Children always crave to eat new food items, especially during vacations and holidays. So, it can be fun to add some new and interesting recipes in their diet. Have a quick look at mouth-watering appetizers for children and try them right away.Children sometimes need a break from regular snacks. They need something new and interesting for pleasing their taste buds. Therefore, mothers should try different recipes once in a while. Here are some mouthwatering appetizers for your kids. Mothers can prepare these during vacation time or during weekends to make holidays more fun. In this articleHara Bhara KababCream Cheese SandwichesApple Bread RollsMango RiceRava KesariIdli ManchurianHara Bhara KababPreparation Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 25 minutes Serves: 4Ingredients3 cups spinach (Finely Chopped)1 cup potatoes (boiled, peeled and mashed)1 teaspoon oil1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds1/4 teaspoon dhania powder1/2 teaspoon finely chopped ginger (optional)Salt to tasteChopped Green Chilies as desiredFinely chopped cilantro (Hara Dhania)3 tablespoons cornstarchOil for fryingMethodHeat oil in a saucepan. After the oil is moderately hot, add cumin seeds. As the cumin seeds begin to crackle add the spinach. Sauté while pressing the spinach down so that water of the spinach evaporates. Cook uncovered till water evaporates but letting the spinach a bit moist. In a bowl, add potatoes and all the ingredients. Finally add cooked spinach brought down at room temperature. Mix well to the consistency of a soft dough. Divide the mixture into 10 portions. Shape each of the part into oval like a cutlet.Heat oil in a frying pan. Again the oil should be moderately hot otherwise the kababs will not cook properly and they will not be crispy. Drop one by one the kababs into the oil. Fry until golden brown and take them out on a tissue paper to absorb excessive oil.Serve them hot with ketchup or green chutney or any dip of choice.Cream Cheese SandwichesPreparation Time: 10 minutes Making Time: 5 minutes Serves: 4Ingredients8 slices bread (brown bread recommended for kids)1/2 cup finely chopped capsicum1/2 cup finely chopped cucumber1/2 cup grated carrots3-4 chopped olives4 Lettuce leaves2 tablespoons mayonnaise (of your choice)1 packet cream cheese (softened)Salt to tastePinch of black pepperOregano or chili flakes as desiredButter (optional)MethodMix all the ingredients in a bowl except butter. Trim the edges of the bread. Take 2 slices at a time. Spread butter on a slice and then spread the mixture. Place one slice on the other. Cut into half or any desired shape. Can be had with ketchup at the same time or packed for the lunch box.Apple Bread RollsPreparation time: 10 minutesCooking time: 20 minutesServes: 2Ingredients4 slices white bread2 cups finely chopped granny apples1/4 cup sugar1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powderPinch of nutmeg powder1/4 teaspoon lemon juice2 tablespoons unsalted butter or homemade butter (Melted)Salt to tasteMethodOn a medium flame, place a saucepan and add apples, sugar, lemon, salt, cinnamon powder, and nutmeg. Cook for 5-6 minutes after the mixture comes to a boil and until the apples are a bit soft.Now trim the edges of the bread. Roll each slice to very thin using a rolling pin. Brush a generous amount of butter on both sides of the slice.Divide the mixture into four and spread it after being brought down at room temperature over each slice. Leave 1/4 of an inch border all around the slice. Roll each into a cylinder.Butter a saucepan and on a medium flame cook the rolls until the bread turns golden brown and becomes crispy.Serve hot or as your kids like with their favorite jam.Mango Rice Preparation time: 5 minutesCooking time: 10-12 minutesServes: 2Ingredients1 cup cooked long grain rice2 cups raw mango (peeled and shredded)3 tablespoons oilMustard seedsCurry leaves 8-10Handful of peanuts1 teaspoon Ginger (grated) (optional)1/4 cup freshly grated coconut1-2 green chiliesPinch of turmeric powder1/4 teaspoon red chili powder1 tablespoon sugarLemon juice (optional)Salt to tasteMethodHeat oil in a saucepan. When the oil is moderately hot, add mustard seeds. As the seeds crack, add curry leaves. Then add peanuts and roast until they are lightly brown. Add green chilies, ginger, turmeric and stir for few seconds. Now add mango, coconut, sugar, salt, red chili and cook on a low flame until the mango is soft. Finally add rice and fold them softly with the mango mixture. Sprinkle lemon juice and enjoy the hot tangy rice.Rava KesariPreparation time: 5 minutesCooking time: 15 minutesServes: 4Ingredients1 cup semolina3/4 cup sugar boiled with 3 and 1/2 cups of water1 cup gheePinch of kesar or saffron (dipped in water for about an hour)Pinch of cardamom powderHandful of crushed almonds and pistachiosMethodMelt 3/4 cup of ghee in a pan on a medium heat. Add semolina and cinnamon powder and while stirring continuously roast semolina to a light golden brown color. This may take 6-7 minutes on a low medium flame.Add sugar syrup slowly while stirring continuously. Cook and stir for more 2-3 minutes. At this time stir more vigorously to make sure there are no lumps.Add the remaining ghee and keep stirring for 3-4 minutes till the Rava Kesari begins to leave the sides of the pan. Do not let the Rava Kesari become too thick. Garnish with almonds and pistachios and serve hot before the beautiful aroma begins to diminish.Idli ManchurianPreparation time: 10 minutesCooking time: 20 minutesServes: 2Ingredients4 idlis diced or mini idlis1/4 cup corn flour1/4 cup all purpose flour1/4 cup ginger garlic pasteOil for deep fryingFor Gravy1 cup diced yellow and green bell peppers1 cup chopped Spring onions1 tsp soy sauce2 green chillies1 tablespoon oilSalt to taste1 tablespoon corn flourMethodIn a bowl mix all purpose flour, corn flour, ginger garlic paste and salt with water to form marinate for idlis. Dip idli pieces in this batter for 10-15 minutes and then deep fry.In a saucepan heat oil on a medium flame. Add spring onions, green chillies and bell peppers and fry a little. Add soya sauce and fried idlis. Now add corn flour paste made with 2 cups of water and bring it to boil. Serve hot with finely chopped spring onions for garnishing.Variety of food items should be included in the diet of the kids. At the same time it is necessary to make sure that such food items are healthy. Home cooked food and snacks which are prepared carefully is a good choice. It is also very important to ensure that children do not eat fried and junk foods frequently. What kind of food items are loved by children? Is it alright to give junk foods to children once in a while? How to make sure that children eat healthy? Discuss here.
Children always crave to eat new food items, especially during vacations and holidays. So, it can be fun to add some new and interesting recipes in their diet. Have a quick look at mouth-watering appetizers for children and try them right away.Children sometimes need a break from regular snacks. They need something new and interesting for pleasing their taste buds. Therefore, mothers should try different recipes once in a while. Here are some mouthwatering appetizers for your kids. Mothers can prepare these during vacation time or during weekends to make holidays more fun.
Hara Bhara Kabab
Preparation Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 25 minutes Serves: 4Ingredients- 3 cups spinach (Finely Chopped)
- 1 cup potatoes (boiled, peeled and mashed)
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1/4 teaspoon dhania powder
- 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped ginger (optional)
- Salt to taste
- Chopped Green Chilies as desired
- Finely chopped cilantro (Hara Dhania)
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- Oil for frying
MethodHeat oil in a saucepan. After the oil is moderately hot, add cumin seeds. As the cumin seeds begin to crackle add the spinach. Sauté while pressing the spinach down so that water of the spinach evaporates. Cook uncovered till water evaporates but letting the spinach a bit moist. In a bowl, add potatoes and all the ingredients. Finally add cooked spinach brought down at room temperature. Mix well to the consistency of a soft dough. Divide the mixture into 10 portions. Shape each of the part into oval like a cutlet.
Heat oil in a frying pan. Again the oil should be moderately hot otherwise the kababs will not cook properly and they will not be crispy. Drop one by one the kababs into the oil. Fry until golden brown and take them out on a tissue paper to absorb excessive oil.
Serve them hot with ketchup or green chutney or any dip of choice.
Cream Cheese Sandwiches
Preparation Time: 10 minutes Making Time: 5 minutes Serves: 4Ingredients- 8 slices bread (brown bread recommended for kids)
- 1/2 cup finely chopped capsicum
- 1/2 cup finely chopped cucumber
- 1/2 cup grated carrots
- 3-4 chopped olives
- 4 Lettuce leaves
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise (of your choice)
- 1 packet cream cheese (softened)
- Salt to taste
- Pinch of black pepper
- Oregano or chili flakes as desired
- Butter (optional)
MethodMix all the ingredients in a bowl except butter. Trim the edges of the bread. Take 2 slices at a time. Spread butter on a slice and then spread the mixture. Place one slice on the other. Cut into half or any desired shape. Can be had with ketchup at the same time or packed for the lunch box.
