If you’ve ever walked past an Indian sweets and snacks shop in Little India or Serangoon and caught the smell of hot oil and roasted spices drifting out the door, you’ve probably encountered the wonderful world of Indian savouries. While Indian sweets like ladoo and jalebi tend to get most of the spotlight, savoury snacks — often called “namkeen” or “savouries” — are just as central to Indian food culture, especially here in Singapore where they’re a teatime staple for many households.
This guide breaks down what Indian savouries actually are, the most popular varieties you’ll find in Singapore, and why they’ve become such a beloved part of the local snacking scene.
Indian savouries are more than snacks. They are part of family tea times, festive gatherings, religious celebrations and the warm tradition of welcoming guests with something delicious. From the delicate coils of Kai Murukku to the lively combination of textures in Mixture, each savoury has its own character and story.
At Nalan Restaurant, we bring these familiar flavours to Singapore through a carefully selected range of 100% vegetarian Indian savouries. Prepared with quality ingredients and authentic recipes, they are suitable for sharing at home, serving during celebrations or including in a thoughtful gift.
If you are looking for Indian savouries in Singapore, explore the flavours and textures behind Nalan’s classic selection.
Indian savouries are a category of fried or roasted snacks made primarily from lentil flour, rice flour, gram flour (besan), or a combination of these, seasoned with spices like cumin, chilli powder, curry leaves, and asafoetida. Unlike sweets, which are meant for celebrations and desserts, savouries are everyday snacks — perfect with a cup of chai, packed into lunchboxes, or served to guests who drop by unannounced.
They originated across different regions of India, with South Indian states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh contributing many of the varieties most commonly found in Singapore, given the strong South Indian heritage of the local Indian community.
Traditional Indian snacks are known for their satisfying crunch, fragrant spices and variety of shapes and textures. Many recipes use rice flour, urad dal flour, sesame seeds, cumin and other familiar pantry ingredients. The dough, seasoning and shaping method give every savoury its distinctive taste and bite.
These snacks are enjoyed by children, adults and seniors alike. A jar of murukku can be shared during an afternoon break, served alongside tea or coffee, placed on the table when guests arrive, or added to a festive gift hamper.
For Indian families living in Singapore, savouries can also bring back memories of recipes prepared at home during Deepavali, Krishna Janmashtami, weddings and other important occasions. For those discovering them for the first time, they offer an inviting introduction to the diversity of South Indian food traditions.
Perhaps the most recognisable Indian savoury snack in Singapore, murukku is a spiral-shaped, deep-fried snack made from rice flour and urad dal flour. It’s crunchy, slightly salty, and often flavoured with sesame seeds, cumin, or ajwain (carom seeds). Murukku is a Deepavali essential in most Tamil households and is also enjoyed year-round as a general snack.
Tyoes of Murukku
Thenkuzhal Murukku
Pearl Millet Murukku
Finger Millet Murukku
Kai Murukku
Garlic Murukku
Mullu Murukku
“Mixture” is exactly what it sounds like — a mix of various fried snacks like sev, peanuts, fried lentils, curry leaves, and cornflakes, all tossed together with spices. It’s a favourite for sharing at gatherings because everyone can find something they like within the mix, and it keeps well in an airtight container for weeks.
Sev refers to thin, crispy strands made from chickpea flour (besan) that has been pressed through a mould and deep-fried. It’s often eaten on its own or used as a topping for chaat dishes. Sev comes in different thicknesses and spice levels, from mild to fiery.
A close cousin of murukku, chakli is also spiral-shaped but typically made with a blend of rice flour, gram flour, and sometimes urad dal. It tends to have a slightly different texture and spice profile depending on the region it comes from.
Thattai is a flat, disc-shaped savoury made from rice flour, urad dal flour, and peanuts, seasoned with curry leaves and chilli. It’s especially popular during Deepavali and has a satisfying crunch that makes it hard to stop at just one piece.
Varieties of thattai
1. Masala Thattai
2. Garlic Thattia
3. Pepper Thattai
While technically not fried batter, banana chips — thin slices of raw banana deep-fried and salted or spiced — are a hugely popular savoury snack, particularly in Kerala. They’re a great alternative for those who want something savoury but lighter than fried flour-based snacks.
