Scavenger hunt: Asian snack recipes

This is linked up to the "Continents.... Sweet!" scavenger hunt at Sunrise Learning Lab.

Since I chose to represent Asia and we don't live in Asia or have access to a lot of snacks from there, I kind of took liberties with the scavenger list and went my own direction. :) I'm pretty sure I'll cover all the items, just with some of them mixed into others.

This post will be about three snacks from various countries in Asia that Nugget and I made and tried today.

1. India -- Masala chips
2. Thailand -- Spicy corn cakes
3. Iran -- Apple Cinnamon Raisin Oatmeal cookies

Masala chips (fries) from India

This seems to be a fairly common snack in parts of Asia, with a lot of variations. I followed a recipe that seemed similar to most, with a twist of my own. Here's the original recipe I started with; what follows is what I ended up making.


2 lb frozen french fries
4 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 Tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp garam masala
touch of turmeric
2 Tbsp lemon juice

Bake fries as directed on the package.


Meanwhile, mix oil, tomato paste, and spices. Heat oil mixture in a skillet to bloom the spices. Let mix cool slightly, mix in lemon juice.


Toss cooked fries with spices in a large bowl until coated.




Although she wasn't sure at first bite....


These were a HUGE hit with Nugget.


And, I have to say, they were pretty darn tasty. The original recipe called for more heat (with some chiles), but I thought that the heat might turn Nugget off. It also didn't call for garam masala, but adding that brought the taste a little closer to what I was expecting, gave it a touch of sweetness and more complexity. But you could totally leave that out.

Spicy corn cakes from Thailand

As soon as I saw these, I HAD to make them! Go look, and tell me that's not delicious!


1 cup sweet corn kernels
1 Tbsp red curry paste
1/4 cup flour
1 egg
1/2 tsp white sugar
Zest of 1 lime
About 1/2" of vegetable oil in the pan, for frying

Mix the corn, flour, egg, curry paste, sugar and lime zest in a bowl.



We took a break for Nugget to try a lime.


She ended up liking it and sucking on it for quite a while!

Drop by rounded spoonful (and smush a bit once in the pan to flatten) into hot oil.


Cook on medium-high heat until golden brown, flipping once. It should take about one minute per side.



I thought these were the YUM. Nugget wasn't a huge fan. She had barely a bite.


Apple Cinnamon Raisin Oatmeal Cookies from Iran

You don't get much healthier for a "cookie" than these.


1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup rolled oats (oatmeal), ground in a blender or food processor
1.5 cups raisins
2 apples
1 Tbsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix flour, ground oats, cinnamon, and 1 cup raisins in a bowl. Make sure the raisins aren't clumping and each is coated with flour.


Peel, core, and chop the apples; add to a food processor with 1/2 cup raisins.


Process until applesauce-like.


Mix applesauce and dry ingredients together, add water or apple juice if needed to thin the batter.


Drop onto cookie sheet.



Bake 15-25 minutes until firm.


Nugget is currently devouring hers.


But I'm not a fan at all. The "cookie" is gummy and has little flavor. I stopped baking these after the first pan came out.