17 Tasty Indian Appetizers That Will Be Loved By Everyone

Are you searching for Indian appetizers? Look no further! We compiled 17 authentic Indian appetizer recipes you can serve on your Indian dinner party table!

When hosting a party, remember that first impressions are important.

So how about starting your party with some crowd-pleasing Indian hors d’oeuvres?

Indian cuisine is all about bold and spicy flavors and most Indian food requires some well-loved and basic ingredients such as yogurt, red chili powder, fennel seeds, paprika, Indian flatbread, and so forth. 

Whether you’re feeding a huge crowd or simply giving your taste buds something to look forward to by serving rich Achari Allo Tikka, Sandwich Dhokla, or tempting Moradabadi Daal Ki Chaat, these gastronomic Indian snack recipes will be adventurous for some and part of an amazing meal rotation for others!

Check out our #17: a game-changing starter cooked in an air fryer!

1. Achari Aloo Tikka

This Indian snack features baby potatoes marinated in pickling spices and then cooked to perfection. It’s crispy and oh, so savory!

The key to delicious achari aloo tikka lies in the marination process. 

Be sure to marinate the potatoes for at least 3 hours to get a bigger burst of flavor. 

2. Stuffed Mini Dosas

These stuffed mini dosas are a delicious snack to swap or add to vegetable samosas and aloo chaat at your chaat party. 

They’re made from a green garam-based batter cooked until crispy then stuffed with potato-capsicum filling and rolled into a cylindrical shape. 

3. Potato And Sooji Snack

This potato and sooji snack is another great snack that will make your get-togethers an event to remember. It can be your perfect tea time snack, too!

This easy appetizer is crispy and made with Indian semolina or sooji, lots of veggies, potatoes, and cheese. 

Pro tip: Sauteing the semolina with fresh vegetables is a great way to remove the raw flavor of the ingredient.

4. Dhokla Sandwich

You would love the color of the mint chutney and the wonderful blend of flavor present in this delicious dhokla sandwich. 

Garnishing it with minced cilantro makes this great appetizer even more exciting!

If you’re serving this sandwich to hungry guests, I highly recommend tripling the recipe as this Indian finger food will be gone in an instant.

5. Tandoori Prawns

Tandoori prawns are an Indian delicious snack you shouldn’t miss! 

The combination of thick yogurt and Indian spices including ginger paste, red chili powder, garam masala, cumin powder, and tandoori masala gives the prawns a medley of bold and savory flavors. 

The best part is that the whole making process only requires less than an hour from start to finish. 

6. Crispy Potato Samosa Pastry

This baked version of the ultimate and popular street food is packed with potato-edamame filling, sesame seeds, black seeds, or carom seeds toppings. 

It’s crispy, golden brown, and delicious on its own but this samosa recipe is even more wonderful with cilantro green chutney or a tangy sweet chili tomato sauce.

7. Papad Katori Chaat

Whether you serve it as a light meal, tea time snack, or appetizer, this papad katori chaat is sure to deliver!

The ingredients require leftover papadam (seasoned flatbread), chickpeas, lemon juice, and seasonings. Plus, the making process requires no special equipment.

8. Cheesy Garlic Masala Pav Sliders

This cheesy take on the classic and popular Indian street food is made from pav (dinner rolls) smeared in garlic butter and then stuffed with spicy bhaki (dry curry) and cheese. 

The stuffed sliders are baked until the cheese is melted then finished off with some chopped onions, cilantro, or sev—an Indian food made from chickpea flour paste.

9. Pav Bhaji Bruschetta

While everyone is waiting for the main course, serve these pav bhaji bruschettas to get the party started!

The main ingredients of this recipe are ripe summer tomatoes, fresh cilantro, garlic, french bread, pavbhaji masala, chili flakes, Italian seasoning, and cheese—yes, please.

10. Baked Bite-Sized Potli Samosas

Still looking for Indian snack recipes? This popular snack might be the one you’re looking for. Behold, the baked bite-sized potli samosas!

The recipe starts by making the stuffing or filling made from the potato-peas mixture. A teaspoon of the filling is then placed at the center of the wonton wrapper then wrapped before being baked in the oven. 

To serve, partner them with hot green chutney or sweet and sour tamarind chutney. 

11. Basil Pesto Khandvi

Indian snacks are topnotch and this basil pesto khandvi is no exception! It’s made from a combination of basil pesto filling, khandvi rolls, and blooming spices (tempering).

The pesto can be made a day in advance and refrigerated.

However, it’s recommended to make the khandvi rolls the same day you want to serve the appetizer for the best eating experience. 

12. Methi Na Gota

When it comes to easy Indian appetizers, you can’t go wrong with this methi na gota. 

They’re crispy on the outside and soft from the inside.

The flavors are spicy and tangy that creates a nice sensation in your mouth. 

To create, combine the dry and wet ingredients then form the mixture into balls.

Fry these balls in hot vegetable oil until all sides are golden brown. See? Easy!

13. Moradabadi Daal Ki Chaat

Moradabadi daal ki chaat is one of the popular appetizers in northern India.

The recipe mixes yellow lentil, water, turmeric, ghee, asafoetida (a gum from a variety of giant fennel), and different aromatic toppings. 

Apart from being a great starter, the food can be enjoyed as a snack along with hot and crispy jalebi or Indian bread of your choice.

14. Mixed Vegetable Pakora

Here’s another Indian appetizer that will fascinate your palate: mixed vegetable pakora.

The name may be simple, but every bite is truly worth the try!

Spinach, carrots, green beans, cabbage, and potatoes are incorporated with the blend of gram flour and spices and fried in oil, turning the mixture into crispy and tempting pakoras.

15. Hariyali Chicken Tikka

This hariyali chicken tikka dish has boneless chicken chunks marinated in a flavorful and aromatic spice paste, skewered, and grilled to perfection. 

Every bite is juicy and truly succulent!

The scrumptious appetizer is often served at Indian restaurants, but with the help of this recipe—you can make some heavenly kebabs at home. 

16. Chicken Tikka Masala Baked Wings

These chicken tikka masala baked wings have the perfect fusion of Indian and American flavors. They’re crispy, delicious, and incredibly juicy!

The highlight of this popular dish is the flavor-packed sauce made from cumin, ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, cayenne, garam masala, and paprika. So be sure to not skin the marinating!

17. Air Fryer Kurkuri Bhindi

Make use of your air fryer by making this air-fried kurkuri bhindi.

It’s a simple yet ultra crispy and tasty appetizer that’s made from juicy okra and seasonings. 

Enjoy the food right away with various dips or you can keep them for later.

To store, put the crispy okra in an airtight container and slide them in the refrigerator. 

The bottom line

There are tons of best Indian appetizers such as batata vada, dahi vada, and aloo tikki, but in case you’re new to this whole Indian cooking, then our compilation of delicious Indian appetizers should get you started. 

Be forewarned, though—it’s hard to stop eating once you’ve tried these recipes.

So, ensure that everyone doesn’t get too full before the main course.

🍚 Try these easy Rice Cooker Recipes too! 🍚