Best Chakna With Whisky: 5 Breakout Ideas That Go Beyond Peanuts
Chakna is often associated with North Indian dishes like tandoori chicken, kebabs and spicy Indo-Chinese starters, but it goes far beyond that. It broadly refers to any savoury snack served alongside cocktails - essentially small plates that are meant to provide breaks between sips of drinks. From crispy masala peanuts and spiced chana to fried fish, pakoras, papad and even dry bhel, chakna is defined more by its function than a fixed recipe.
It includes dry, spicy, crunchy, and often salty foods that balance or soften the taste of cocktail bases. Chakna adapts across regions, making it a flexible and familiar combo in pairing culture. Get to know some lesser-known chaknas to try with whisky cocktails!
5 Best Chakna With Whisky To Make At Home
1. Masala Arbi Chips
This one is a favourite in Punjabi households, and makes for a great chakna. Thinly slice colocasia roots or arbi, toss them in carom seeds, dry mango powder, and chilli powder, then shallow fry until crisp. These earthy, tangy chips offer a robust texture that pairs well with woody or peaty whiskies.
2. Pumpkin Flower Fritters
This regional dish, especially popular in Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and Jharkhand, is now making its way into bar menus. Pumpkin blossoms are dipped in spiced gram flour batter and fried until golden brown. Light, floral, and crunchy, they contrast beautifully with aged whiskies.
3. Dry Instant Noodle Mix
Inspired by the Sikkimese and Nepali snack, this budget-friendly chakna is already very popular. Broken raw noodles are stir-fried with peanuts, curry leaves, and masala powders for a crunchy, umami-rich snack. This unexpected chakna adds spice and texture to each whisky drink.
4. Honey Shrimp
The sweet-savoury contrast of crunchy shrimp coated in a honey-based glaze balances spiced whisky cocktails without overpowering their flavour. Add a spritz of lime juice for a tart-sweet contrast and garnish with chopped spring onions for visual appeal.
5. Crispy Mushroom-Corn Chilli
Perfect with blended whisky cocktails, this Indo-Chinese style small plate combines the best of both worlds into one dish - think crispy battered vegetables tossed in a fiery garlic-chilli sauce. If you want a heftier portion of the dish to relish as chakna, simply pair alongside a small portion of wok tossed noodles.
3 Whisky Cocktail Suggestions To Pair With The Chaknas
1. Whisky Sour Cocktail
Bright lemon acidity blends with a subtle sweetness to create a clean profile balanced by the whisky base.
Ingredients (Serves 1)
- 15 ml whisky
- 5 ml fresh lemon juice
- 5 ml sugar syrup
- Ice cubes
- Lemon wheel, for garnish
Method
- Shake the whisky, lemon juice, and sugar syrup with ice until well chilled. Strain into a small rocks glass filled with fresh ice.
- Garnish with a lemon wheel for a clean citrus aroma.
2. Old Fashioned Cocktail
Rich, smooth whisky is lightly sweetened with sugar and lifted by aromatic bitters and fresh citrus oils.
Ingredients (Serves 1)
- 15 ml whisky
- 1/4 sugar cube
- 5 ml herbal bitters
- Ice cubes
- Orange peel, for garnish
Method
- Muddle the sugar cube with bitters and a few drops of water in a small glass.
- Add ice and pour in the whisky.
- Stir gently to mix and chill.
- Garnish with a strip of orange peel for added aroma.
3. Manhattan Cocktail
Robust and bittersweet, the blend of whisky and vermouth delivers new elements with herbal undertones.
Ingredients (Serves 1)
- 15 ml whisky
- 5 ml sweet vermouth
- Ice cubes
- Cherry, for garnish
Method
- Stir the whisky and sweet vermouth with ice in a mixing glass.
- Strain into a chilled coupe or cordial glass.
- Garnish with a cherry to enhance the cocktail’s classic aroma.
*Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
