5 flavorful Nepalese recipes everyone must try once
Combining a unique blend of sweet, spicy flavors, and aromatic ingredients, Nepal's cuisine bears influences from Chinese, Indian, and Tibetan culinary traditions. From momos and thukpas to sel roti and gundruk, Nepali dishes are typically characterized by their healthiness, subtlety, and simplicity, often cooked with minimal fat. If you're craving authentic Nepalese cuisine, consider trying these simple yet flavorful dishes next weekend.
Nepalese piri aloo
Saute red chilies and fenugreek seeds in a mustard oil-greased pan and let them sputter. Add chopped potatoes, salt, and turmeric powder and mix. Cook well and simmer for some time. Keep the potatoes aside. Saute ginger-garlic paste in mustard oil. Add Nepali timur powder, coriander, and red chilies and mix well. Add back the potatoes and stir well. Serve hot with chapatis.
Vegetable momos
Mix baking powder, water, salt, and maida to form a stiff dough. Saute garlic and onion in oil. Add finely chopped carrot and cabbage and saute again. Add soya sauce, black pepper, vinegar, and salt. Roll the dough and cut it into small rounds. Place the filling in the center of each round. Cover the edges, and twist to seal. Steam for 10 minutes.
Khajuri
Khajuri is a well-known fried sweet from Nepal. Mix semolina, ghee, flour, and salt. Add sugar and milk and knead into a stiff dough. Cover and keep aside for 15 minutes. Divide the dough and roll it into small rounds. Create a slightly grooved shape and deep fry the rounds in hot oil. Let the khajuris cool and store them in an airtight container.
Sel roti
Soak rice in water for four to five hours and then drain. Blend the rice along with butter, sugar, water, and chopped ripe banana to form a semi-liquid paste. Beat the mixture for 20-30 minutes. Make small balls out of the paste and drop them in hot oil. Make shapes similar to donuts and deep fry them until golden brown. Serve hot.
Vegetarian thukpa
Saute chopped garlic and onion in an oil-greased pan. Add beans, green onions, cabbage, salt, and carrots, and cook well. Add sweet chili sauce, garam masala, chili sauce, and soy sauce, and mix well. Add vegetable broth and simmer for five minutes. Add chopped cilantro, mix well, and simmer for five minutes. Add boiled noodles and cumin powder, mix, and simmer well. Serve hot.