Set against the backdrop of the spectacular Himalayas, Nepal has a rich variety of dishes to offer anyone lucky enough to pay a visit. Nepalese cuisine is known to be generally healthier than most other South Asian cuisine, relying more on lean meats and vegetables to create flavoursome dishes inspired by the country’s rich spices and fresh produce.

Momos (dumplings) are a very popular dish in Nepal and are surprisingly easy to make at home. These dumplings can definitely be customised to your taste and you can add any vegetables or meats you prefer. Why not try this one for yourself?

Making the dough

Mix 3 cups of flour with ¾ cups of water. Knead the dough with your hands to get a smooth and doughy consistency.

Making the filling

Ingredients

2-3 cups of flour
¾ cup of water
2 tsp fresh minced ginger
2 finely chopped onions
2-3 cloves of garlic finely minced or crushed
400g beef mince or other choice of meat mince
400g cabbage finely chopped
2 tbs soy sauce
1 tsp of your choice of broth

Combine ingredients ginger, onions, garlic, beef and cabbage into a bowl and mix together. Use your hands to mix and evenly distribute the mince. Then add soy sauce and broth to the mixture, stir and set aside.

Making the momos

Once your filling is ready, get the dough you prepared earlier and use a roller pin to create a very flat, thin sheet of dough. Use a circular pastry shaper that’s roughly 6-10cm across to cut the dough. Place the circular dough in the palm of your hand and add a dollop of the filling in the centre. Fold the dumpling carefully in pleats around the sides to close it. You can see how this is done in the video below:

Cooking your momos

You can cook your momos any way that you like, in Nepal they are usually steamed. Add your momos to a steamer and line them up without touching each other. Steam for about 10-15 minutes. If you do not have a steamer, you can also boil them, by adding them to boiling water and leaving them for 5-8 minutes or until they float to the surface.

You can also fry your dumplings if you prefer the light crunchy texture. Remember, if you want to make vegetarian momos you can simply swap the meat for cabbage and tofu. Momos are best served hot with hot lime relish sauce. You can also use a tomato-based sauce which is also popular in the region. We hope you enjoy this simple momo recipe that will bring the delicious aroma of Nepalese cuisine into your home.

Feeling inspired?

You can check out our adventures to Nepal.

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