Tempted by Delhi’s street food scene? Try these healthy alternatives to stay on track with your wellness goals

Photo of author
Written By Berry Mathew

It’s no secret that Delhi is a food-lover’s paradise. From the delicious paranthas at Paranthe Wali Gali to Moti Mahal’s famous butter chicken to South Indian delicacies at the always-packed Saravana Bhavan to jalebi at Chandni Chowk to milkshakes at Keventers, there are no taste buds that this city can’t satisfy. And while it’s doing great at the tastiness quotient, it can sometimes fall short on the health factor. And both your wallet and your waistline will regret the impact of eating Delhi’s local delicacies at every meal. Even if you sign up for one of the tiffin services in Delhi, there’s sure to be times where you end up craving some chaat or sev puri in between meals. 

So what should you do when the hunger pangs hit? Don’t head to your nearest street food stall just yet. Because we’ve got you covered with our easy, delicious and healthy snack recipes that you can whip out at any time. Try them out:

Homemade Hummus

Chickpeas are not just for chole bhature. You can use them to whip up some yummy hummus in minutes. Simply take a cup of cooked chickpeas and place them in a blender along with one tablespoon lemon juice, ¼ cup of sesame paste or tahini, two cloves of garlic and salt to taste. Blend until the ingredients are well combined and then drizzle in 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil until your hummus reaches your desired consistency. Not only is this way cheaper (and tastier) than the store bought stuff, you can easily scale the recipe up or down to suit your desired number of portions. It’s also easy to customise the flavour – add some chilli powder if you like it spicier, or some coriander if you like a herby hit to your hummus. Serve up with veggie sticks and that’s a snack that’ll keep you going through the day.

click here – How Much Does Car Insurance Cost?  

Hard Boiled Eggs

If you prefer snacks that are even less effort, take a leaf out of the books of the local bread-omelette sellers on the Delhi streets. Eggs are one of the easiest snacks to prepare, and they definitely pack a very healthy punch. A single egg contains at least six grams of protein, not to mention vitamins, iron, and calcium. You can cook them up in your preferred style – scrambled, sunny side up etc – or go the no-fuss hard boiled egg route. This is especially great if you need a portable snack, and topped with salt, pepper or your favourite condiments, can help you grab a quick bite in between meetings instead of skipping meals. And it’s probably the least expensive snack you’ll find, handy when you’re struggling to budget for the cost of living in Delhi.

Read Also: Where does the Returned Product Go in Online Shopping?

Spiced Nuts

Nuts are pretty much synonymous with snacks, but they can be so expensive to buy in individual portions. However their balance of fats, proteins, carbs and fibre makes them ideal healthy snack options. So don’t fall prey to fancy packaging and make yourself some quick spiced nuts using the microwave. Simply mix together your favourite nuts (it’s cheaper to do this in large batches and then portion up into individual quantities) – peanuts, cashews, almonds, walnuts and pistachios are our top picks – and microwave for a minute until they start smelling toasted. Drizzle over a teaspoon of flavourless oil, salt to taste and then the spices of your choosing. For a sweet and spicy mix, we recommend a tablespoon of honey along with a teaspoon each of black pepper and paprika. Microwave in bursts of 30 seconds until the spices have nicely coated and permeated the nuts. Let them cool before you begin devouring them. We have to warn you – these can be pretty addictive, so practice self-control.

Lighter Hot Chocolate

Sometimes only chocolate can fix a craving. And while you could be tempted to bite into a decadent pastry every evening, remember your health goals. Instead of opting for a rich chocolate dessert, try our hot chocolate recipe to satisfy your sweet tooth. First things first, skip the ready made hot chocolate powders. Not only are they full of added sugar and unnecessary artificial flavours, they taste nothing like real chocolate. And don’t worry, making hot chocolate from scratch is really easy. Simply warm up a cup of milk and add a tablespoon of raw cocoa powder for that true chocolate taste. Stir until well combined, add a dash of honey for natural sweetness and a pinch of salt to bring out the richness of the chocolate. You’ll never try another recipe again. Healthy, light, and truly chocolate-y, this one will tick all the boxes.

And those are our simple, healthy and delicious snack recipes for you to try in Delhi. Because when you’re living in the foodie’s capital, you should never have to compromise on taste. With these snacks within reach, you won’t have to worry about packing on the pounds after too many street food binges. So try your favourite one today.