New Delhi, Oct 23 (IANS): Keep your snacks small in size and also simple by adding a little salt to taste and mild pepper for the festive season, says an expert.

Chef Tushar from McCain Foods Kitchen has shared convenient snacking tips for this festive season.

*Keep your snacks bite-sized: Keep your snacks small in size so that they can be easily picked up from the plates with hand or tooth-picks.

*Use minimum spices: Strong spices such as chillies and peppers can rob your taste buds of the refined tang of the wine you are having. Keep your snacks simple with just a little salt to taste and mild pepper seasoning.

*Oil them right: Go for an oil with a high smoke point. Canola, sunflower and rice bran oils are considered good as they can be heated to high temperatures without burning.

*Fry in parts: To ensure that your snacks are evenly cooked and crispy, fry them in parts. The less amount of snacks you fry in one go, the more evenly they will turn out.

*Signature dishes: Let there be no more than two signature dishes. Do not confuse your guests. Let two unique dishes outshine.

* Prepare close to serving time: Snacks should be prepared as close to serving time as possible to ensure the desired freshness and crispiness, otherwise they might get soggy.