
    Sponsored Ads
    Community Outreach
    • Volunteering Opportunities
    • Indian Community Ambassadors
    • Indian Community Icons
    • Appear On The Indian Community Podcast
    Indian Community
    Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo Costa Rica Côte d'Ivoire Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Czechia Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Faroe Islands Fiji Islands Finland France French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guatemala Guinea Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong S.A.R. Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Man (Isle of) Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway Oman Pakistan Palestinian Territory Occupied Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Reunion Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand The Bahamas The Gambia Timor-Leste Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands (US) Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Blog
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Book Tickets to India
    © 2025 Designed by CreativeMerchants.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Change Location
    Find awesome listings near you!

    Sign In or Register

    Welcome Back!

    Login below or Register Now.

    Continue with Google
    Lost password?

    Register Now!

    Already registered? Login.

    Continue with Google

    A password will be e-mailed to you.