Banana Nutella Crackers
You will need
Wheat crackers
Nutella, Hazelnut or Peanut butter spread
1 chopped banana
How to: Spread your Nutella evenly on the wheat crackers and top it up with four slices of banana.
The upside: Who could reject anything with Nutella on it? This quick snack takes less than a few minutes to make (unless you gobble it down while making it, like we do) and tastes absolutely delicious. Plus, the wheat crackers and banana up this snack’s health quotient. (If you aren’t one to care about calories, you can even replace those crackers with brown bread).
The downside: If you’re a strict diet, Nutella might not be the best option because at the end of the day, it’s still chocolate. A low-cal cheese spread or just bananas on wheat crackers with a teeny bit of powdered sugar should be a decent replacement.
Tomato Feta Bagels
You will need
Whole grain bagels, sliced horizontally
Feta cheese
Tomatoes, sliced
Olives
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
How to: Toast your whole grain flat bagel and top it up with sliced tomatoes, followed by olives and feta cheese. Drizzle some olive oil over the dressing, some salt and a generous sprinkling of pepper.
The upside: This snack’s perfect for those 6pm hunger pangs that you generally satiate with Maggi. It takes less than three minutes to make provided you’ve got all the ingredients ready and the combination of feta with tomatoes is an absolute winner.
The downside: If you’re the unlucky kind who suffers from a serious case of lactose intolerance, this snack is off limits. It’s also not the most convenient thing to pack to work because the olive oil and tomato could mean your bagel gets soggy by the time you finally consume it.
Sesame Popcorn
You will need
100 gms of corn kernels
Sesame oil
Sesame seeds
Black salt
How to: Pop the corn kernels the way you usually would to make popcorn.
Toss the popcorn with half a tablespoon of sesame(til) oil, sesame seeds and black salt (kala namak.)
The upside: A bowl of popcorn with just a bit of a twist, this snack is familiar and therefore, comforting. With no cheese and no butter you won’t have to keep an eye on those calories and this is just as good for a movie night as it is when you’re chasing a deadline at work and need a nibble.
The downside: When it comes to far too common snackables, we prefer to stick to our favourites. So if you’re doing sesame popcorn for a house party, make sure you also make the caramel and salted versions. Sesame is an acquired taste and while it’s a refreshing change, it might not go down too well with everybody.
Gram Salad
You will need
I cup brown or green chana
1 onion, chopped
1 tomatoes, chopped
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lemon, chopped into four
Red chilli powder
Salt
How to: Roast the boiled brown or green chana for five to seven minutes till it gets a little crisp.
Into a bowl, add the chopped tomatoes, onions, the roasted chana and red chilli powder.
Drizzle some olive oil, some vinegar and a dash of lemon and mix it well.
You can even serve this when the chana is still a little hot.
The upside: On a scale of one to 10, this snack rates nine when it comes to both, health as well as taste. For many of us it’s reminiscent of one of the healthier snacks we used to eat after coming home from school in the monsoons when we were kids. Still strikes a chord, this one!
The downside: There probably aren’t any unless, like someone we know, you think that chana should be restricted to main food dishes alone. Since this is super healthy, it might not be the best rainy day snack option if all you’re looking for is some fried kanda bhajji.
Egg Stackers
Salted crackers (we prefer to use Monaco biscuits)
2 hard-boiled eggs, sliced (in discs)
3 slices of processed cheese, each slice cut in four squares
Ketchup
How to: On the crackers, place one slice of the boiled egg.
Over it, place a square of cheese. Top it up with some ketchup.
The upside: This recipe for quick bites has been on our list for many years. It’s the perfect go-to snack when guests show up unexpectedly (and stay for longer than you thought.) Plus you can’t go wrong with the popular combo of egg, cheese and crackers.
The downside: If you’re a vegetarian or are serving vegetarians, forget about it. Apart from that, some people might have reservations about consuming an egg as a “snack” as opposed to a breakfast option.
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Written by Girija Naiksatam on 8th Jul 2014