With game day just around the corner, I’m guessing I’m not the only one looking for snacks that don’t require utensils. Whether you’re rooting for the Seahawks or Patriots, here are some savory Asian snacks to spice up your Super Bowl Sunday.
1) Spicy Chicken Lettuce Cups
Let’s face-it, Super Bowl Sunday is not a time to be on a diet. Can you really picture a bunch of Southie’s in a pub cheering on the Patriots while snacking on kale chips?… That’s why a lot of the stuff on this list is going to be fried, but I figured I’d kick things off with something that could almost be considered a salad. These spicy chicken lettuce cups not only look fantastic topped with crispy fried shallots and sriracha, they taste even better!
2) Korean Fried Chicken
As much as I love Buffalo Wings, I think I may love these Korean-style wings even more. A double fry gets the skin on the wings crackling crisp, and the sweet, spicy sauce seamlessly soaks into the chicken without rendering them soggy. It’s a little magical and utterly irresistible.
3) Coconut Shrimp
These could very well be my favorite finger food, ever! Something about the juicy shrimp encrusted in threads of impossibly crisp coconut, with a sweet citrusy dipping sauce makes these things irresistible. Honestly the biggest worry you’ll have if you serve these is whether you’re going to have a brawl on your hands when there’s only one left.
4) California Roll
I know… sushi at a Super Bowl party is crazy talk, but these poppable bites filled with avocado and crab are not only a crowd-pleaser, you can make them ahead. That leaves you with plenty of time to get your frying done pre-game so you don’t miss a play.
5) Orange Chicken Polpettine
This is what you get when you mashup a Chinese-American favorite with an Italian classic. Tasty, easy to make, and they keep well in a crockpot.
6) Shrimp Toast
This dim sum favorite is easy to prepare and makes for a novel and delicious addition to your Super Bowl menu. With minced shrimp that’s spread on a finger of sandwich bread, which is then fried, the toasts crisp up to a golden brown while soaking up all the savory juices from the shrimp.
7) Japanese Fried Chicken (Tebasaki)
I know you’re probably thinking “enough with the wings!”, but for those of you that aren’t down with face-melting heat, these Japanese wings are just as crispy as the Korean ones with a sweeter, milder sauce.
8) Potstickers
It’s hard to go wrong with potstickers and if you’re hosting some vegetarians I’ve got a vegan version of these that are almost as good. My trick to making a ton of these for a party is to deep fry them. The wrappers come out golden brown and crisp, and it’s a lot easier than pan-frying them, one skillet at a time.
9) Green Curry Crabcakes
If you feel like a getting a little fancy, these green curry crab cakes are loaded with real crabmeat and redolent of lemongrass, galangal and kaffir lime.
10) Spring Rolls
Last, but not least, you can’t have an Asian finger food roundup without some spring rolls. These classic spring rolls are loaded with pork, vegetables, mushrooms and glass noodles. Because you get a ton of flavor from all the veggies and mushrooms, you could easily make these vegetarian by swapping the meat for this vegetarian meat