Apple Bread Rolls
Preparation time: 10 minutesCooking time: 20 minutesServes: 2Ingredients- 4 slices white bread
- 2 cups finely chopped granny apples
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- Pinch of nutmeg powder
- 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or homemade butter (Melted)
- Salt to taste
MethodOn a medium flame, place a saucepan and add apples, sugar, lemon, salt, cinnamon powder, and nutmeg. Cook for 5-6 minutes after the mixture comes to a boil and until the apples are a bit soft.
Now trim the edges of the bread. Roll each slice to very thin using a rolling pin. Brush a generous amount of butter on both sides of the slice.
Divide the mixture into four and spread it after being brought down at room temperature over each slice. Leave 1/4 of an inch border all around the slice. Roll each into a cylinder.
Butter a saucepan and on a medium flame cook the rolls until the bread turns golden brown and becomes crispy.
Serve hot or as your kids like with their favorite jam.
Mango Rice
Preparation time: 5 minutesCooking time: 10-12 minutesServes: 2Ingredients- 1 cup cooked long grain rice
- 2 cups raw mango (peeled and shredded)
- 3 tablespoons oil
- Mustard seeds
- Curry leaves 8-10
- Handful of peanuts
- 1 teaspoon Ginger (grated) (optional)
- 1/4 cup freshly grated coconut
- 1-2 green chilies
- Pinch of turmeric powder
- 1/4 teaspoon red chili powder
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- Lemon juice (optional)
- Salt to taste
MethodHeat oil in a saucepan. When the oil is moderately hot, add mustard seeds. As the seeds crack, add curry leaves. Then add peanuts and roast until they are lightly brown. Add green chilies, ginger, turmeric and stir for few seconds. Now add mango, coconut, sugar, salt, red chili and cook on a low flame until the mango is soft. Finally add rice and fold them softly with the mango mixture. Sprinkle lemon juice and enjoy the hot tangy rice.
Rava Kesari
Preparation time: 5 minutesCooking time: 15 minutesServes: 4Ingredients- 1 cup semolina
- 3/4 cup sugar boiled with 3 and 1/2 cups of water
- 1 cup ghee
- Pinch of kesar or saffron (dipped in water for about an hour)
- Pinch of cardamom powder
- Handful of crushed almonds and pistachios
MethodMelt 3/4 cup of ghee in a pan on a medium heat. Add semolina and cinnamon powder and while stirring continuously roast semolina to a light golden brown color. This may take 6-7 minutes on a low medium flame.
Add sugar syrup slowly while stirring continuously. Cook and stir for more 2-3 minutes. At this time stir more vigorously to make sure there are no lumps.
Add the remaining ghee and keep stirring for 3-4 minutes till the Rava Kesari begins to leave the sides of the pan. Do not let the Rava Kesari become too thick.
Garnish with almonds and pistachios and serve hot before the beautiful aroma begins to diminish.
Idli Manchurian
Preparation time: 10 minutesCooking time: 20 minutesServes: 2Ingredients- 4 idlis diced or mini idlis
- 1/4 cup corn flour
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup ginger garlic paste
- Oil for deep frying
For Gravy- 1 cup diced yellow and green bell peppers
- 1 cup chopped Spring onions
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 2 green chillies
- 1 tablespoon oil
- Salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon corn flour
MethodIn a bowl mix all purpose flour, corn flour, ginger garlic paste and salt with water to form marinate for idlis. Dip idli pieces in this batter for 10-15 minutes and then deep fry.
In a saucepan heat oil on a medium flame. Add spring onions, green chillies and bell peppers and fry a little. Add soya sauce and fried idlis. Now add corn flour paste made with 2 cups of water and bring it to boil. Serve hot with finely chopped spring onions for garnishing.
Variety of food items should be included in the diet of the kids. At the same time it is necessary to make sure that such food items are healthy. Home cooked food and snacks which are prepared carefully is a good choice. It is also very important to ensure that children do not eat fried and junk foods frequently.
What kind of food items are loved by children? Is it alright to give junk foods to children once in a while? How to make sure that children eat healthy? Discuss here.
