Needing a little something between lunch and dinner seems to be a thing in just about every culture on earth. Street food vendors thrive in the late afternoon as office workers, travellers and busy passers-by stop for a snack to tide them over.
Snacky food like this is often the best a culture has to offer because recipes have been perfected by the sheer amount of times they've been produced. Vegetarian snack foods are particularly good because they're cheaper for a vendor to produce and thus they're more likely to work their dish to perfection.
Tuck in for a trip from a vendor to vendor across the globe as we find the ultimate vegetarian snack foods to make at home. Don't limit yourself to late in the day, either. Morning snacks are equally good (particularly the ones made in the wee small hours after a big night out).
Naturally these are best served with a ranch sauce on the side for dipping. Source: Adam Liaw
Have tortilla, can taco. Load them up with this tasty tofu and guac filling, or try one of these alternatives:
Ready in 15 minutos! Source: Smith Street Books
These sweet nuts are everything you could want in a snack. Source: Rachel Tolosa Paz
For a particularly festive afternoon snack, sprinkle hundreds and thousands on top before baking. Source: Rachel Tolosa Paz
Potato keeps the bunyols de vent dough moist during frying and their distinct aniseed flavour will keep you coming back for more. Source: Rochelle Eagle
A tomato dipping sauce is a must and this recipe offers a garlicky, smoky one. Source: Adam Liaw
So delicious and versatile, focaccia is a really easy, economical bake. Source: Savannah van der Niet
The only tricky part of making gougères is the baking - check to see when they are golden and highly risen. Source: Adam Gibson
Polish cheese blintzes are by no means quick to make, but half the snack-worthy satisfaction is in the making. Source: Jason Loucas
Three-cheese and spinach gozleme is everything we need in a late-night snack. Source: Adam Liaw
Pop them in a burger or wrap, a salad or just pop them straight into your mouth. Source: One World Kitchen
The key to a crispy fritter is to make sure you squeeze out all the excess juice from the zucchini. Source: Alan Benson
Crispy, hot, cold, creamy, herby and ever so tasty. Source: Martin Poole
'Manchurian' is a sub-cuisine of Indian food that brings local flavours to Chinese styles of cooking. Source: Danielle Abou Karam
Silverbeet and spinach may not be traditional Chinese vegetables, but added chopped water chestnuts and re-hydrated black fungus most certainly are. Source: Sharyn Cairns
It's the Thai street food you can make at home whenever the urge overcomes you. Which is often. Source: Alana Dimou
There's some chemistry involved to get this recipe right - it's not the kind of snack you can make on a whim. Source: Alana Dimou
The snackiest of the flatbreads, roti canai is often served plain with a couple of curry dipping sauces. In a snack pinch, it also tastes amazing spread with strawberry jam.
What's not to love about savoury chive and spring onion pancakes served with an umami-rich soy dipping sauce? Koreans love everything about this vegetarian snack.
Great in a lunchbox or served up as a snack, gim gyeran mari is super tasty and fortunately super easy. You may need some practice to master your folding technique, but you'll be content to eat your attempts along the way.
Once you get the hang of it, you won't be able to stop making egg rolls. Try different flavourings to mix things up. Source: Billy Law
This simple meal makes the most of core of Japanese flavours. Source: Adam Liaw
These delicious little Japanese parcels are filled with spring onions, cabbage, garlic and ginger. Source: Chris Chen
Snack fest
Whole-roasted broccoli
