From gujiya for Holi, mathri for Karwa Chauth, and namakpara for Diwali, the Indian festive season is filled with lip-smacking snacks everyone eagerly awaits. Now that the festive season is just around the corner, you’d be more tempted to take a bite of your favourite munchies.
Whether you’re at a Diwali party, at a family puja, or simply want to make the most of the festivities, you’ll be surrounded by deep-fried snacks. But just because you’re following a diet doesn’t mean you have to miss the best part of the festive season. Instead of deep frying, you can swap the excess amount of oil for baking. Thanks to Usha’s OTG (Oven Toaster Griller), you can get the same level of crunch and taste as the deep-fried counterparts, and enjoy guilt-free.
Masala Mathri
Mathri is a crunchy maida-based snack that is traditionally fried and made with a blend of spices and herbs like dried methi. However, you can give the festive classic a healthier twist by baking in Usha’s OTG. You can make a similar dough with maida, spices, water, and a little oil. Depending on your preference, you can also bake a batch of namkeen or mithi mathri to serve this festive season.
Baked Gujiya
The sweet Indian snack is synonymous with festivals like Holi and Diwali. You can knead a dough with all-purpose flour, ghee, and water to make it at home. Once smooth, you can take small portions out, roll, and fill with a rich filling of khoya and nuts. Then, fold the edges, grease with a little oil, and bake in Usha’s OTG at 200°C till the gujiyas are golden brown. Finally, dip them in a sugar syrup, and you’re all ready to dig in.
Namakpara And Shakarpara
Munchies like namakpara and shakarpara are a non-negotiable part of the festive season in most Indian households. As for namak para, you can knead a dough with maida, ajwain, salt, and oil. To make shararpara, you can add powdered sugar to the same dough. Cut the dough into small diamond-shaped pieces, and bake at 180°C for about fifteen minutes. Let the munchies cool down before serving.
Baked Samosas
Samosas are an all-time favourite snack, especially during the festive season. If you’re left with a lingering guilt after eating deep-fried samosas, this is your sign to bake them using Usha’s OTG. Using all the same ingredients and steps, you can simply swap the cooking process and make the snack healthier, crunchier, and guilt-free. To take a step further towards making samosas healthier, you can also swap maida with multi-grain flours or millets.
Nankhatai
If you have a sweet tooth, nankhatai, the traditional Gujarati cookie, will be perfect for serving evening tea during the festive season. This bite-sized mouth-melting treat is usually made with flour, milk, and additives like cardamom, coconut, and a lot of dry fruits and nuts. Depending on your preference, you can also go for the chocolate versions, bake to perfection, and enjoy.