Indian cuisine is among the most delicious and distinctive of any cuisine in the world. While Indian curries are popular worldwide, Indian appetizers are just as delicious and make excellent starters. Below, you will find a variety of homemade vegan, vegetarian, and meat (non-vegetarian) starters. They are spicy, hearty, and flavorful. Even with the list of spices that usually go in Indian food, these starters are easy to make. I have also included finger foods in the list below. There are appetizer recipes with paneer, potato, chicken, chaat, and more from North India, South India, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. They are perfect to serve at any party or potluck for a crowd. Impress your family and guests with mouthwatering Indian appetizers like Spicy Bombay Potatoes, Potato Fritter Sliders, Tandoori Gobi, and more. I hope you enjoy them!
Vegetarian Appetizers
Tandoori Aloo Tikka
This delicious appetizer is perfect for serving to a crowd. Baby potatoes marinated in a delightful combination of yogurt and spices are threaded to skewers and cooked to create this heavenly appetizer. You can make this tandoori aloo tikka in the oven or air fryer.
Paneer Puffs
Paneer Puff Pastry Turnovers with a flaky golden crust and spicy, flavorful paneer filling are the perfect appetizers for a party that can be prepared ahead of time. They’re so easy and delicious!
Sabudana Vada
A vegan snack made from tapioca pearls (sago), potatoes, peanuts, herbs and spices. These sabudana vadas are delicious!
Paneer Pakora
Paneer pakora is a popular Indian snack in which soft paneer (Indian cottage cheese) pieces are deep-fried after being coated in a spiced gram flour batter. These paneer fritters have a crispy exterior and a soft interior.
Air Fryer cauliflower with Cilantro Yogurt Sauce
This Air Fryer Cauliflower seasoned with spices is so easy to make and amazingly delicious topped with cilantro yogurt sauce. Enjoy as a wonderful low-carb side dish or appetizer.
Spicy Bombay Potatoes
Baby Potatoes cooked with aromatic spices are perfect to serve as an appetizer or a side dish. These delicious and easy Bombay Potatoes take just 20 minutes to make in the Instant Pot or on the stovetop. Vegan & Gluten-free.
Samosa
By Cook with Manali The most popular Indian appetizer for any party. Here is the recipe for perfect homemade flaky and crispy samosas.
Air Fryer Tandoori Gobi / Cauliflower Tikka Bites
Air-fried tandoori Gobi or Cauliflower Tikka Bites are great snacks or appetizers. They are healthy, easy, and full of flavor, perfect for entertaining.
Potato Fritter Sliders
Potato Fritter Sliders is a party twist on the humble Mumbai street food, Vada Pav. A fried potato fritter is stuffed in between dinner rolls or mini burger buns, along with sweet and spicy sauces or chutney.
Dahi Papdi Chaat (Indian Street Food)
A famous Delhi street food, Dahi Papdi Chat, is a crispy, sweet, spicy, and tangy chaat that packs a whole lot of flavor.
Gobi Pakora gobi
These golden-brown, crisp Gobi ke pakode are coated in an Indian-spiced gram flour batter. Cauliflower Pakoras make a wonderful appetizer or snack to share when paired with green chutney or ketchup!
Mint Cilantro Chutney
A cool, spicy, and tangy green mint cilantro chutney is a must-try accompaniment to Indian food such as samosa, chaat, kebabs, and sandwiches. This Indian green sauce is so versatile and can be varied with simple ingredients!
Dahi Vada (Dahi Bhalla Chaat)
This favorite Dahi Vada or Dahi Bhalla recipe has the softest lentil fritters drenched in creamy yogurt and topped with sweet and spicy chutneys.
Sev Puri (Indian Street Food)
A popular Mumbai street food, Sev Puri is a sweet, spicy, and tangy chaat. Sev Puri is made with crispy puri (whole wheat crackers) topped with potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and a variety of chutneys and finished with sev (thin gram flour noodles).
Cheesy Samosa Jalapeno Poppers
Cheesy Samosa Jalapeno Poppers are an Indian fusion party appetizer. They are vegetarian and gluten-free, perfect for samosa lovers.
Baingan Pakora
Eggplant/ baingan pakora is a classic fritter in which thin slices of eggplant are dunked in a spiced gram flour batter and fried till golden. Enjoy this vegan and gluten-free snack any time of the day!
Gujarati Khandvi
These soft, flavorful Khandvi rolls melt in the mouth. They are made with gram flour, tempered with mustard seeds and sesame seeds, and garnished with cilantro and coconut.
Chili Garlic Potatoes
Flavorful and easy Garlic Chili Potatoes are a popular Indochinese snack. They are made with steamed potatoes, garlic, chili sauce, and honey, sprinkled with green onions and sesame seeds. Enjoy them as an appetizer or side!
Rava Dhokla – Instant Pot & Stovetop
Soft and fluffy Rava Dhokla made in the Instant Pot and stovetop. These delicious savory semolina cakes are a popular Gujarati delicacy, perfect to enjoy for breakfast or a snack!
Tandoori Paneer Naan Pizza
Tandoori Paneer Naan Pizza is a fusion Indian appetizer made with marinated paneer, red peppers, onions, and tomatoes. Vegetarian, quick, easy and convenient. Vary it with toppings of your choice.
Instant Khaman Dhokla
These delicious steamed savory chickpea flour cakes are a popular Gujarati delicacy, perfect to enjoy for breakfast or a snack!
Kala Chana Chaat
Kala Chana Chaat is a nutrition-packed Black Chickpea Salad made with black chickpeas, crunchy onions, tomatoes, avocado, and spices.
Spicy Masala Corn on the Cobb
This grilled spicy Air Fryer Corn on the Cob is so easy to make and so good! Spice it up the way you like, and enjoy it as an appetizer, snack, or side!
Non- Vegetarian Starters
Chicken Tikka Kebab
Chicken Tikka Kebab is a delicious appetizer that is packed with flavor. It starts with chicken pieces marinated in yogurt along with lime juice and aromatic spices, then threaded onto skewers and cooked to create a delicious appetizer. Make it in the air fryer or oven to serve at the gathering, or include it in your meal prep for the week!
Tandoori Chicken Wings
These smoky Tandoori chicken wings, marinated in Indian spices and yogurt and grilled to perfection, are the perfect appetizer for any party! The wings are succulent and juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside.
Chili Chicken
This is a crispy and flavorful Chili Chicken recipe. Boneless chicken is marinated in Chinese sauces and fried until crispy. It is stir-fried with lots of ginger, garlic, onions, bell peppers, and sauces.
Tandoori Chicken
Tandoori Chicken is a flavor-packed spicy dish from the Indian subcontinent that is popular all over the world. Chicken is marinated in yogurt, ginger, garlic, spices, and lemon juice, then grilled in the air fryer or oven.
Chicken 65
This restaurant-style crispy and spicy Chicken 65 is made by marinating chicken in yogurt, spices, and curry leaves, then deep-frying it to make the best chicken starter!
Shami Kebab
By Tea for Turmeric Shami kebabs are tender patties made with beef and chana dal (yellow split peas), dipped in eggs, and pan-fried. They are kid-friendly, naturally gluten-free, and wholesome!
I hope you add these quick and easy Indian Appetizers to your menu. Let us know which one you’re most excited to make, and share this roundup with your friends. when you make it, don’t forget to tag #pipingpotcurry.
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