Scrumptious Snacks-Fit for a Cricket Foodie Party

For one, Pakistan Super League is proving that we as a nation are serious about cricket. Everyone is enthusiastic and passionate about the game. PSL is the talk of the town – Facebook newsfeeds are cluttered with PSL updates, topped with interesting hashtags and city wars on Twitter.  By the end of every game, victory and defeat is accepted with loud and visible expressions of either joy or gloom. There is a sense of being a sport about all this that is really appreciable. Since the opening, seventeen games have been played and team positions are getting clearer. Qalandars, the team that I support, may be under the water right now but I hope that will change.

I was almost certain that the PSL saga called for another get together over a cricket game, so I invited our family friends over an evening high-tea. For me it was a small reproduction of what it would be like if I was having the same gathering  in Lahore.

In every corner of Lahore, you can easily find a place for snacking or just hanging out. It is a well known fact that Lahoris do not need a reason to enjoy food. Whether we win or lose, we celebrate, because we appreciate good Cricket. Lahore is always jubilant like that and this is why I love the city so much.

Maria and I are very close friends. In addition to us living in the same neighbourhood, our husbands also work at the same place. We enjoy each other’s company and we always have something to talk about. Maria and I are both always looking for something good to cook and we share recipes. It was a lot of fun watching a match with them.

My plan was to prepare a classic fusion platter of snacks served with chili mayo sauce and podina chutney along with a cup of tea. It turned to be a complete and warm filling meal instead of just a high-tea.

Cheese Balls

Round, crispy, fun and tasty cheese balls are the best appetizing snack for the game day. They are extremely easy to prepare. You can prepare them beforehand so that you can enjoy the game as well.

Recipe

• Butter – 2 tablespoon
• Spring Onion – 2 onion, finely chopped
• Green chilies – 2, finely chopped
• Cheese – ¾ cup (cheddar & mozzarella mixed )
• Milk – ½ cup
• Salt – ½ teaspoon
• White Pepper – ½ teaspoon
• Flour – 1 cup

Method:

• In a pan melt the butter on low flame.
• Add finely chopped spring onions and green chilies to the melted butter and sauté them well until onions become translucent.
•  Now add in the cheese and milk.
• Let the cheese melt and get dissolved in the mixture.
• Keep stirring.
•  Add salt and pepper in the mixture and adjust the flavors as per your taste.
• The mixture will become smooth and attain a thick consistency at this point.
• Add flour in the mixture and stir it well.
• The mixture will turn into a soft dough like texture.
• Mix well and remove from heat.
•  Once the mixture is cooled, make small balls and let them rest in fridge for an hour (minimum)
• Before serving, heat the oil and deep fry them on medium high flame or a minute or so or until golden brown.
• Remember to bring them at room temperature before frying.
• They will turn crispy from outside and cheesy soft from inside.
• Serve them with chili mayo sauce or podina chutney.

Chicken on Toast

Small crispy triangles of bread coated with chicken and cheese are  great alternatives to the traditional chicken sandwiches.

Caution: Extremely tasty!

Recipe

•  Boneless Chicken – 1 Breast Piece, finely chopped
•  Green chilies – 2, finely chopped
• Cheddar Cheese – 2 tablespoon
• Salt – ½ teaspoon
•  White Pepper – ½ teaspoon
•  Flour – 2 tablespoon
•  Corn flour – 1 tablespoon
•  Baking powder – ¼ teaspoon
•  Bread slices – 3 or 4

Method:

• In a bowl mix flour, corn flour, egg, salt, white pepper, green chilies, baking powder and cheese. Mix them well to form a smooth batter.
• Add the chicken in the batter and set aside.
• Spread the prepared batter on the bread slices.
•  In a fry pan, heat the oil and shallow fry the bread slices.
• Fry the batter coated side first on medium low flame; once golden flip the side and fry until crispy and golden.
• You can air fry or bake them in oven also.
• The taste pops out even better when you air fry.

Buffalo Chicken Bites

Classic buffalo chicken bites are a must have dish for my tea time snacks. They are soft, tender and add perfect hotness to the flavourful snacks. Best to be served with any dipping sauce of your choice. If you are tired of eating chicken nuggets – like I am – try these.

Recipe:

• Chicken boneless – 1 cup ( 10 – 12 pieces boneless cubes)
•  Yogurt – ½ cup
• Hot Sauce – 2 tablespoon
• Salt – ½ teaspoon
• Paprika – ¾ teaspoon
• Cream Cheese – 2 tablespoon
• Mustard Paste – ¼ teaspoon
• Worcestershire sauce – 1 teaspoon
• Bread crumbs – for coating
• Oil – for frying

Method:

•  In a bowl, mix all ingredients to make a marinade.
•  Apply all the marinade to the chicken and let it rest in fridge for an hour and overnight for best results.
•  Before serving, dip the marinated chicken into bread crumbs and shallow fry the chicken bites until well done and golden.
•  Serve them with chili mayo sauce.
•  These chicken bites can be baked in oven at 180C for 20 – 30 minutes.

Chips Pakoras

A perfect blend of classic pakoras and chips.

Recipe

• Potatoes – 2, thinly sliced into chips ( ¼ inch thick)
•  Onion – 2, sliced into 1 inch thick ring
• Chickpea flour ( Besan) – 1 cup
• Salt –3/4 teaspoon
• Red chili powder- ¾ teaspoon
• Green chilies – 2, finely chopped
• Carum Seeds (Ajwaein) – ½ teaspoon
•  Cumin Seeds ( Zeera) – ½ teaspoon
•  Baking powder – ¼ teaspoon
•  Cold water

Method:

• Make a thick batter of chickpea flour and all spices with cold water.
• Dip potatoes and onion rings into the batter.
•  In a wok, heat oil and fry the potatoes and onions rings separately thus forming chip pakoras.
• Serve hot with podina chutney or tomato ketchup.