Nepali Foods to Enjoy

Sure, Dal Baht can become a bit monotonous on the trekking circuit where ingredients and options are limited, but in the towns, particularly in Pokhara and Kathmandu, you really can get just about anything. Typically, real Nepalese food is flavoursome, hearty, healthy, and good. Great news for hungry trekkers.

We were, and are, mostly vegetarian, that’s really easy for those of us who prefer to be plant-based in Nepal. Meat is abundantly available in Kathmandu, the towns of the Kathmandu valley, and Pokhara, less so in the mountains.

We have even tried our hand at a Nepali cooking class, knocking out our own fresh momos. That’s a great thing for you to do in Nepal.A delightful blend of Indian, Chinese, and Tibetan cultures, Nepal is a fascinating place with a cuisine full of complex and satisfying flavors that, due to the presence of Buddhist and Hindu traditions, appeal to vegetarians and meat-eaters alike.

The condiments in Nepal are interesting and diverse. The simple and pleasurable act of eating becomes an opportunity for both cultural and historical exploration. Here is a look at specific Nepalese dishes and the cultures that helped form them.Nepalese dumplings, mo mo, are usually filled with steamed vegetables or meat and encased in a flour-based dough that is then steamed or fried. Sometimes the flour is mixed with oil, sometimes water.

Commonly eaten as snacks, momo are served with a delicious dip or sauce that can be strong and spicy.A great opportunity to enhance your children’s palette by getting them to try a taste of the dip, momo is also something that tastes delicious on its own and rarely gets a refusal from a child.

This means that even picky eaters will find something to enjoy during a trip to Nepal.

Unfortunately, my kids now refuse to eat momos after being very sick shortly after eating them. I’ll keep working on them!Momos are often filled with buffalo meat. This is called “buff” in Nepal. You’re also likely to see chicken and goat. Goat meat might be called “mutton” on Nepali menus. Vegetable momos are common and very tasty.

You can find a recipe for momo here. Good luck with the dough, it takes a lot of practice for those new to Nepalese cuisine.

Pulao

Rice is the foundation of many Nepalese meals, and the fried version, known as pulao, is delicious. Seasoned with turmeric and cumin, this common dish is accompanied by everything from yogurt to papadoms.

While he and his early followers were not strict vegetarians, many of the present-day devout Nepali people are. They fervently believe that the first tenet of Buddhism, “Do not kill,” applies to all living things.

Meat does feature on Nepali menus and you should find steaks and minced meat fairly easily if that is your want. High in the mountains you’ll find more vegetarian foods. The ethnic groups of Nepal do vary, as do dishesIf there were such a thing as a national dish of Nepal, dal bhat would be it. Originally from Bengal, this dish is comprised of a minimum of lentil soup with rice and either a steamed seasonal vegetable or vegetable curry.

Sometimes it comes surrounded by a host of delicious accompaniments, including pickles, curries, meat, yogurt (curd), chutney, and fish. The tastes of India, Tibet, and more can be found in dal bhat’s accompanying dishes.

Dal Bhat is similar to an Indian thali, like those we enjoyed in Malaysia and of course, India. It is a combination of side dishes with rice, but the dahl.