Starters set the pace for any meal. These light and crunchy tidbits make your kitty-party or your teenager`s birthday bash chirpy and exciting. Serve with juices/mocktails while your guests are warming up to each other.

If you`re looking for recipes for an upcoming party, look no further, for we bring you a range of savoury starter recipes that your guests will relish.

Vegetable samosas

A triangular pastry with a vegetable filling and deep fried until golden brown.

Ingredients:
For the filling:
2 tbsp. oil
2 medium sized onions, finely chopped
Or 2 bunches of spring onions, finely chopped
4 tsp. crushed garlic
4 tsp. grated ginger
115 gms. finely cubed potatoes
115 gms. finely cubed carrots
Handful of chopped coriander
2 tsp. garam masala powder
1 tsp. turmeric powder
Juice of 1 lemon
Chilli powder to taste
Salt to taste
63 ml. water
Oil for deep frying
For the paste:
2 tbsp. plain flour
Water for binding

For the pockets:
20 samosa pastry strips

Method:
1.Heat the oil and add the onions.
2.When the onions have softened, add the garlic and ginger and fry for 5 mins.
3.Then add all the other ingredients (except for the oil for deep frying), cover and simmer for 40 mins. until all the vegetables have gone mushy. Allow to cool.
4.Prepare a thick paste with the flour and water.
5.Fold the pastry into a triangular pocket and fill in the vegetable mixture,
6.Seal the pocket flaps with the flour paste.
7.Heat the oil and fry each samosa until golden brown and drain on kitchen paper towels.

Serving suggestion: Serve as a starter with salad, a wedge of lemon and a dip of chutney.

Recipes: Rehana Khambaty
Images: Getty images