Hostel-life is itself an uncanny adventure. If you have ever lived in a hostel, then you will agree that the Mess is a real 'mess'. From that watery-dal to the half-burned chapattis, Indian hostellers have faced the most horrific food experiments in human history. But between all those fights with the mess-in charge and frequent midnight hunger pangs, the need for good food would always help bring hostellers together. New bonds would often be forged over food or the lack of it!
But running short of money is inevitable in Hostel-life. We are usually low at pocket, so why not satiate the lust for food at home? Why spend in overprices restaurants when you can enjoy delicious food in your hostel itself.
So here we have put together a list of food which can be easily and instantly prepared and make your snack-time happier.
1. Mayonnaise Sandwich
No hosteller can deny their love for Mayonnaise. We want it with sandwiches, French fries, rolls and even momos. So here we have an amazing mayo sandwich dish that is easy to make and can be savored at any time of the day. Just need to mix chopped capsicum, tomato, carrots, onions, cucumber with mayo; add salt and pepper; apply on bread slices and hurrah! the sandwich is ready.
2. Roti Tacos
The next under the “Makeovers for Leftovers” series, soft, foldable phulkas shell tacos have stolen my heart, mind, tongue and whatever else too! The fact they are whole wheat tacos and took just about 5 minutes to transition into their new avatars makes their case for them; Aint’t it? Take baked Potato Wedges (or chicken strips or fish or anything of your choice), cooked black eyes peas (or black beans or Pinto beans), grilled corn kernels, diced onions, diced tomatoes, chopped coriander, Salt to season. Stuff all of this inside the roti taco. Add cheese or mayonnaise if needed and the mouthwatering dish is ready to eat.
3. Herbed Maggi Fritters
This is is a little more work than the regular Maggie recipe but I’m sure you won’t regret it, once you’ll have it. Prepare your Maggi and let it cool down. Once it is sufficiently cool, add herbs of your choice, cornflour, salt to taste and mix well. Drop spoonfuls of the mixture into oil and fry it till golden brown. The lip-smacking Maggi fritters are ready.
4. Bhel Puri/Jhal Muri:
Bhel Puri is part of the ‘Chaat’ family. It is basically puffed rice (Bhel) that is tossed together with onions, tomatoes, boiled potatoes, spices and tangy chutneys. Quite healthy, quick and yet so, so delicious.
Jhaal Muri is the Bengali variant of the Bhel Puri. Jhaal = spicy. Muri = puffed rice.
With the first plonk-in-the-mouth - you get the tangy taste of the 'magic' masala and a hint of lime juice. If you're not used to raw mustard oil - I'm sure the pungent smell of the oil will come through too, but the tanginess and spices make you forget all of it.
5. Chips Bhujia Sauce Sandwich
Another easy to make and eat recipe is stuff loads of masala lays and bhujia between two slices of bread, add tomato ketchup if necessary and hog and hog and hog until you eat it all.
6. Cheese Garlic Bread
The easiest of all is the next recipe on the list. Apply garlic sauce over a slice of bread, add grated cheese on top and cook on a tawa. The dish is ready.
7. Monaco Canapes/Toppings
As a kid I used to love having monaco and krack jack biscuits a lot and mom used to make me some canapes with these biscuits for evening snacks . Monaco Biscuit Canapes – also known as Monaco Toppings is a quick, tangy, tasty finger food and perfect for a party snack. It is a relaxing and healthy snack that no one can ignore, especially kids and hostellers. You can actually do this with the wafer canapes too But salt biscuits are readily available any were and they taste good too. Just add chopped tomato, onion and potato(boiled) mixed with salt and pepper on the top of the biscuit. Put some tomato ketchup and garnish with bikaneri bhujia and chopped coriander leaves. Toppings are now ready to be relished.
8. Roti Pizza
Hostellers find leftover paranthas and rotis in their kitchen/mess all the time. Roti pizza is one dish that can satisfy your cravings for pizza without taking much off your effort. Take a roti/parantha, apply pizza toppings and put chopped capsicum, tomato and onions. Garnish with cheese and cook on a tawa until the cheese melts.
9. Aloo/Pyaaz Pakoda
Chai addict hostellers will find no other snack to complement the chai, but pakodas(especially when it's rainy). Chop potato and onion and add it to besan, add water to make a consistent thick batter and fry spoonfuls of it in oil, until golden brown. The fritters are ready to be enjoyed with a cup of garama-garam adrak masala chai.
10. Bingo Chaat
Last but not the least, is the tastiest of all, Bingo Chaat. Just buy a packet of Bingo Mad Angles(Tomato madness). Empty the packet in a bowl. Add mayonnaise, chopped onion, tomato, cucumber. Salt and pepper to season.The chaat is ready to be enjoyed.
So, make your boring hostel food a bit crazy and enjoy all your 5-minute delicacies.