CRACKER CANAPES
Ingredients (four portions)
Cream Cracker biscuit: 8 pieces
Cheese: 8 slices
Olive: 10-12 piece
Cherry: 8 pieces
Aamsotto or Aam Papad: 2 slices
Method
On the biscuits place cheese slices. Cut into half to make triangles. Finely chop olives, cherry and Aam Papad. Mix well. Place the mixture over the cheese, arrange and serve.
CHILLED PAPRI COCKTAIL
Ingredients (four portions)
Papdi: 120g
Yoghurt: 300g
Rock salt
Cumin powder: 1tbsp
Red chilli powder: 1 tbsp
Chaat masala: 1 tbsp
Sugar to taste
Tamarind chutney (according to taste)
Pudina chutney (according to taste)
Coriander leaves (to garnish)
Bhujia (to garnish)
Chiwda fry (to garnish)
Pomegranate seeds (to garnish)
Method
Smear the insides of cocktail glasses with tamarind and pudina chutney. Break the papdis and place it inside the glass. Pour beaten curd with rock salt and sugar. Sprinkle cumin powder and red chilli powder. Drizzle some more tamarind and pudina chutney. Repeat another layer of the ingredients. The beaten yoghurt will be more in the final layer. Chill the glasses for 60 minutes, take out, garnish and serve.
(L-R) Cracker Canapes, Chilled Papri
GRILLED WATERMELON
Ingredients (four portions)
Watermelon: One (medium)
Olive oil: 20ml
Salt to taste
White pepper to taste
Parsley: 1 tbsp
Garlic (optional, finely chopped): 1 tbsp
Balsamic vinegar/red wine: 15ml
Method
Prepare a marinade with the ingredients mentioned. Cut the watermelon into thick chunks and marinate (containing liquor) for some time. Grill on a pan (or use the microwave) for sometime and serve with sticks to make a cocktail snack.
COCKTAIL FRUIT STICKS
Ingredients (four portions)
Assorted fruits: as per choice For the dressing
Kasundi: 40ml
Rock salt to taste
Sugar 1tsp
Finely-chopped green chillies: 2 tbsp
Mustard oil: 1 tbsp
Coriander (finely chopped)
Method
Dice the fruits and chill. Prepare the dressing and mix thoroughly with the fruits. Put a fruit fork in each piece.
(L-R)Grilled Watermelon, Cocktail Fruit Sticks
Debjeet Majumdar is a chef andculinary consultant