Make 3 party starters with bread, courtesy MasterChef Pankaj Bhadouria

With Holi coming up, party planners everywhere are on the lookout for crowd-pleasing appetisers to kick off their gatherings. Recently, MasterChef Pankaj Bhadouria shared three delectable party starters featuring a humble yet versatile ingredient: bread.

Bread, often overlooked as a mere accompaniment, takes center stage in Bhadouria’s inventive recipes, proving that with a dash of creativity, it can transform into gourmet delights sure to impress any palate.

Flower Cheese Garlic Bread

Ingredients:

• 8 bread slices
• 50g butter
• 2 tbsp chopped garlic
• 2 tbsp chopped capsicum
• 2 tbsp chopped red bell pepper
• ¼ cup grated cheese
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• 1 tsp red chilli flakes
• 1 tsp oregano
• 4 cherry tomatoes
• Mint leaves to garnish

Method:

1. Make cuts from the corners of the bread to the inside. Fold in the corners to make a flower.
2. Brush with garlic butter and bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes.
3. Mix the chopped vegetables, cheese, and seasonings.
4. Place these in the center of the bread and bake for 3-4 minutes.
5. Garnish with a halved cherry tomato and mint leaf on top.

Bread Pita Pockets

What are you waiting for? Get cooking! (Representative image: Freepik)

Ingredients:

• 10 bread slices
• 100g paneer
• 1 lettuce
• ½ red bell pepper, sliced
• ½ capsicum, sliced
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 1 tbsp red chilli sauce
• Salt to taste
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 tbsp oil
• Mayonnaise

Method:

1. Heat oil in a pan.
2. Add sliced vegetables and toss for a minute.
3. Add salt, chilli sauce, and paneer cubes. Toss for a minute and remove.
4. Roll the bread slices with a rolling pin. Keep 2 bread slices together and roll with a rolling pin. Cut into circles with a round cutter or Katori.
5. Make a slurry of flour with ¾ cup water. Dip the circles in the slurry lightly and coat with breadcrumbs.
6. Deep fry in medium-hot oil till golden brown. Let it cool and cut into halves. Place a piece of lettuce, then some filling, and drizzle mayonnaise.