outside of dinner hours whenever a

outside of dinner hours whenever a visitor arrives, snacks are served, usually with hot or cold drinks, depending on the season. It’s considered the most basic form of hospitality, deeply rooted in Indian tradition. Since snacks are served so often, and since they must be ready at a moment’s notice, the culture of India has developed a great variety of easy- to-make snack items that either store well or can be whipped up fresh at a moment’s notice. These are often served with a choice of tangy or sweet chutneys for dipping. When necessary, snacks can serve as a very tasty light meal.