Cooler weather brings lots of opportunities for family time, including the always-popular football kickoff season. Football, while widely known as one of America’s favorite pastimes, is the perfect opportunity to celebrate a host of international favorites. Far beyond the standard chips and dip, international-inspired snacks can make any football watch party exciting and memorable. If you’re looking for some inspiration for football kickoff season, these delicious ideas, courtesy of International Fresh Market, are just the ticket. Even better, you can find all the ingredients at our Indian grocery store, making it even easier to enjoy the event and spend less time in the kitchen.
Why Global Snacks for Game Day?
Finger foods are universal, with every culture indulging in its versions of pint-sized noshes. Finger foods are good for almost every occasion, from birthday parties to sports watching events, since they are easy to pick up and carry from room to room. Finger foods also accommodate different tastes. You can plan on having four or five different finger foods at your event, with a spicy snack, a savory option, one for vegetarian guests, etc.
When you offer global-inspired snacks at your game day feast, you’re inviting natural conversation between guests and allowing them to travel “around the world” without ever leaving your living room. Plus, most finger foods are very easy to make, requiring only a few ingredients and minimal prep time.
Indian-Inspired Game Day Snacks
Indian-inspired snacks are one of the best ways to spice up your game day spread. Samosas are an excellent choice that are bound to suit every taste. These crispy pastries are filled with a mixture of spiced potatoes and peas, but they can also be made with meat. They are the perfect handheld bite. Customize the spice level to your taste and pair them with an Indian dipping sauce.
Pakoras are fritters that are savory and hearty. These little fritters are made with a chickpea flour batter and either veggies or chicken before being fried in shallow oil. Serve these with chutneys, either mint or tamarind-based, for a delightful combination. Both samoas and pakoras are easy to make in batches and are halal-friendly!
Latin American Favorites
Latin American bites are well-suited to a wide variety of ages and palates. Try empanadas, flaky pastries filled with chicken, beef, or cheese, and consider making them ahead of time and baking during halftime so you and your guests can enjoy them for dinner. Plantain chips (or chicharrones) are crunchy, salty chips that can be purchased in large bags to serve a crowd. Pair them with salsa or guacamole for a savory, festive bite. Set out a few different salsas, with various heat levels, so guests can select what’s best for their taste buds. Be sure to label any especially spicy salsas.
Elote, also known as Mexican street corn, is corn on the cob that is cooked and slathered with a mixture of mayonnaise, lime, cheese, and chili powder. While elote can be messy, the delicious flavor is well worth it, especially if you’re setting up a party platter. If there’s time on commercial breaks, have your guests top their own corn to their taste.
Asian Crowd-Pleasers
Asian food is both sweet and savory, and can be enhanced with extra spice for a little kick. Spring rolls or egg rolls are easy to grab and dip. These delicious little bites are customizable, since they can be made with veggies, pork, or shrimp. You can pick up spring rolls pre-made or get your guests involved and roll your own, using rice wrappers or frying egg rolls. Satay skewers are another great option. These marinated chicken or beef skewers can be served with peanut dipping sauce and a sprinkle of green onion for maximum flavor.
Try making dumplings for your gathering if you have a few extra minutes to spare. Dumplings can be steamed or pan-fried, and are often made with ground pork or ground chicken. These little bite-sized treats are sure to disappear fast!
Sweet Global Treats for the Win
Desserts are an important part of any game day spread. Plus, a few desserts can help to balance out your savory spread. Indian gulab jamun are milk dough balls in syrup and can be served alone or alongside little cups of ice cream. Latin tres leches cake is a moist, cinnamon-spiced treat that accompanies any savory or spicy bite. It can be made and served in individual cups for convenience. If you don’t have time to make a tres leches cake from scratch, pick one up from the store and divvy it up at home. With a few simple shortcuts, you can prepare a party that everyone will remember fondly for weeks to come.
Asian mochi ice cream is a fantastic choice and is especially fun for kids. These colorful little ice cream balls are wrapped in a chewy dough. Grab some mochi from International Fresh Market and store them in the freezer until you’re ready to serve them. Plan on making a few different desserts so your guests can sample a variety of sweet treats. You can make one or two desserts and pick up another pre-made dessert from International Fresh Market to make it even easier.
Visit Our Indian Grocery Store for Game Day Staples
Game day is an opportunity for friends and family to gather together and enjoy a fan-favorite sporting event as well as a host of delicious treats. Game day snacks don’t have to be boring. At International Fresh Market, we have everything you need to create a “world tour” menu to wow your guests. From mixes and spices to sauces and the freshest meats, making an impressive game day spread is easy when you shop with us.
Everything we have is affordable and easy. Visit us at International Fresh Market today to pick up everything you need to stock up for kickoff weekend. Our friendly associates are always happy to help and can even make recommendations for recipes that will perfectly suit your guests.