Singapore’s multicultural food scene has embraced Indian savouries well beyond the Indian community. A few reasons why:
Indian savouries are easy to serve and share. Place a selection in small bowls for family tea time, add them to a celebration spread or offer them to guests before a meal. Their crisp texture pairs especially well with:
Masala tea
South Indian filter coffee
Ginger tea
Cardamom tea
Fresh lime drinks
For entertaining, choose two or three contrasting varieties. Mixture provides a lively combination of ingredients, Thenkuzhal Murukku offers a familiar light crunch, and Garlic Masala Thattai adds a bolder flavour. A selection like this gives guests more variety without requiring complicated preparation.
Savouries play an important role in Indian celebrations because they balance the sweetness of traditional mithai. A festive table feels more complete when laddus and barfis are served alongside murukku, seedai or mixture.
Nalan’s Indian savouries are suitable for:
Deepavali and other festive gatherings
Krishna Janmashtami or Gokulashtami celebrations
Weddings and engagement events
Housewarming ceremonies
Baby showers and naming ceremonies
Birthday and anniversary celebrations
Religious events and community gatherings
Office events and corporate gifting
During Deepavali, a combination of sweets and savouries gives recipients a wider range of flavours to enjoy. Savouries are also a practical gifting choice for friends, colleagues or family members who prefer crunchy snacks to a box containing only sweets.
If you’re looking to buy Indian savouries in Singapore — whether for a festive gift hamper, a family gathering, or just your own snacking pleasure — a few things are worth checking:
A well-presented savoury box can be both traditional and versatile. It can be shared with a family, placed in an office pantry or given to clients and business partners during a festive season.
Nalan accepts enquiries for family celebrations, bulk quantities and corporate gifting. Depending on the selected product and order quantity, savouries may be included in gift boxes or jars, combined with Indian sweets, or curated for an occasion. Product selections are subject to availability, and selected varieties may require advance ordering.
Businesses planning corporate Indian gifts in Singapore can enquire about quantities, presentation and delivery to one or multiple locations. Ordering early is recommended for major festive periods, when customised and large-volume orders require additional preparation time.
Nalan is a 100% vegetarian Indian restaurant. However, vegetarian does not automatically mean vegan.
In the current classic savoury range, Mixture is vegan. Garlic Masala Thattai, Seedai, Kai Murukku, Thenkuzhal Murukku, Pearl Millet Murukku and Finger Millet Murukku contain butter and/or ghee. Customers seeking vegan products should confirm their selection when ordering.
The preparation area handles nuts, dairy, sesame, peanuts and gluten, so cross-contact is possible. If you have a food allergy or intolerance, contact Nalan at info@nalan.com.sg before placing your order.
Whether you are preparing for a family celebration, choosing snacks for your office or planning festive gifts, Nalan can help you select suitable Indian savouries.
View Nalan’s current Indian sweets and savouries selection for product information and ordering options. Islandwide delivery is available across Singapore, subject to Nalan’s current delivery terms. As varieties may differ by gift box and some products are available by pre-order, confirm your required selection, quantity and delivery date early.
Bring home the familiar crunch of traditional Indian snacks and share a taste of celebration with family, friends, colleagues and clients.
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Specific sweet selections and pre-order exclusive varieties require at least seven days’ advance notice.
This is particularly important when ordering:
For orders placed with less than seven days’ notice, an assorted selection of available sweets will be provided. Availability of specific vegan or no-added-sugar varieties cannot be assumed for short-notice orders.
You can order traditional Indian savouries from Nalan Restaurant in Singapore. The range includes Garlic Masala Thattai, Seedai, Mixture, Kai Murukku, Thenkuzhal Murukku, Pearl Millet Murukku and Finger Millet Murukku. Availability may vary, so check before ordering.
Yes. Nalan offers islandwide delivery in Singapore, subject to current order and delivery terms. Confirm the product, quantity, delivery date and address when placing your enquiry.
Mixture is the vegan option among Nalan’s current seven classic savouries. The other varieties contain butter and/or ghee. Cross-contact is possible because the kitchen handles dairy and other allergens.
Yes. Nalan offers sweets, savouries and festive gift options for family and corporate Deepavali gifting. Selected products and customised orders may require advance notice.
A Contemporary Indian Vegetarian Experience in Little India and City Hall
Quik link
82 Serangoon Rd, Singapore 217987.
+65 9171 8282
info@nalan.com.sg
13 Stamford Rd, #B2-54, Capitol Singapore, Singapore 178905.
+65 9732 4289
info@nalan.com.sg