Sophisticated Snack Lineup: Gourmet Snack Recipes for an IPL Viewing Party
The Indian Premier League is arguably one of the most thrilling events in cricket, second only to the men’s World Cup. When we say it’s serious business, we're not exaggerating. Friendships are forged and broken, allegiances are questioned, but ultimately, it's all taken in the spirit of sportsmanship.
With the first match between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore taking place on March 22nd, hosting a viewing party with your friends is a must. Along with this comes hosting responsibilities like planning the drinks and food menu. Here are some ideas for gourmet snacks that you can serve to your hungry guests, all while preparing in advance so you don’t have to fret too much while the match is on:
Parmesan Truffle Popcorn
Ingredients:
1 bag of microwave or pressure cooker popcorn
4 tsp of truffle oil
⅓ cup of shredded Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Method:
Pop the popcorn according to the package’s instructions.
Don’t let the popcorn sit for long and become, so work quickly.
In a large bowl, add the truffle oil, salt and pepper, and Parmesan cheese.
Add the popcorn to the bowl, and mix thoroughly. Serve instantly. Adjust the quantities depending on how many people you’re serving this dish.
Gouda Cheese Puffs
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups of flour
1-2 tsp of freshly cracked black pepper
¾ cup of unsalted butter cut into cubes
½ tsp of salt
1 cup of grated Gouda cheese
5 eggs
Method:
Preheat the oven to 200 C and while you wait for it to warm up, mix the flour, salt and pepper in a large bowl.
Then combine butter with 1 ½ cups of water and a pinch of salt in a saucepan. Stir and then bring this to a boil.
Add the flour mixture in batches to the melted butter and water. Work quickly, and stir until you get a smooth dough that pulls away from the sides of the saucepan.
Remove from heat, then add the shredded cheese, ensuring that it melts and mixes into the dough homogeneously.
Then add one egg at a time until the dough is wet but smooth. Your choux pastry is ready.
Transfer this dough into a piping bag or a zip-loc bag with its corner cut off to fit a ½ inch pastry tip.
On a lined baking sheet, pipe blobs of this choux pastry, spacing them an inch apart. Flatten the tops of every mound.
Bake in the oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until every piece is golden and puffed.
Reheat before serving them. You can also hollow them out and fill them with a bechamel sauce with finely chopped mushroom and parsley.
Mini Pizzas
Ingredients:
20-25 mini pizza bases
1 cup of store bought pizza sauce
1 ½ cups of shredded mozzarella cheese
Toppings of your choice (pepperoni, sausage, vegetables like bell peppers, onions, sweet corn, sliced olives, and mushroom)
Olive oil
Method:
Preheat your oven to 200 C.
Place the mini pizzas on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Fit as many as you can on your tray. You can bake these pizzas in batches.
Evenly spread a layer of pizza sauce, followed by the toppings, cheese, and a drizzle of olive oil.
Bake in the oven until the cheese has melted and is about to take on a golden brown hue.
Serve warm and enjoy this homemade treat.
