Healthy vegetarian protein snacks

Your main meals viz. breakfasts, lunches and dinners might be healthy, but if your in-between snacks are junk or filled with empty calories, you have lost the diet plot. Here are three delicious vegetarian protein snacks that will nourish your body and soul.

3 vegetarian protein snacks recipes

Peanut chaat (Suitable for vegans)

Ingredients

• Raw peanuts – 1 cup
• Onion -1 medium sized
• Tomatoes – 1 de-seeded
• Raw mango – 1/3 cup
• Carrot – ¼ cup grated finely
• Green chillies – 1 finely chopped
• Red chilli powder – ¼ tsp
• Roasted cumin powder –½ tsp
• Chaat masala – ½ tsp
• Lemon juice to taste
• Coriander leaves – 3 tsp finely chopped
• Salt as needed

Preparation Method

1. Soak peanuts overnight and pressure cook with salt until soft. Leave it to cool.
2. Finely chop onions, tomatoes, green chillies and raw mangoes.
3. Set aside some chopped coriander leaves and grated carrots for garnishing.
4. In a bowl, combine all the above ingredients and garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves and grated carrots.

Oven roasted chick peas (Suitable for vegans)

Ingredients

• Dried chick peas – 1 cup
• Oil – 1 tsp
• Chilli powder – ½ tsp
• Roasted cumin powder – ¼ tsp
• Salt to taste

Preparation Method

1. Soak chick peas overnight and pressure cook for 3 whistles with just enough water and salt.
2. Drain the water completely and spread the chick peas on a kitchen towel for 30 minutes to dry.
3. In a bowl mix oil, chilli powder, cumin powder, little salt and toss the chick peas in it until well coated.
4. Preheat the oven at 180 degree C for 5 minutes. Spread the chick peas on a baking tray lined with aluminum foil and bake for about 30 – 40 minutes or until golden brown and crunchy.  Stir in between to prevent them from getting burnt.
5. Once cooled, store it in an air tight container and enjoy!

Note: If using canned chickpeas, you can skip the first step.

Dry fruit and nut energy balls

Ingredients

• Dates – 500 grams pitted
• Nuts – 1 cup [mix of almonds, pistachio, cashew nuts and walnuts]
• Raisins – ¼ cup
• Honey – 2 tsp
• Ghee – 3 tsp
• Roasted sesame seeds as needed

Preparation Method

1. Toast all the nuts separately and grind it coarsely.
2. Heat a tsp of ghee and fry the raisins until they puff up.
3. Heat 2 tsp of ghee, add dates, honey and sauté until dates become soft.
4. Add the nuts, raisins and mix well.
5. Grease your hands with ghee and make balls when the mixture is warm.
6. Roll them on roasted sesame seeds and store it in an air tight container.