As Diwali approaches, the air fills with joy, light, and the irresistible aroma of festive food. This year, add a modern touch to your traditional snack platter with a delicious batch of homemade oats tikkis that everyone will love.
A Mindful Addition to Your Festive Spread
Diwali is a time for
indulgence, a celebration marked by an abundance of sweets and savoury snacks. While classics like samosas, kachoris, and mathris are irreplaceable, introducing a lighter option can bring a welcome balance to the table. This oats tikki recipe isn't about dieting during the festivities; it's about offering variety. By swapping the traditional potato base for a mix of oats and vegetables, you get a tikki that is wonderfully crisp and flavourful, yet feels a little less heavy. Oats are a great source of fibre and protein, offering a different nutritional profile compared to potato-dominant snacks. It’s the perfect way to cater to different preferences, ensuring there's a delightful bite for everyone gathered to celebrate.
Ingredients for Your Oats Tikki
This recipe is versatile, so feel free to adjust the vegetables based on what you have. The core ingredients create a flavourful and well-textured tikki that holds its shape beautifully. 1 cup quick-cooking or rolled oats, dry roasted 2 medium potatoes, boiled, peeled, and mashed 1/2 cup finely chopped vegetables (a mix of carrots, peas, and capsicum works well) 1 small onion, finely chopped 1/2 cup crumbled paneer (optional, for richness) 2 green chillies, finely chopped 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste 1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder 1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder 1/2 teaspoon amchur (dry mango powder) or a squeeze of lemon juice A handful of fresh coriander leaves, chopped Salt to taste * Oil for shallow frying
Step-by-Step to the Perfect Tikki
Creating these tikkis is a straightforward process. The key is to get the texture of the mixture right so it’s easy to shape and doesn’t fall apart while cooking. 1. Prepare the Oats: Begin by dry roasting the oats in a pan on low heat for 3-4 minutes until they are slightly crisp and aromatic. Set aside about a quarter of the roasted oats for coating the tikkis later. If using rolled oats, you can pulse the remaining three quarters in a blender for a coarser, flourlike texture. 2. Combine the Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the mashed potatoes, the main portion of your roasted oats, chopped vegetables, onion, crumbled paneer (if using), green chillies, and gingergarlic paste. 3. Spice it Up: Add the red chilli powder, garam masala, amchur or lemon juice, salt, and fresh coriander to the bowl. Mix everything thoroughly until it comes together like a firm, nonsticky dough. 4. Shape the Tikkis: Let the mixture rest for about 10 minutes. This allows the oats to absorb some moisture and helps with binding. Then, take a small portion of the mixture, roll it into a ball, and gently flatten it between your palms to form a round tikki. 5. Coat and Fry: Lightly coat each tikki in the reserved roasted oats for an extra crispy exterior. Heat a few tablespoons of oil in a nonstick pan over medium heat. Carefully place the tikkis in the pan and shallow fry them, cooking for 45 minutes on each side until they are golden brown and crisp. Avoid overcrowding the pan. Fry in batches if necessary.
Serving Suggestions for a Stunning Platter
A great snack is made even better by its accompaniments. These oats tikkis are incredibly versatile and pair well with a variety of dips and other festive bites. To build a beautiful and balanced Diwali platter, arrange the hot tikkis alongside small bowls of mintcoriander chutney and a sweet tamarind chutney. Surround them with other traditional namkeens like chivda, chakli, and sev. A few sweets like ladoos or barfis on the same platter will complete the festive look, offering a delightful mix of sweet , savoury , and spicy flavours that define Diwali feasting.
