OK time to confess. Nibbles may well be the death of me. I’ve never been able to resist them in all their unhealthy glory.

Not because of any strange allergy, but because I just have to finish the bag/bowl/dish – whatever’s there in fact. I know I shouldn’t and it’s probably impolite but the last few in the bowl always seem to be screaming ‘EAT ME’.

My own manifest failings aside, good nibbles should be an essential part of any evening involving food and drink but there’s nothing wrong with nibbles for their own sake. There’s so much more around to chose from than average crisps and nuts – so why be boring?

Those who bought into the post Christmas diet and are clinging onto the wagon for dear life might not want to read any further. Calories go with the territory, but good pre-dinner nibbles should really avoid the sacks of chemical flavouring that is liberally strewn over many of the snacks on the market.

Some of the best nibbles are available from oriental stores and corner shops, mostly without carrying a brand. Here are five easy to find nibbles to try – and remember, you don’t have to eat the whole bag!

 

Kasugai Peas

If you like your nibbles spicy and you are fed up Bombay Mix try these. There are two varieties of spice coated green peas, Kasugai are milder and more edible to most people while the fiery Wasabi Peas will bring tears to the eyes of many a hardened Vindaloo fan. Those who have to eat the whole bag will be reassured that they are a relatively low calorie alternative to most nibbles. The packaging can be confusing – so if in doubt ask for help before you buy.

£1.40 Seewoo Chinese Supermarket, Cradock Road (10-6 daily)

 

Tyrrell’s Chips

You can’t have a list of nibbles without crisps and Tyrrell’s are best. At least when you are eating far too many of these no less fattening but really rather brilliant crisps you can assuage your guilt by reading the pious blurb on the bag. To summarise, potatoes grown their own farm by this small Herefordshire manufacturer, cooked on site, no artificial flavourings and so on. Personally, I’ve always veered away from most flavoured crisps/chips (when is a ‘crisp’ in fact a ‘chip’?) and though some of the Tyrrell’s range are passable, the Lightly Sea Salted of Naked (salt free) varieties win out. Their Mixed Root Vegetable Chips also deserve a mention, though at £2.99 for 150g are on the expensive side.

£2.95 300g / £1.77 150g, good supermarkets

 

Home Cooked Prawn Crackers

Out of ready-cooked bags or from the local take away prawn crackers have about as much taste as the average slab of. In fact you could be forgiven at times for assuming that prawn crackers ARE polystyrene but when freshly cooked prawn crackers are a different proposition entirely. Chinese supermarkets stock ready-to-cook boxes containing loads of the things – excellent value. Just heat an inch of oil (vegetable, nut oil, anything but olive oil) till hot. Put the crackers in the oil till they puff up, drain on soft paper and serve. Quite impressive, though dead easy and light years better. 

65p Seewoo, 15 Cradock Road, Reading or good Chinese supermarkets

 

Imperial Japanese Style Rice Crackers

There may be a variety of rice crackers that doesn’t contain various E number colourings, but if that doesn’t bother you then this variety is well worth trying. Rice crackers are somehow less bloating than other nibbles are work well with beer. Some people, however, find rice crackers rather tame, if so try Osaka Hot Crackers as an alternative.

95p 100g, good supermarkets (or unbranded varieties from Chinese supermarkets)

 

Bhuja Mixes

Bhuja Mixes are made in Australia and there is a good argument for simply popping to the corner shop and buying perfectly good mixes made more locally for rather less. But if that’s just not convenient and you have to get some mix at the supermarket then Bhuja’s range is a good bet. Their Nut Mix with peanuts, almonds, cashews and good spice flavouring is the pick, though the cracker mix offers a fusion of south Asian and Japanese styles to amuse your guests.

£2.19 150g, most supermarkets