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).
![Cauliflower hot wings](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/food/public/rx034_southern_food_5_of_6.jpg?imwidth=1280)
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 , or try one of these alternatives:
![Mexican corn on the cob](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/food/public/ftmm_side_mexican-corn-1_hr-edited.jpg?imwidth=1280)
Ready in 15 minutos! Source: Smith Street Books
![Caramel peanuts](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/food/public/caramel-peanuts.jpg?imwidth=1280)
These sweet nuts are everything you could want in a snack. Source: Rachel Tolosa Paz
![Quince-filled pastries](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/food/public/quince-filled-pastries.jpg?imwidth=1280)
For a particularly festive afternoon snack, sprinkle hundreds and thousands on top before baking. Source: Rachel Tolosa Paz
![Ibizan doughnuts (bunyols de vent)](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/food/public/ibizan-doughbuts-bunyols-de-vent.jpg?imwidth=1280)
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
![Fried mozzarella sticks, smoked tomato sauce](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/food/public/rx035_mozzarella_3_of_6_1000px.jpg?imwidth=1280)
A tomato dipping sauce is a must and this recipe offers a garlicky, smoky one. Source: Adam Liaw
![Focaccia two ways](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/food/public/focaccia-two-ways.jpg?imwidth=1280)
So delicious and versatile, focaccia is a really easy, economical bake. Source: Savannah van der Niet
![Gougeres](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/food/public/gougeres_3_c_adamgibson.jpg?imwidth=1280)
The only tricky part of making gougères is the baking - check to see when they are golden and highly risen. Source: Adam Gibson
![These Polish crepes (naleśniki) evoke strong family memories.](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/food/public/SBS14_0092.jpg?imwidth=1280)
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](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/food/public/rx003_five_minute_dinner_6_of_6.jpg?imwidth=1280)
Three-cheese and spinach gozleme is everything we need in a late-night snack. Source: Adam Liaw
![Falafel](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/food/public/owk_3074_falafel_horizontal_2.jpg?imwidth=1280)
Pop them in a burger or wrap, a salad or just pop them straight into your mouth. Source: One World Kitchen
![Zucchini frittters](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/food/public/Zuccini-fritters.jpg?imwidth=1280)
The key to a crispy fritter is to make sure you squeeze out all the excess juice from the zucchini. Source: Alan Benson
![Crispy spinach chaat](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/food/public/crispy-spainach-chaat.jpg?imwidth=1280)
Crispy, hot, cold, creamy, herby and ever so tasty. Source: Martin Poole
![Gobi manchurian](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/food/public/gobi-manchurian.jpg?imwidth=1280)
'Manchurian' is a sub-cuisine of Indian food that brings local flavours to Chinese styles of cooking. Source: Danielle Abou Karam
![Silverbeet and spinach dumplings](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/food/public/sbs_foodsafari_earth_silverbeetspinachdumplings_1.jpg?imwidth=1280)
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
![Chive cakes (khanom gui chai)](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/food/public/chive-cakes-khanom-gui-chai.jpg?imwidth=1280)
It's the Thai street food you can make at home whenever the urge overcomes you. Which is often. Source: Alana Dimou
![Fried bananas (gluay tod)](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/food/public/fried-bananas-gluay-tod.jpg?imwidth=1280)
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, 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 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, 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.
![Seaweed egg roll (gim gyeran mari)](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/food/public/seaweed-egg-roll.jpg?imwidth=1280)
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
![Oven-baked tofu with sesame oil](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/food/public/rx137_umami_3_of_6.jpg?imwidth=1280)
This simple meal makes the most of core of Japanese flavours. Source: Adam Liaw
![Vegetable gyoza](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/food/public/Vegetable-Gyozas.jpg?imwidth=1280)
These delicious little Japanese parcels are filled with spring onions, cabbage, garlic and ginger. Source: Chris Chen
Snack fest
![Image for read more article 'Snack fest'](https://images.sbs.com.au/dims4/default/0ea03b3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1500x844+0+78/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsbs-au-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdrupal%2Ffood%2Fpublic%2Fimg_9118.jpg&imwidth=1280)
Whole-roasted broccoli